Hiking Trails of Ottawa

More New Gatineau Park Snowshoe Trails

2012-02-06T12:16:00.003-05:00

Snowshoes are cool! Or at least, you use them when it is cool outside. In either event, because there has been an ever increasing demand for snowshoe trails in Gatineau Park, the National Captial Commission has responded by adding even more new snowshoe trails.

Trails 64, 65 and 66 start in Gatineau, from the Relais Plen Air, which is tucked behind Ecole Secondaire Mont Blue on Boulevard-de-la-Cite-des-Jeunes. The ecole is on the edge of the urban area, and can be easily reached by transit.
Relais Plen Air is home to the Skinouk cross-country ski club, but it is open for the use of all park users as well.

These new snowshoe trails cross quite challenging terrain, and feature constant movement up and down the rugged hillsides. They are organized as a stacked loop, permitting snowshoers to choose a short, medium, or longer hike. There are even a few good lookout places, especially for those willing to complete the entire circuit.

So get outside and enjoy these newest trails. They will not be open in the non-snow months.

Second Printing Required

2012-01-14T14:38:00.000-05:00

The first print run of Hiking Trails of Ottawa , approximately 4,000 books, has been exhausted, and a second printing needs to be done so there will be copies on the store shelves next spring.

I noticed a few errors in the first printing, and these will be corrected for the second. But this is your chance to point out any mistakes that you might have noticed so they can be changed when the book is reprinted.

The publisher will undertake the second printing in March/April, so if you have any changes you think should be made, send them in right away!

Snowshoeing = Hiking in Winter

2011-11-25T10:16:00.000-05:00

As the old saying goes: "There is no bad weather, only bad clothing." With today's quick-dry and wind-proof materials, waterproof footwear, and using proper layering/venting techniques, no temperatures, no matter how cold, cannot be managed in relative comfort. And with the snowshoes and trekking poles now available, winter hiking has never been easier.

The good news is that many park systems in the Ottawa area have recognized the increasing interest in snowshoeing as winter recreation, and have made efforts of increase the number of trails available. Cross-country skiing has long been popular on many of the region's trail systems, but in the past few years it has been snowshoe trails that have been increasing in number.

An excellent example of this is in Gatineau Park. Less than 10 years ago there were only one or two routes open to snowshoeing, such as the popular Wolf Trail. However, with the recent explosion in interest in snowshoeing, more paths have been opened for their use.

The Wolf Trail, now numbered Trail 62, is still available. However, now there are also two major separate systems, one of which works its way around Lac Phillippe and even accesses the Lusk Lake Shelter and the Wanakiwin Cabin, the other - even larger - that reaches the Healy and Herridge Shelters, and the Lac Brown Cabin. More than 50 km of separate snowshoeing pathways are maintained in Gatineau Park alone.

There may never been a better time for Ottawa residents to venture ourdoors, especially in Gatineau Park, for a winter hike. Despite the cold and even in deep snow, you should be able to trek around in comfort and with confidence in your footing. And be honest, doesn't a meal of poutine taste better after a few hours of exercise in the cold air? It does for me. See you on the trails.

Posting Videos - but of Nova Scotia trails

2011-10-14T07:59:00.001-04:00

While I am hiking I take many pictures, sometimes more than 100 on a particularly scenic trail. And on most trails I also take a short video, usually of between 30 sec. to one minute. I have been fortunate to visit some exceptionally beautiful locations, and for many of the trails I worry it might be the final time I will be able to hike them.

I have decided to post some of my videos - or who knows, maybe eventually all of them - on You Tube. Each video will be titled, "Hiking Trails of Nova Scotia", which will be followed by the trail's name. I am posting these under the name "hikerhaynes".

Not every trail is exciting or especially scenic, so neither are their videos. You might wonder why I have posted some those less dramatic films, but what you see will in every case be a fair representation of what you will encounter along the trail. And sometimes that is just a quiet walk through the forest. But that is ok too. Hope you enjoy whatever you view, and whatever you chose to hike.

Sorry that I do not have any videos of Ottawa trails right now. But when I get back that will be my next project!

Updates - Corrections

2011-08-04T08:53:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Erwin Gerrits, we have some corrections to the route descriptions for Charleston Lake Provincial Park and the Lime Kiln Trail. It appears as if I made some mistakes in my writing, and Erwin has kindly pointed them out for everyone to benefit.

You may find Erwin's comments on the "Updates and Corrections" page.

Book Signings: June 23 and 25

2011-06-22T19:06:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the short notice, but these were only confirmed on June 22. I will be at the Mountain Equipment Co-op store on 366 Richmond Road, Ottawa, from 7-9pm. On Saturday, June 25, I will be at the Chapters on Rideau Street from 2-3:30pm.

As I am working in Nova Scotia updating Hiking Trails of Nova Scotia this summer, these will probably be my only signings or presentations in Ottawa until November/December.

If you have any questions or comments about the book, or any of the trails in it, feel free to drop by and have a chat. (Otherwise I will just be sitting at the table watching people walk past.) Hope to see you there.

Trail that did not make the Book - #2

2011-05-03T13:25:00.007-04:00

Gatineau Park features one of the most extensive trail networks of any nature park located close to a major Canadian city. In Hiking Trails of Ottawa, I featured 10 routes inside Gatineau Park, and I could have shown many others. One of those that did not make the book, but which I quite enjoy, is Trail 36, from the P11 parking lot at O'Brien Beach toward the Meech Valley.

This is a wonderful trail at all times of year, but very nice in April and May. Flowers are poking up everywhere, their leaves, more than their blossoms, providing a welcome splash of colour onto the grey and brown forest floor.

Trail 36 is also quite a physically challenging route. Except for a few hundred meters shortly after the parking area, it is almost never level for very long. Hill-climbing - or descending - will be a constant feature of your walk, and a few of these hills are likely to leave you a little short of breath. Expect to feel some ache in your hamstrings when you finish, especially if you neglect to stretch.

