Singing Sands – A Sensory Experience

If your Southern Ontario outdoors adventures take you to the top of the Bruce Peninsula don't miss the chance to visit Singing Sands just south of Tobermory on the Lake Huron side. Just off of Hwy #6 this wonderful natural area maintained by Parks Canada located at the foot of Dorcas Bay has something for everyone. Small children will enjoy the sand beach and shallow water, while nature lovers will be treated to a variety of sights, sounds, and smells.

The crunch of gravel in the ample parking lot soon turns to the soft silence of damp sand. You can wander down to the water's edge where there are always seagulls strolling in the shallow water; listen to the gurgle of the creek as it makes its way to the beach; or gaze in wonder at the vast beauty of this spectacular venue.

Next your footsteps echo the soft hollow knock of wood as you stroll along the well maintained boardwalk and gaze over a sensitive protected "fen" where you will see a variety of flora and fauna unique to the Northern Bruce Peninsula. Pitcher plants, venus fly trap, ferns, and orchids are just some of the treasures that will great you along this self-guided walk. When you're finished take a stroll along the bush trails and bask in the natural beauty of pines, cedars, and open meadows.

Be sure to scoop up and waste that your four legged friend might leave behind, but the Parks Canada crew have made this easy with doggie bag dispensers located in the parking lot. There are also modern clean washrooms onsite.

Spend an hour or spend the day but don't miss this great sensory experience on the Northern Bruce Peninsula in Southern Ontario.

 

© Lloyd Fridenburg - 2010

Successful End to End Hiking in Southern Ontario

Have you ever sat back and looked maps of a trail system and thought how nice it would be to walk the entire trail from end to end. Your dreams are soon dashed when the details of travel, parking, distance, etc. start to creep into your thoughts as well. It can be quite daunting to look at something like the Bruce Trail that runs all the way from Niagara Falls to Tobermory; a distance of nearly 900 km. There are a few tips that can definitely make this a practical reality instead of the impossible dream.

Think Small

One mistake that novice and experienced hikers alike often make is to tackle too much at once. Remember it's all about the journey, not the destination. Break your hike into small manageable hikes and don't get too hung up on a specific timeframe. As soon as your venture starts to feel like work, or the destination has become the only thing that really matters your chances of completing your journey are lessened.

Join a Hiking Club

Southern Ontario has an abundance of hiking clubs and organizations. They can offer a lot of knowledgeable guidance from veteran hikers. Many clubs like the Grand Valley Trails Association offer planned end to end hikes under the guidance of qualified hike leaders.

Carpool and Leapfrog

Even if you elect not to join a formal club you can still attain your goals by recruiting some friends that have a similar interest and planning a bunch of shorter hikes along your chosen route. Two or more cars are the best way to get to and from your start and finish point. One car is dropped off at the finish; those hikers are picked up and taken to the start where the second car is left. At the end of the day the process is reversed.

Use a GPS

This is a very efficient way to ensure that everyone arrives at the correct start and finish points. It can also be a good way to check your progress throughout the day. And, even though trails in Southern Ontario are generally well marked, it is possible to wander off the main trail. A GPS will quickly help you determine your error and get you back on track.

So as you see with a bit of planning and forethought, completing an end to end hike of a trail system, regardless of the length, is a realistic and practical goal.

©2010 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions

Climate Change and Wildlife Habitat

These days we often here talk of climate change and the potential impact that global warming will have on our society. But what about the affect of climate change on wildlife and wildlife habitat.

According to Dr. Paul James, Director of Environmental Monitoring for the Province of Saskatchewan and a research fellow at the University of Regina, many of our wildlife species are completely dependant on a very narrow band of acceptable climactic and environmental conditions in order to survive. Serious study of the effects of climate change on habitat must be undertaken and planning models must be tuned to reflect the new reality.

In short, when an ecosystem undergoes a dramatic change it can no longer sustain resident and migratory wildlife populations. New species of plant and animal life take over and indigenous species disappear.

So why don’t animals and birds simply move as their habitat changes? The fact is that they do, and much can be learned by the studying the slow migration of species into regions where they were previously unknown. But what happens if they can’t move? Take the animals and birds of the northern tundra for example. They rely on food sources that are only produced in regions of permafrost. As the permafrost vanishes due to sustained periods of higher than normal temperatures new types of vegetation will take over. These species simply cannot move further north to find food sources because it will simply cease to exist.

Species like the ptarmigan, arctic fox, and polar bear will simply cease to exist. And guess what? It is very likely to happen in our lifetime. Many scientists firmly believe that this is a “when”, rather than an “if” scenario.

There are other fragile ecosystems like the prairie pothole region that runs from the north central US through Southern Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and into Southern Alberta. This ecosystem provides a stopover for almost every migratory bird along the Mississippi flyway accounting for 80% of the waterfowl in North America. This ecosystem is already at risk due to improper farming and development practices. Over the next 50 years the potholes that provide a safe secure stopover for a wide variety of waterfowl will simply cease to exist.

