Exploring the Canadian Shield

The boys and I went on an epic adventure.  We have been learning about the Canadian Shield in homeschooling and how better to appreciate it than to get out and truly experience its rugged beauty?  

Point Spur

We selected the Mine Loop followed by the Ridgewalk-Rideau Loop at the Gould Lake Conservation Area for today's expedition.  It was a long hike (16.2 km) - a record breaker for all of us - but it was worth every second.  I would highly recommend this trek, even though it is tough.  It is the best trail we have been on yet.  

 

Look at those clouds!

Little kids in a big playground.

The forest's first wild flowers.

A perfectly tranquil lake thanks to an enormous beaver dam.

We found a fairy house with a mushroom awning.

No filter.  The colours were so vibrant and simply gorgeous.

This is at the farthest away point on the big loop.

Enjoying our lookout at the top of Ridgewalk.

Ali digging his ride (me).

Beavers!

Old phosphate and mica mine filled with water.

Seamus communing with nature.

Taking in the vista at Point Spur.

Our first land bridge.

We found some old mica mines with ice in the bottoms.
We must have seen a dozen old mines on today's hike.

Crossing an actual waterfall under one of the many beaver dams we saw today.

Uh oh.  Getting tired.  Rest stop!

We found an inukshuk!

We went mountain climbing!

Down the mountain.  Tough hiking!

We did it. So proud of ourselves.

We saw so many amazing things today that this is one hike that the boys will not soon forget.  Hopefully the concept of the Canadian Shield is now permanently imprinted on their brains.