The weather has been damp, unseasonally cold, and uninspiring for about the last week. Regardless. I was itching to do some wandering and when a good buddy of mine suggested we take a hike on a Monday I was all game. Usually I spend more time fishing with Robin but he is relatively new to the Fundy Footpath hiking trail and he wanted to explore one of the access routes. I needed no reason to join him since I had some time built up at work. So away we went.
We met at Adair's Wilderness Lodge around 9:30, I had to check into my office and take some rain gauge measurements before the fun started. From Adair's we headed ESE towards Goose River and the boundary of Fundy National Park. After approximately 40 minutes of driving over gravel roads of various condition we arrived at the White Car Trail or Goose River Access trail. With gray skies we got out and started quickly down the trail with no certain plan but a desire to explore.
A short hike in a southerly direction brought us to the junction of the access trail and the FFP. At the junction there was a wildnerness campsite with a steep stream. The deep green mosses glowing with the moisture of the recent rains and this would be a common theme through the day. The next leg was approximately 1.5km along the Fundy Coast where we were blessed with a chance to look out over the Bay towards Martin Head and from there we headed inland towards the Goose River trail crossing.
We sat and admired the boulders and trilliums while we ate a quick snack and discussed what to do next. We looked over our GPS and decided that we could make possibly make a loop trip by hiking up Goose River and then heading up a small tributary that would almost get us back to the White Car Road. With some hesitation about weather and uncertainty about what we might get into, we traipsed off up the river.
It was a fantastic choice as the Goose River is full of cascades and chutes. There were a number of prime river side camping spots right next to deep, clear, pools. This will be a place I remember to come back to for sure. As we approached the triburary we were looking for the terrain got steeper but now our adrenaline and excitement were driving us on to see what lay ahead.
We climbed into the steep ravine and started clambering over bedrock shelves and large boulders. Next to us large yellow birch and spruce trees stood and with the mist falling lightly I felt like I was truly in a rain forest. The Fundy ecosystem always impresses. As we come to a fork in the stream the area opens up a bit and I feel a sense of peace. I recognize the feeling immediately and have felt it in a number of special places. This is a spiritual place where God put his hand on my shoulder and says "See this, I made this for you, appreciate it, respect it." Despite how steep and difficult the hiking was here, despite having wet feet, despite the rain that was starting to fall, we both climbed the hills with broad smiles on our faces and leaned into the challenge of the hike knowing we were blessed to simply be able to.
While it was not an ideal day for hiking we committed to getting outside and getting it done. For that commitment we were more than adequately rewarded. What is keeping you from wandering? Get ouside. Find your reward.