Don’t take my word for it! Do your own research and form your own opinion, but you will find that in spite of government rhetoric many of these changes are inevitable. Dr. James stated “Wildlife studies must now focus on how to plan for the new reality and forget about sustainable management models of the past.”

While governments dither, wildlife habitat disappears!

Visit Southern Ontario Outdoors. Your source for news, information, and destinations related to your favorite outdoors activities throughout Southern Ontario.

©2009 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions

Optics for your Outdoor Adventures

Whether you’re hiking the rugged Bruce Trail, paddling the Grand river, or hunting in the farmlands of Southern Ontario a high quality pair of binoculars or spotting scope should be an essential part of your outdoors gear.

There are two schools of thought when it comes to binoculars; compact or full size. If you can manage a full size pair, that definitely is the way to go. Although you can buy some very high quality compact binoculars that will get the job done, the only real advantage they offer is the fact that they are indeed compact.

Full sized glasses allow for a larger objective lens; this is the end closest to your subject, providing the viewer with a crisper clearer image while capturing more light. This is particularly important during those times just before dawn and just after sunset when light begins to diminish.

People often get confused over the meaning of those numbers like 10x32 or 8x40 but I assure you there is no real mystery involved. The first number simply refers to magnification. For example, if the first number is 10 the object will appear to be 10 times larger than if it were viewed with the naked eye. The second number refers to the diameter of the objective lens. Again, this is the end closest to your subject. The larger the number, the greater the size; generally, bigger is better, but remember that overall size and weight will also increase.

Because of their high magnification and large objective lens, spotting scopes change your experience from that of a casual observer to a close-up participant. If you have the means to pack a scope you’ll be able to check out that trophy before you make the long trek up the mountainside, only to find that it wasn’t really a trophy after all. Serious birders will find that they are able to make highly accurate observations from a much longer distance than with a pair of binoculars.

Don’t be fooled by low cost knock-offs. In terms of quality you really do get what you pay for and there is no substitute for high quality glass and superior craftsmanship. Choose wisely and you’ll have a great outdoors accessory that will last a lifetime; and more.

©2009 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions

GPS for Off-Road Navigation

The Global Positioning System, generally known as GPS has evolved into an accurate easy to use navigational aid for professionals and casual outdoors persons alike. Consumer GPS devices can be broken into three main categories; general purpose, automobile, and marine. For the purpose of this dissertation I’ll focus on the general purpose GPS, however they all work on the same basic principle; they are simply configured to optimize certain tasks.

In simple terms GPS units tune in to signals being sent from NAVSTAR satellites orbiting 12,000 miles above the surface of the earth. The accuracy of your GPS at any given time and place will vary depending on how many satellites you are tracking. The more satellites you are tracking at a given location the higher the degree of accuracy. The GPS then relates the signals from the satellites you are tracking to a specific position on earth letting you know, often within feet, where you are.

Even low end GPS units contain the basic functions necessary for navigation. They not only tell you where you are at a given time but allow you to save waypoints. A waypoint is simply a specific geographical location. For example you will want to mark your camp as a waypoint and if you are hiking or hunting, you will likely mark the location of your vehicle as a waypoint. You will then periodically mark trail crossings and other points of interest you may pass so you can easily return to them at some time in the future.

A set of waypoints can be saved to create a route, allowing you to follow a specific path over and over again. Or, you can use the “GO TO” function to select a specific waypoint – perhaps your car – that you want to head for. The arrow on your GPS will keep pointing to the waypoint until you reach it. You will also get information like distance traveled, distance to waypoint, and average speed. Even if you need to make a detour around a marsh or lake the arrow on your GPS will always point in the direction of the destination you have selected.

Higher end units give you the ability to download topographical maps, road maps, and charts directly to your GPS unit. You will not only see your location and waypoints but you will see them relative to the map you are using.

I would like to leave you with a word of caution before you head confidently into the wilderness with your new GPS. Sometimes I think GPS technology has become too easy to use, in fact it has become so easy to use that the average outdoors person is now able to get themselves into trouble in half the amount of time. That’s right, don’t use a GPS for wilderness travel unless you know how to use a topographical map and compass, and have them with you.

Here are a few cautions to keep in mind when using a GPS:

1. A GPS does not work, or may give inaccurate readings, under heavy tree cover!
2. A GPS does not always function well in river bottoms surrounded by high hills or cliffs!
3. A GPS can be affected by dense cloud cover and adverse weather conditions!
4. A GPS requires power to work! Loose you batteries and you’ve lost your ability to navigate with a GPS.
5. Use the neck lanyard or wrist strap. Most units don’t float.

