A couple of back to back hikes in the Gatineau's as spring starts to take a stronger hold on the situation. Sunday I went for a climb with Mike and Bryan up the Eardley Escarpment just below the Western ski hut. Well,... we didn't actually know that was where we would end up but as the trail got steeper and we entered a rockfall below the cliffs, we could hear voices above us... and it wasn't angels. Turns out the trail we had chosen climbed through the rocks to the base of the cliff that Western Hut sits on. As we got to the top there were several large groups having lunch and enjoying the day. Guess they took the easier trail from Champlain lookout. It was a great day to be out but I fear spring weather is about to change as the blackflies were starting to make an appearance. They weren't biting just yet but they were flying around so it won't be long before the woods become an unpleasant place to be - for a short while. Usually blackfly season is only 10 days or so... but then the mosquitoes come out... and then deer flies... and then I suppose the snow arrives so perhaps I should look on the bright side.
It also became apparent we were approaching civilization on our hike as we discovered a lot of trash in the rockfall below the hut. I assume it had been chucked over the cliff from the hut. Lots of beer and pop cans, a fair amount of broken glass, old buckets, signs and even a fire extinguisher. In the photo, Bryan is demonstrating how the trash arrived in this spot. We decided to take the extinguisher home with us. I have access to a "hazadous waste" collection at work so it would be best to properly dispose of it rather then leave it to decay in the woods.
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On a not-so private road to the woods
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