But there are many worthwhile sights. Within a kilometer of the start, you cross a bridge over the outflow from Lac Meech. This is almost always a lively place, as the gap is quite narrow and a fair amount of water needs to flow toward the Gatineau River.

About 2.5km into the walk, the path edges around a cove on Meech Lake, passing in front of a private cottage. This is a scenic spot, and is a favourite resting point for those who are enjoying a relaxed weekend amble.

If one is eager to obtain exercise, Trail 36 can be followed to its end at a junction with Trail 50. Turn left, and you will reach either Herridge or Healey shelters, 10km from P11 and providing a respectable 20km return hike.

My choice, usually, is to hike to a bench located on the shore of Meech Lake about 6km from the start. This is an exceptionally tranquil location, and in the summer, a wonderful swimming destination. I hiked here on April 30, and we could hear both loon and wild turkey, and sighted an osprey. (Did not swim yet, however.) After a brief rest and a snack, we retraced our path back to P11.

Do not let the fact that I did not include it in the book deter you. This is a very enjoyable walk, and the main reason I left it out was that once the beach opens in the summer you must pay a fairly substantial fee to use the parking area. My frugal nature triumphed, and I left Trail 36 out of the book.

Spring is just Around the Corner

2011-03-14T15:03:00.002-04:00

I am writing this article on March 14, 2011. The temperature hovers at the zero mark, with the sunlight gently warming my face. The ground is still snow-covered, largely thanks to a few heavy falls earlier in the month, but the forecast is for temperatures to climb to +10 later in the week, these high temperatures accompanied by rainfall.

Spring is rapidly coming, and sooner than you might think. The first picture in this article was taken on March 20, 2009. Like today, it was sunny and enticingly warm, a teasing hint of mellow weather that prompted me to walk along the Ottawa River Pathway East. There was still plenty of snow and ice, and it was obvious that this condition would not long last, but winter still seemed to hold a firm grip.

The second picture was taken on April 2, 2010, also on the Ottawa River Pathway East. And what a difference. There is no snow in sight, and walkers are confidently striding with sleeves rolled up their arms. On the day, the runners went by in shorts.

It is never easy to predict what conditions will prevail from year-to-year, but from past experience we can confidently say that spring will arrive soon, and the trails will reveal themselves for another year of enjoyment. Now is the time to dig out your equipment, checking to see that your safety gear is topped up and complete, and to decide what must be replaced.

The trails will soon be ready; will you?

Cold Snap hits Eastern Ontario - Stay Indoors?

2011-01-24T11:16:00.001-05:00

This weekend the wind chill reached -39 in the City of Ottawa, and to hear the media there was nothing for anyone to do but seal the doors, brew up some hot chocolate, and settle in front of the television set.

I disagree.

There is no question that -39 is not merely extremely cold, but potentially dangerous. At that temperature, exposed flesh can quickly freeze and frostbite is a real possibility. However, that does not mean to me that you should not go outside. It simply - but most assuredly - means that you must take the proper precautions: dress appropriately, choose a route where you have the ability to return to shelter rapidly if necessary, and monitor your condition constantly.

I actually went outdoors three times on Sunday, and walked a combined distance of more than 14km. The first was before breakfast, although not before coffee. I am fortunate to have near the house a wooded path tracing a ridge line. I spent nearly an hour tramping along this ridge; I took the above picture with my Blackberry.

Was I cold? Surprisingly, not really. I had two layers on my legs and four on my torso. I wore mittens and a toque, as well as a kerchief that I could raise over my face. My fingers felt chilled somewhat, as were my toes, and any exposed skin felt raw, particularly when I headed into the wind, but when I finished my walk I was sweating; you can see it frozen on my toque.

I am not saying that -39 temperatures should be discounted, but neither do I think that they preclude being active in the outdoors. During my walks on Sunday, I saw people walking their dogs, children sledding in a local park, and cross-country skiers (true, bundled up with so many layers that they could barely move).

So do not let the cold weather of January and February force you into hibernation. You might need to put a little more effort into what you wear, but if you chose wisely, you can still get outside and absorb more of that delicious sunshine that our body craves so much in these winter months.

No Corrections Yet Received

2011-01-16T16:44:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year everyone. I hope that you getting outdoors and not permitting the winter weather to keep you housebound. (I did a 15km run at -25 [wind chill] this morning with the Ottawa Orienteering Club. The hardcore added another 5km through unploughed forest trails.)

One of the reasons I established this blog was to provide updates to the routes that I have profiled in Hiking Trails of Ottawa. Some might think that unnecessary, especially when the book was only published in June 2010, but you might be surprised how often something changes, even on a popular managed trail. Bridges wash out, parking lots get renumbered, and forest fires occasionally shut trails. So, with the aid of comments submitted to this blog, I thought that I might be able to update readers on any variations on the ground from what is presented in the book.

However, to this point nobody has commented on any changes that they might have noticed. It is possible that I made no mistakes in the book (and anyone who has written a guidebook will know that this is impossible), or that they have yet to be submitted. I am guessing it is the later, so I would like to remind everyone that if they notice something different on the trail from what I wrote in the book, please make a comment on any story on the blog. I will review it and post it for the benefit of all other users of Hiking Trails of Ottawa.

Enjoy your snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Winter Appears to have Arrived

2010-11-28T17:58:00.000-05:00

The National Capital Region is known for its robust winter. Although Ottawa is not the coldest capital city in the world - it is only seventh, behind Ulan Batar, Astana, Moscow, Helsinki, Reykjavik, and Talin - it is sufficiently cold that one of the region's largest festivals is Winterlude, held every February.

Cross-country skiing is tremendously popular in the region. In Gatineau, the Nakkertok club has become one of the largest, by member count, in Canada. In Gatineau Park, more than 185-km (depending upon who you ask) of trail is groomed for cross-country ski. And in the Greenbelt, although no trails are groomed, skiers can be seen on almost every pathway.

Snowshoers are becoming nearly as frequent, especially in recent years as more and more people trade in their traditional design baskets for those more high tech and user-friendly. This increase in popularity is being reflected in the number of trails that are being designated for snowshoe use. In Gatineau Park, for example, there is an extensive new network that permits snowshoers to have access to both Herridge and Healey Shelters, as well as the Lac Brown Cabin.

Walkers are more likely to be found on the Greenbelt Trails, and the pathway system where it runs close to housing. In addition, whenever conditions become icy, as they did in the winter of 2009-10, many people put away their skis and snowshoes and trust in their hiking boots instead. But even when the snow is thick, many walkers can be found on trails all over the region.

All 50 routes profiled in Hiking Trails of Ottawa have the permitted snow season uses listed, including mentioning those, such as Pink Lake, where they are closed in the winter. These winter uses may be found in the "Trails at a Glance" table on page 19.

So, whatever your preferred method of winter recreation, you should find the information that will keep you active this winter. The snow may have arrived, but that does not mean you need to hibernate until next spring.

Presentation - November 19 - Orleans

2010-10-25T09:30:00.003-04:00

On November 19, at 7pm, I will be doing a presentation about Hiking Trails of Ottawa at the fall information open house of the Petrie Island Outdoors Club.

Representatives from the club will speak until 7:30. Then I will do a 45 minutes slide show about the trails found in Hiking Trails of Ottawa and how the book was organized and structured. This will be followed by a Question-and-Answer session and refreshments.

Location: Room 340 at the Orleans Client Service Centre, 255 Centrum Boulevard.

Refreshments will be provided. Seating is limited. To reserve your seat please email listpioc@gmail.com.

Five Fall Favourites

2010-09-13T14:40:00.011-04:00

I have never understood why people talk about summer as the best time to get outdoors. For me, hiking has always been most enjoyable in the fall; the temperatures are more moderate, the air is clearer, and most importantly: no mosquitoes!

Even in September you can observe the first change in colour in the leaves of the hardwoods. The National Capital Commission's Fall Rhapsody festival does not begin until early October, but here are five recommendations for fall hiking.

King Mountain: Climbing to the top of a knoll on the Eardley Escarpment in Gatineau Park, this trail provides panoramic vistas of the Ottawa River Valley as well as excellent views of the predominantly hardwood canopy of the surrounding parklands. The 6.5km route description found on pg. 83 of Hiking Trails of Ottawa should be a pleasant, if occasionally challenging, 2-3 hour walk for most people.

Wakefield to Lac Brown: Climbing to the top of the hills overlooking Wakefield, this hike is the perfect fall excursion for those who like a little effort and have healthy knees. This 9.5km route, found on pg. 175, contains a difficult climb at its start and near the end, but takes you to a pleasant picnic site beside a small lake, or the chance for a meal in Wakefield afterwards at one of the village's many restaurants.

Murphys Lake Provincial Park: Although I enjoy climbing hills for their expansive view, in the fall, being surrounded by trees while you walk is an unquestioned delight. This 7.5km route, passing beside a lake, a river, and through interesting archaeological exhibits, should make a quite enjoyable weekend excursion for the casual outdoor enthusiast at any time of year. It may be found on pg. 264.

Manitou Mountain: Ascending Dillion Mountain on the shores of Calabogie Lake, the Manitou Mountain Trail features numerous lookouts with expansive views of the lower, surrounding countryside. But be warned, this 11.5km trek more is suitable for advanced hikers, as it requires both a good fitness level and competent navigation skills, especially when falling leaves carpet its indistinct footpath. The route description is found on pg. 200.

Pine Grove Forestry Trail: What path could be more ideal in the fall, when the glory of the forest's display captures so many imaginations? This 6km route, located in Ottawa's Greenbelt, is ideal for young children and novices, both because of its relatively level and wide pathway and because of its many interpretive panels, provided by the Eastern Ontario Model Forest, which helps identify many of the tree species found along the route. The route description is on pg. 46.

Recommendation: Ottawa River Pathway East

2010-07-26T10:24:00.001-04:00

I am regularly asked to name my favourite trail. My response varies, but I never limit my answer to a single path. This is probably unsatisfying to the questioner, yet it honestly reflects my opinion. I value the experience on too many trails to pick just one.

There are, however, some places that I enjoy more than others, and one of these is the Ottawa River Pathway east of Rockcliffe Park. Some might be surprised by this choice - especially those who know of my penchant for rugged hill climbs. Yet this path is one that I find myself regularly returning to, and one where I always seem to enjoy the experience.

I find this to be just such a pleasant walk. The Pathway traces the Ottawa River from Rockcliffe to Orleans, situated on a raised bank slightly above water level. (City maintained paths extend the trail to Petrie Island.) Amazingly, considering that Ottawa-Gatineau is the 4th - or 5th now - largest urban area in Canada, there are almost no human structures visible from the trail. No other city in North America can boast of such a long stretch of protected public space on a major river. This is a treasure, and few residents, I think, understand how lucky they are to have it.

The Ottawa River Pathway not a rugged footpath. Rather it is road-wide and surfaced in crushed stone, making it ideal for cyclists, who often ride this route. Walkers need to ensure that they stay on the right side of the trail, and that they do not spread out and block the trail. When strolling with children, be particularly cautious, because cyclists are often moving rather quickly and the unpredictable movements of children can create a potentially serious situation.

This trail is monitored by the Ottawa Pathway Patrol, and the National Capital Commission has cell phones available for loan at the Aviation Museum, which is a good place to start your walk, especially if you choose to access the trail by transit.

There is so much about this path that I enjoy that this could become a very long post. So I will limit myself to two items that make this worthy of recommendation. First, it features the very best scenic view of the Ottawa River available from a trail, a west-facing lookout at the mouth of Green Creek, less than one kilometer from Orleans. At sunset, it is often simply stunningly beautiful. But expect the bench to be full already; many appreciate this spot.

The second is that the Ottawa River Pathway is an enjoyable walk at any time of year. Although many people think of summer, with its heat, humidity, and insects, as the time of year to walk, I prefer fall and winter. And on this path, winter can be a delight. The trail is not groomed for skiers, but they come in large numbers anyway, where they share the path with snowshoers and walkers.

So the Ottawa River Pathway receives my highest recommendation, and although I might not call it my "favourite", it certainly is a trail that I always enjoy. I hope you do as well.

Error in First Printing - Acknowledgements

2010-06-28T12:02:00.000-04:00

The production of a book like Hiking Trails of Ottawa is a complex procedure. There are literally thousands of facts that need to be confirmed and checked. Information in the route description needs to agree with what is on the map, Websites in the Bibliography must be the same as those listed with each trail, each map must have all correct references, and on and on.

In an effort to as accurate as possible, before printing the author sees the work at least three times, many of the route descriptions were reviewed by the trail management authority, an editor reviews the initial manuscipt, a separate individual reviews the revised manuscript, and several other pairs of eyes scan various sections. The process, between submission of the manuscript and printing, requires several months.

Even so errors are possible - indeed, almost inevitable - in a volume this complex. Usually they are found with seeming ridiculous ease by purchasers of the book almost as soon as the book goes on sale. In most cases, the errors are relatively minor, and are quietly corrected when the book is reprinted.

Sometimes, however, something occurs that demands special attention. In the case of Hiking Trails of Ottawa, this has been the accidental printing of an earlier version of the Acknowledgements. While this has little to do with the accuracy of the information throughout the book, the Acknowledgements are the author's (my) opportunity to express gratitude to those who helped me produce the book. When I wrote the first version of the Acknowledgements, late in 2009, it was before the National Capital Commission had decided to assist with the preparation of the maps for the 22 routes on their properties, before they had agreed to host the launch at the InfoCentre on Wellington Street, and before I had had the opportunity to work more closely with many of their staff, who reviewed my writing looking for errors and participated in other ways. Without the National Capital Commission's assistance, Hiking Trails of Ottawa would have been a different book.

So, although the correct Acknowledgements will appear in the next printing of Hiking Trails of Ottawa, I would like to present it here as well. Once again, I wish to extend my thanks to all of those who assisted me when I worked on this book. The full list of names would exceed 100, and I apologize for not mentioning you all.

******

There are so many people who provided me with information and feedback that would be impossible to name them all without missing a good number. For example, representatives from each one of the provincial parks and municipal trails reviewed my draft text for errors or omissions, as did volunteers from the Macnamara Nature Trail, Glengarry Trails, Rideau Trail, and several other groups. Regrettably, I do not have a complete list of names of those who participated in this exercise, but through them I received many constructive comments and excellent suggestions that improved this book. Thank you for helping me make Hiking Trails of Ottawa far better than I could on my own.

Some individuals, of course, require special mention. Ron Hunt, President of the Rideau Trails Association, hiked with me (never easy), discussed the text over numerous coffee meetings, and offered encouragement every step of the way. Gershon Rather, a trail coordinator, now retired, for the Greenbelt, provided me with considerable information on less-known trails in the region. Rob Clipperton, long-time host on CBC Radio’s In Town and Out, let me speak about the region’s trails on his program for five years, until budget cuts ended my regular segments. Elina Farmanova, a special friend, refused to permit me to give up the project, although I several times came close.

The National Capital Commission (NCC), and its excellent staff, deserves to be singled out for special mention. Not only did individuals from the Greenbelt, Capital Pathways, and Gatineau Park divisions participate in reviewing my text, but staff prepared maps for all the routes located on NCC properties, and they offered to host the launch at the Capital Infocentre on Wellington Street opposite Parliament Hill. Some of these people I can name: Heather Newson, Martine Lavergne, François Leduc, Jean Charbonneau, François Cyr, Claude Vincent, Brian Gravelle. Many others whose names I do not know were doubtless involved; you have my thanks.

Finally, I would be unforgivably remiss if I did not acknowledge the debt I owe to the publisher, Goose Lane. Susanne, Akou, and Julie have been tremendously supportive, undeservedly flexible, and infinitely patient, as I muddled my way towards completion. Their trust and encouragement deserves my unreserved thanks. Thanks also to Charles Stuart, the editor, for his assistance in making my initial draft into something publishable.

Trail that did not make the Book - #1

2010-06-24T13:32:00.000-04:00

One of the challenges about writing a trails book that is selective, rather than comprehensive, is that choices must be made between many worthwhile trails. Many factors, including location, length, type of experience, and even ownership, need to be considered. Not everything - not even everything good - can be included in the limited space available in a print publication.

The "National Capital Region and Beyond" boasts a wide and ever expanding variety of trails. They range from short nature walks in community parks to lengthy former railway corridors that extend deep into sparsely settled near-wilderness. They also offer many different experiences: urban or suburban, pastoral or sylvan, riverine or land-locked, level or hilly. Indeed, the area is only missing oceans and true mountains to provide nearly every type of experience. (well, maybe also jungles and deserts)

One of the trails that did not make the book is the Ferguson Forest Centre (FCC) in Kemptville, just south of the City of Ottawa. The Ferguson Forest Centre is a non-profit tree nursery "growing high quality ecologically suitable trees and shrubs from known seed sources that are sold to people and organizations to help sustain our supply of forest products and improve the environment." The FCC is adjacent to more than 300 hectares of Crown Land, where the Friends of the FCC are developing and rebuilding a network of walking, skiing, and snowshoeing routes along its many trails and forest roads.

At the time of the writing of Hiking Trails of Ottawa, the system was not in suitable condition to include it in the publication. However, some routes, such as the Management Trail, which a 2.3 kilometre self-guided walking trail designed to further understanding of forestry in Eastern Ontario, are available.

The Management Trail takes you through a variety of both natural and planted forest types common to this part of eastern Ontario, and along the way you will find a number of information stops designed to introduce you to a variety of forest management techniques. The Management Trail connects to other trails along its way, although most of these are neither well signed or adequately maintained.

But those who like exploring, confident that if they become misdirected they can easily find their way to a nearby road or the Rideau River, will probably enjoy the roughness of the other paths. I was on these trails on four separate occasions, and they very nearly made it into the book. They were, in fact, a last minute scratch, being replaced by the newly opened [July 2009] Manitou Mountain trail system.

If you would like learn more about the FFC and its trails, visit their Website: Ferguson Forest Centre.

Coming Soon - July 4, 2010

2010-06-19T06:56:00.001-04:00

Those wanting to download custom topographical maps of the routes profiled in Hiking Trails of Ottawa need only wait another few weeks. MapSherpa, the map-making software application, will soon carry copies of all 50 routes that may be printed in your own home before you go on your hike.

If you would prefer to have your map printed on waterproof paper and ink, the World of Maps, 1235 Wellington Street, Ottawa, will be offering that service.

Eventually, custom topographical maps for all my hiking guides, Hiking Trails of Nova Scotia, Hiking Trails of Cape Breton, the new Trails of Halifax Municipality (launching July 7, 2010), and the upcoming Hiking Trails of Montreal (spring 2011) will be available at MapSherpa - more than 200 routes!

To make a map of your own favourite hiking trail, visit MapSherpa.

First Custom Maps Created at MapSherpa.com

2010-05-30T10:06:00.002-04:00

The first custom route maps for Hiking Trails of Ottawa have been created, and will soon be available for purchase online at http://www.mapsherpa.com/ . Five maps have been created so far: Cycloparc PPJ, Cataraqui Trail, Stonebridge Trail, Aviation Museum, and Herridge Shelter. Each map highlights the route of the same name described in the book.

Small, black and white maps of each route will be found in Hiking Trails of Ottawa. The MapSherpa maps can be printed in colour, and provide greater detail than could be fit into the space available in the book.

If everything goes according to plan - and I am not too lazy - all 50 routes found in the book will be available on MapSherpa by the end of June.

And if you do not want any of the routes from Hiking Trails of Ottawa, you can also create your own maps of your own favoutie hike.

2010-05-14T12:50:00.003-04:00

Sample Page

2010-05-06T09:36:00.005-04:00

The layout of Hiking Trails of Ottawa is in its final stages, and we are starting to get the first glimpses of how the finished text will appear.

An example is shown above, pg. 24-25, the map and the first page of the Mer Bleue trail, found in the "Ottawa-City and Greenbelt" section. If you click on the image, you will get a better view of a typical section of the book. In this image you will see a map of the route described, the capsule information found at the beginning of each route description, access information and the start of the introduction that describes the particular characteristics of each route.

In addition, there is also an example of a sidebar note, a small capsule description of a particular important natural, cultural, or historical feature. There are 50 of these sidebar notes distributed throughout Hiking Trails of Ottawa.

Everything is on track for printed copies of the book to be available for the launch on June 9. I hope to see you there!

Close Call!

2010-04-27T11:12:00.004-04:00

Trails change more often than you might think. This was demonstrated again for me at the recent Annual General Meeting of the Ottawa Rideau Trail Club. I was there to give a presentation about the upcoming Hiking Trail of Ottawa, and as with most guest speakers, I was scheduled to present after the business meeting.

Imagine my surprise as I listened to the report from the club's trail maintenance leader. Among the recent changes he outlined to the route of the Rideau Trail was a section through the Marlborough Forest, a section which I have included in the upcoming book - and which I now heard was changed from what I had walked the previous spring and written up! It appears as if my text, already written, edited, and put into galley proofs was already wrong.

Fortunately, I did have the chance to make corrections. The galley proofs of Hiking Trails of Ottawa had arrived from my publisher only that day, and I was able to make the necessary changes in time to have them appear in the printed book. But it had been so close. If I had not attended that meeting, I would not have known about the trail changes. If the galley proofs had arrived a week earlier, as originally planned, I might have already reviewed it and sent it off for printing.

In this case, the text in the book will match the signage on the trail. However, it also shows just how quickly, and how often, trail routes do change and the text becomes obsolete and inaccurate. One of the reasons that I created this blog is to provide a forum for people who use Hiking Trails of Ottawa and find that the trail and text do not match. If this happens to you, please write a comment to the blog and share your findings with others.

As we all know, written text is outdated almost as soon as it is printed. With the help of this blog, maybe we can reduce the chances of each reader of the book from making the discovery of trail changes only when they are themselves on the altered route.

First Presentation

2010-04-15T19:24:00.000-04:00

The first presentation about Hiking Trails of Ottawa will take place on Friday, April 16, at the Annual General Meeting of the Ottawa Club of the Rideau Trails Association.

Guests are welcome. The evening begins with a "Meet and Greet" at 6:30, followed by the business meeting at 7:00, refreshments at 8:00, and the presentation at 8:15.

For those who might wish to attend, the event will be held in the Woodside Room, the entrance to which is on the north side of the church.

Official Launch Scheduled

2010-04-03T07:57:00.000-04:00

The official launch of Hiking Trails of Ottawa: The National Captial Region and Beyond, has been scheduled. It will be held on Wednesday, June 9, at 7:00 p.m. at the National Capital Commission's Infocentre at 90 Wellington Street, in the 2nd floor presentation room.

At the launch there will be a brief presentation about the book, followed by the opportunity to ask questions.

The event is open to the public, but if you would lke to receive an invitation reminder, please contact sbaker@gooselane.com.

See you there!

Spring Arrives Early

2010-03-21T14:24:00.002-04:00

Most years, few who live in Ottawa pay much attention to the official arrival of spring. The city is almost always still snuggly wrapped in a blanket of snow, and the forests are still the realm of the cross-country skier and snowshower.

Not so in 2010. This has been the second warmest winter on record, and even though 2/3 of the normal average amount of snow has fallen, there has been little since January. That, coupled with record warm temperatures, and we find ourselves with a situation more common in mid or late-April. There is no snow at all in the city, and most of the trails have shed their seasonal cover.

Hikers will be tempted to get out, but they should remember that the paths will be wet and soft. Wear study, waterproof boots, and carry replacement socks and footwear for the drive home.

With luck, this great weather is merely the introduction to a superior year of great hiking weather. See you on the trails.

Draft Cover!

2010-02-03T18:12:00.005-05:00

December - Grab Your Showshoes!

2009-12-10T14:22:00.007-05:00

The first snowfall of the season fell yesterday, 20cm of fluffy white that is cheerfully drifting in the brisk wind that accompanied its arrival.

Twenty centimeters is more than enough for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, and the forecast is that what has fallen will remain for some time before there might be a thaw.

So, if you have not already, dig out your winter gear and prepare to enjoy the trails on their carpet of white.

When people in the National Capital Region think of cross-country skiing, their attention usually turns to Gatineau Park, which maintains the largest network of groomed trails. Few realize that it also contains a large system of snowshoe routes as well.

Snowshoeing has been growing in popularity in recent years, as more and more people come to recognize how easy it is to use the newest snowshoe technology. The "high-tech" snowshoes are simple to strap onto your boots, effortless to maintain, and take you to places almost inaccessible to traditional models.

As a result, demand for more snowshoe routes has grown steadily, and in 2009-10 Gatineau Park has responded with the opening of several new trails. Trails 71 and 72 connect the two existing routes that lead to Lac Brown and to the Herridge and Healy shelters. This mean that a person may now start at P17 in Wakefield and trek all the way the Herridge, or may exit at P15 on Chemin Cross Loop.

This represents a major addition to the previously available snowshoe routes. For more details, see: Winter Trail Map.

So, now there are even more reasons to enjoy your winter: Outdoors!

Don't Give Up on November

2009-11-17T10:44:00.006-05:00

Many people take a seasonal approach to their hiking, and stop venturing onto the trails once the leaves fall from the trees in late October. They abandon the woods for a month or longer until enough snow falls to enable cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, making November a quiet month on the trails.

I think that they are missing a fascinating time to be outdoors.

November has its own charms, not least of which is its relative lack of popularity. The most well-liked trails, such as the Sentier du Loup in Gatineau Park, or the Ottawa River Pathway, still maintain a high level of usage, but elsewhere the trails are often deserted for entire days. In November 2008, I hiked the Tallow Bay Loop in Charleston Lake Provincial Park one Sunday. I was in the park for six hours and there was no evidence that anyone else had visited; I had the trail - the entire park - to myself.

But in addition to there being fewer people sharing your hike, there are other reasons I like November. Walking is more comfortable than in the summer. Temperatures are lower, making it refreshing rather than draining to exert yourself. Yet it is rarely too cold: think sweaters, not parkas!

There are fewer mosquitos. I say "fewer", because there have been changes in our climate, both in terms of warmer weather and the introduction into Ontario of a new, more hardy, species of mosquito that has resulted in some unexpected encounters; I was bitten twice on November 8 when the temperature in Ottawa topped 15.

Most of all, I enjoy seeing the shape of the land, particularly in hilly and rocky landscapes. By early November the leaves have been blown off most species of hardwoods, and the woods look somewhat spare and stark. Yet these leaves make an appealing carpet of brown that molds itself to the contour of the land. Rocks and wetlands stand out clearly in contrast, and long views are available in areas which, during the summer, you can see nothing beyond the bordering vegetation. Lookoffs are even more prominent, and other views are possible which do not exist during the spring and summer.

And if you enjoy sighting wildlife, November can be one of the best months to do so. Squirrels and rabbits are busy rummaging about in the leaves for food, and wild turkeys and deer can often be sighted at some distance, because of the improved visibility through the forest. There are fewer birds, but the ponds and streams are still populated by geese and ducks, including some species that are only in the area during the migratory period.

So do not overlook November. Don't let its shorter, colder, wetter days drive you inside. There is still so much that is exciting and captivating to enjoy.

Coyotes Kill Hiker in Cape Breton

2009-10-28T09:08:00.003-04:00

Something extremely rare in North America has happened in Nova Scotia: Coyotes have attacked and killed a hiker in Cape Breton Highlands National Park. This happened on the popular Skyline Trail on October 27. Two coyotes were involved in the attack. One was killed shortly afterwards, and a search is being undertaken for the second.

In fact, coyote attacks of any kind are unusual, and most outdoor enthusiasts, myself included, have seen coyotes on dozens of occasions and have never felt threatened. I have seen coyotes in Gatineau Park, in the Ottawa Greenbelt, and elsewhere in eastern Ontario and western Québec. I have even been followed, on more than one occasion, by a curious coyote.

The picture accompanying this article was taken be me in Arizona, and shows a typical western coyote. Eastern coyotes tend to be larger and darker, suggesting cross-breeding with eastern timber wolves. Coyotes only arrived in Nova Scotia in the 1970s, having spread across the continent from west to east.

There is considerable speculation on the reason for this nearly unprecedented attack, and further details about this story will be of interest to outdoor people as they become available. Additional information may be found at: http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/1149776.html.