The portable GPS has opened opportunities for outdoors lovers that were only dreamed of 15 years ago. I highly recommend that a GPS becomes a part of your outdoor gear, but learn how to use it and never head into the wilderness without a compass and topographical map. Getting lost in Southern Ontario farmland is an inconvenience; getting lost in our huge northern forests can be life threatening.

Keep updated with all your Southern Ontario outdoors activities at http://www.sooutdoors.ca/.

©2009 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions

Hiking in Southern Ontario? Bee Prepared!

You’ve likely heard the phrase “there are two things you can count on in life; death and taxes.” Well if you venture off the beaten path in Southern Ontario I’ll add a third constant; biting insects.

We have black flies, mosquitoes, deer flies, horse flies, sand fleas, and a host of others just waiting for a tasty human snack. For the most part these miniature carnivores are nothing more than pests whose bites and stings quickly fade into the memory of your outdoor experience. But then there are bees and wasps! Bee stings in the bush, particularly in remote areas, should never be taken lightly. They’re not only painful but can, in rare circumstances, be life threatening.

If you or a companion sustain a bee sting the first thing you should do is clean the area and check to see if the stinger is still in the wound…it will often appear as a small black dot. Remove the stinger by scraping. Never squeeze the stinger as this will inject more venom into the wound. If you have ice or even cold water, put it on the sting to ease the initial pain. An antihistamine pill or anti-itch cream can be used to ease the pain and itch.

Always watch a bee sting victim for signs of nausea, dizziness, slurred speech, drowsiness, or difficulty breathing. If any of these symptoms appear call an ambulance or get the victim to a hospital as quickly as possible. Although the vast majority of people exhibit only localized discomfort, allergic reactions can be very serious and even deadly. People who know they are allergic to bee venom should always have an allergy kit (EpiPen) with them and wear a medic alert bracelet. But even those that have never displayed an allergic reaction to bee stings can suddenly become allergic. This is bad enough in a populated area, but if you’re miles from medical help it can be deadly.

Canoeists, campers, hikers, fishermen, hunters, or anyone that spends time in the wilderness should make a bee sting kit an essential part of their first aid kit…and know how to use it. What do I consider to be the wilderness; basically anyplace where you can’t reach medical help (clinic, doctor, hospital, first aid center, etc.) within a short period of time. Three quarters of bee sting victims that die from anaphylactic shock die within 45 minutes of being stung. Immediate attention is essential.

Remember that a minor mishap within easy access of medical attention can become a life threatening ordeal in the wilderness. Take time to learn the necessary skills and stay safe.

So is this cause for major concern when heading off the beaten path? I would say it is something to be aware of and prepared for rather than something to be fearful of. Statistics vary and seem to be a bit unreliable but suffice it to say that there are only between 40 and 100 deaths each year in all of North America. So I would say your odds are pretty good. Now get out and enjoy our great Southern Ontario outdoors.

©2009 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions

Aliens Living in Southern Ontario

No you don’t need to worry about meeting ET or Klingons while paddling down the Grand River – at least I’m pretty sure – but as we approach Biodiversity Day on May 22, which is held exactly one month after Earth Day, we need to become more aware of what we are doing – and have done – to the natural order of things in Southern Ontario.

According to Biodiversity Education and Awareness Network (BEAN) biodiversity is “life in all its variety: over 14 million species found from mountain top to deep-sea vent. But it is much more. Those species connect, and interact. Those interactions create communities and systems, and those systems provide goods and services such as oxygen production, pollination, water filtration and storage, pest control, food production, carbon storage and erosion control.”

Problems arise when those natural interactions are altered. This occurs when “alien species” (those species not normally found in a particular ecosystem, often referred to as invasive species) are introduced. In Southern Ontario this has occurred as a result of both intentional and non intentional introduction of foreign plants, animals, birds, and aquatic species into our well balanced, yet fragile, ecosystems.

Some of these more invasive “alien” squatters are:
Zebra Mussels – arrived in the ballast tanks of foreign freighters.
Round Goby – arrived in the ballast tanks of foreign freighters.
Purple Loosestrife – introduced by European settlers as ornamental flowers.
Rusty Crayfish – migrated or introduced from the Ohio River valley.
Garlic Mustard – introduced by European settlers.
Asian Long-Horned Beetle – arrived in foreign hardwood lumber; likely shipping crates.

So what can Ontario outdoors enthusiasts do to prevent the spread of invasive species?

Join an organization like BEAN that promotes biodiversity initiatives.
Educate yourself about the various invasive species in Southern Ontario.
Always use locally caught minnows for bait. Never bring them from another area.
Always use local firewood.
Always wash the bottom of your watercraft before launching it in a new waterbody.
Never pick or plant invasive species like purple loosestrife or garlic mustard.

Follow these simple tips and you’ll be doing your part to stop the spread of “aliens” in Southern Ontario.

©2009 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions