Knowing When It's Time to Turn Around

At the suggestion of my mom, an avid blogger herself these days, I have decided to start my own blog. My blog will probably consist of mainly of my forays into the beautiful Manitoban backyard: vast areas of mildly populated to unpopulated areas.

A little background on myself first would be appropriate, I think. I am 26, currently residing in a small city just outside Winnipeg, and hold my parents accountable for my unquenchable thirst to be in the out-of-doors. Mom and Dad did the best thing they could have done for my brother, my sister and I. They bought a cottage in a semi-isolated Provincial Park where we had the opportunity to swim in the lake until our fingers were wrinkled, we would go cycling, fort building, trail cutting, had late night bonfires, and went exploring secluded beaches and islands. It was amazing!! I believe my experience at our cottage is what bloomed the environmentalist in me (as I am now working as an Environment Officer with Manitoba Conservation), and has sparked the adventurer in me.

So yesterday, I decided to go hike the Black Wolf Trail in Hecla Provincial Park. Hecla is a beautiful island, and has much to offer. Having already hiked the Red Fox Trail last weekend (a minor 10km trail through the marshes and along the lake shore), I decided to challenge myself further and return to take on the Black Wolf.

The Black Wolf Trail runs approximately 16 - 18 kms long (depending on which route you take) and supposedly takes one past numerous historical sites. Yesterday was perfect hiking weather. Warm, slight breeze, and no bugs. The total hike would have taken me all day (being just over a 30km return), so I set out early.

Things were going well, and there was lots to see. Beavers, ducks, geese, a moose skeleton. Once the trail headed off the marsh and into the woods, there was some sign of predators. Two beaver carcasses were at the head of the wooded trail. No big deal. They were not fresh, and had been picked clean already. My biggest concern on the trail were bears, as I did not have my bear spray with me... just my Fox 40 whistle. So I walked on.

I have to say that my appreciation of what is around me in nature has matured significantly from from my experiences with my boyfriend Dave, and his fellow SERE Instructors with the Canadian Forces School of Survival and Areomedical Training. I now subconsciously challenge myself to "read between the lines". I take note of native vegetation that could be used as a food source, fuel or shelter. I look for animal tracks, rubs, nests, scat, and can (the majority of the time) identify them. It is a useful skill to have....

When I was 8kms into the trail, I chose to take the longer route... and unwittingly I found myself walking a trail dividing two pretty significant stretches of water. At the head of this trail section, I found moose track, probably no more than a day or two old... and wolf track. I had seen wolf scat earlier on the trail, but it was very old, and no fresh tracks. Here, it was very different. I continued on for another 300m, but the wolf track became so numerous, the entire trail bed was mosaicked with them.

I stopped at this point and assessed my situation. I was alone on a trail that traveled into a thick and secluded section of wood in Hecla. I had no cell service. I did not have a rifle, just my whistle, my walking stick, my knife, and my wits. I did not see any fresh kill in the area, but given the varying age and number of wolf tracks, this was a main route for them. Both sides of this trail section was surrounded with knee deep water. If they were to come up from behind me, I would be blocking their route. If they were to come from the front, I would still be blocking their route. The off chance that this happened, my only exit would be the trail, or the water. The water would be a very bad idea, as they would just wait for me on dry land, and I would probably be almost hypothermic (and bleed out slower).

An attack by a lone wolf, possibly survivable. Sacrifice my left side, and leave my right arm free to defend with my knife. A pack of them, no way!! I know Hecla is now a tourist area, but I don't know how accustomed to humans the black wolves are. I decided I did not like the situation, and figured it was time to turn around and go back the way I came.

I know it is odd to have the above thought process, but I can't help it. I prefer to be hyperaware of my situation, and have an uncontrollable imagination for possible situations and how to manage them.

I will reattempt the trail in the near future, but will probably recruit someone else to accompany me. I prefer the hike alone, but not in areas like this. The trail is really beautiful, but being the first person on the trail this season, I think it will wait for another day.

Until next time, keep your eyes open... there is so much out there to see!!