October Hiking

2009-10-04T08:17:00.005-04:00

For me, October is the best month for hiking around Ottawa. The stifling humidity of the summer is a distant memory, even the most hardy mosquitoes have succumbed to the cooler temperatures, and the days, while much shorter, crackle with a crisp freshness that invigorates both mind and body.

But best of all, by October the millions of hardwood trees that carpet the hills of the surrounding Canadian Shield and Laurentian Highlands go through their annual transformation from the rich green of summer to the colourful quilt of yellow, orange, and red of fall. This natural tapestry generates wonder and curiousity from even those who never venture into the forest at any other time of the year, and local trails, especially in nearby Gatineau Park, throng with walkers in numbers that are difficult to believe.

Every year, the National Capital Commission hosts the "Fall Rapsody", a celebration of the magic of this remarkable natural transpformation. In 2009, this runs from October 2-18, and includes interpretive events and guided walks. But whether you brave the crowds in Gatineau Park, or venture elsewhere into the equally vibrant, but less well-travelled countryside, October is the month to be on the trails.

Rideau Trail

2009-09-18T11:14:00.007-04:00

No book about hiking in the Ottawa area would be complete without reference to the Rideau Trail. At nearly 400-km in length, this heroic route connects the cities of Ottawa and Kingston, working its way through town, field, and forest in between.

And what's more amazing, this path is entirely maintained by volunteers. The Rideau Trail Association is a not-for-profit organization comprising of clubs in Ottawa, Perth, and Kingston. Each of these clubs not only regularly organizes outings - in addition to hiking, they do biking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing - but more importantly ensures the usability of the Rideau Trail from end-to-end, bridging streams, clearing downed trees, and posting signage. They even do so where their route passes through provincial parks and the National Capital Commission (NCC) Greenbelt.

As you might expect, the Rideau Trail enjoys a prominent place, and deservedly so, in Hiking Trails of Ottawa. Although I have not attempted to profile it throughout its entire length, which the association does in its own guidebook, I have highlighted several specific sections of the Rideau Trail, and in other instances it makes up a portion of my profiled route.

Within the Greenbelt of the City of Ottawa, the Lime Kiln Loop in Stoney Swamp follows NCC trails for much of its length, but the majority of the route is found on the Rideau Trail. Similarly, the NCC Pathway between Britannia Park and Westboro Beach is also the route of the Rideau Trail. I may call it the "Old Quarry Trail", but this complicated trek not only explores much of the Old Quarry Loop, but several differently numbered NCC trails, the a section of the Ottawa-Carleton Trailway, and a sliver of the Rideau Trail.

Beyond the Greenbelt, the Marlborough Forest - Cedar Grove route is almost entirely on either the main or a secondary section of the Rideau Trail.

But it is in the Frontenac Arch where the Rideau Trail becomes particularly prominent. Two of the profiled routes, in Perth and Westport, are specifically named as being the Rideau Trail. In addition, the Rock Dunder and Marble Mountain, although not on the main trail, were developed and are maintained by the Rideau Trail Association. Finally, the Split Lake Loop in Frontenac Provincial Park, the portion of the Cataraqui Trail near Chaffey Lock that I profile, and the route I selected in Murphy's Point Provincial Park, all share at least some of their distance with the wandering and ubiquitous Rideau Trail.

I encourage all outdoor enthusiasts to learn more about the Rideau Trail Association. Novice hikers, in particular, can benefit by participating in their organized group activities. For more information on the Rideau Trail Association, check out their Website: www.rideautrail.org.

Hidden Treasure: Parcours Louis-Joseph-Papineau

2009-09-02T12:06:00.009-04:00

Among experienced hikers, trails are sometimes evaluated purely in terms of their challenge, with the "best" being the most difficult. I cannot agree with this method of grading because some paths, like the Parcours Louis-Joseph-Papineau, offer so much more than just the opportunity to work up a sweat. Of course, at 20-km for a return trip, the parcours may qualify as a good workout as well.

But what is most distinctive about this wonderful trail is the public art distributed throughout its entire length. Dozens of creative pieces, from the delightfully whimsical to the unabashedly bizarre, may be found in the fields and forest bordering the crushed stone path.

And they are designed to be touched. Near the trailhead, sheltered beneath a grove of Hemlocks, sits a big drum. Try to walk past without a test tap or two: can't be done. Less that a kilometre later you will encounter Le Métronome Organique, another piece of musical art. Not every piece generates sounds: I was amused by the sculptures of the big geese, but my favourite La Bibliothèque minérale - a library of stones.

This is no abandoned rail-line. Although wide like a rail-line, the parcours climbs several substantial hills, ending in a viewing platform with a reasonably scenic panorama of the neighbouring river valley and ridge line. This hard-to-find trail is a true hidden gem.

Directions: From the MacDonald-Champlain Bridge, follow Highway 5 to Exit 2 and turn right onto Highway 50, 2-km. Follow Highway 50 to Exit 166, 30-km. Turn left at junction with Highway 315, 600m after exit. Drive 500m to streetlight and junction with Highway 148. Continue straight, then left, following Highway 148 for 33-km to community of Papineauville and junction with Highway 321. Turn left, and continue for 13-km to Saint-André-Avellin.

Entrance to parking area is dirt lane on left immediately past the Bar Chez Max and opposite the Depanneur du Village, 39 rue Principale. Trailhead is set back from road about 50m.

Trailhead: N45°43”13.1’ W75°03”28.8'

New Trail Opens!

2009-08-11T08:57:00.009-04:00

Just when you think you know just about everything about the trails in an area, you discover something that makes you feel as if you know nothing at all.

That was my reaction in late July when I read a report in the Renfrew Mercury newspaper about the opening of an extensive trail network in Calabogie, northeast of Ottawa in the Township of Greater Madawaska. I had heard nothing about this trail system before that announcement, despite being in the area on a number of occasions and having spoken to tourism officials about wanting to know about hiking and biking trails.

Fortunately, my lack of knowledge was soon corrected, and thanks to the directions in the newspaper article, I was able, within a week, to visit and hike the new Manitou Mountain Trail. And it is a beauty!

A more detailed description of my route is for the book, but I can tell you that the new trail provides access to the top of Dickson Mountain, above the Calabogie Peaks Resort, and provides several other look-offs with broad views of the surrounding countryside.

However, this network of wilderness footpaths are not for the beginner, unless accompanied by someone more experienced, and a map is essential for this trek. Manitou Mountain and its connecting trails are a hike for an entire day, not 1-2 hours.

For those who do not wish to wait until next April, and the release of Hiking Trails of Ottawa, to explore this trails, you can find information about Manitou Mountain at: www.somuchmore.ca/Manitoumtncopy.html.

Enjoy!

Gatineau Park

2009-07-27T13:37:00.004-04:00

Any book about Ottawa's outdoors must prominently feature Gatineau Park. This huge block of public protected space, shaped like a spear-head thrusting into the urban core of the National Capital area, has been the city's playground for many decades.

In fact, one of the problems I had with choosing trails to include in HTO was how to limit myself to only 10 listings in Gatineau Park. It contains so many possibilities, more kilometres of trails within its boundaries, both managed and informal, than exist near most North American cities. Gatineau park is so popular, and so well-known to Ottawa residents, that whatever selection I made was certain, I believed, to fail to include many people's favourite route and cause dissatisfaction.

In some respects the knowledge that most people would almost certainly be upset no matter what I decided made choosing easier. After all, if it was unlikely that anyone else would be pleased, I only needed to worry about satisfying myself!

Accordingly, I selected serveral shorter, but popular trails for novices and visitors. The Lauriault Trail seemed an obvious choice, as did Lac Pink and King Mountain.

Another short route that I included, Luskville Falls, I rated as a difficulty level of "3" because of the steep climb. Other, longer, intermediate walks are Herridge Hut, starting from P16 near Wakefield, and the Skyline Trail, beginning from the Chelsea picnic area.

Two routes I selected earned an advanced difficulty rating of "4": the challenging Sentier des Loup and less well-known Trail 56. And garnering the top difficulty rating of "5" are the long and climbing Lusk Caves trail, starting from Lac Philippe, and the physically and navigationally challenging route to Western Hut from the shores of Lac Meech.

I attempted to select routes that went to lakes and waterfalls, viewing areas and woodlands, and I tried to enter the park from a wide variety of directions. As I said earlier, there are any number of choices that could have been made. I hope that I included your favourite trail. If not, hopefully there is one that you do not know and are interested to try. Maybe you will discover an area of the park that you have overlooked.

Degree of Difficulty

2009-07-14T08:48:00.002-04:00

All the trails profiled in Hiking Trails of Ottawa are assigned a numerical rating from 1-5 that indicates my evaluation of their degree of difficulty. A trail with a rating of "1" indicates it as being suitable for all fitness and experience levels. A route with a "5" is recommended only for experienced and very fit outdoor people.

These ratings are given based upon considerations of length, elevation change, condition of treadway, and signage. The base rating is founded on distance. Any trail up to 5-km is considered to be level "1", unless other characteristics, such as a steep climb, might increase its rating. Similarly, a trail from 5-10-km will be rated "2", a route 10-15-km long will be rated "3", 15-20-km rated "4", and anything longer than 20-km will automatically receive a "5" ranking.

If the terrain over which the trail passes is rocky or difficult, or there is significant elevation change, the rating will be increased by one or even two levels. On the other hand, on level, paved or crushed stone covered routes such as rail-trails or National Capital Pathways, the rating may be decreased by one level.

Level 4 and 5 hikes include an indication of what qualifies them for a higher rating. And any route, regardless of distance, where anything more than basic navigation skills are required, will automatically receive a "4" rating.

Novices, or those wanting a family walk, should choose level "1" and "2" ranked hikes initially, and work up to higher rated routes as they gain experience.

How Were the Profiled Trails Chosen?

2009-07-09T09:31:00.003-04:00

There are hundreds of managed trails within a 100-km-by-air distance of downtown Ottawa. If only 50 can be adequately profiled, how do you decide what to include, and what to leave out?

The first way to select is to choose to include entries from every part of the region. After all, it would be simple to profile 50 trails just within Gatineau Park and the National Capital Greenbelt and Pathway System. There has been tremendous work done to develop a vast netowrk of walking/cycling paths. However, I found that there were many other trails, usually less well-known, found outside of NCC lands. Hikers in the Ottawa area should know about these as well.

Accordingly, I divided the area into five regions: Quebec - Gatineau Park, Quebec - Outside of Gatineau Park, Ontario - City and Greenbelt, Ontario - Outside Greenbelt, and the Frontenac Axis. In each of these regions, I would chose 10 listings, ensuring that there wold be some representation nearly everywhere, yet the areas with the greatest degree of trail development, such as Gatineau Park, would have a number of selections.

In order to better explain to the reader what type of experience they will have on any particular trail, is to provide a "Degree of Difficulty" rating. Each trail is provided a rating between "1", suitable for almost anybody, to "5", recommended for experienced and/or fit hikers only.

So, in each of the five regions, I decided to ensure that there would be at least one profiled listing in each of the five "Degrees of Difficulty". Ideally, there would be two for each of the five levels, but that was not often possible, particularly in some of the regions.

And next, but by no means finally, I was concerned with what type of experience would be enjoyed by the hiker. I did not want every trail to be the same. Ideally, I would choose some routes to include climbs while selecting others that stayed mostly level. Winding forest footpaths are what I enjoy most, but I recognize that beginner hikers and groups of friends might like the wide corridors of rail trails. If possible, I prefered to select a loop route, but often the profiled trail can only be an "out-and-back" walk. And, of course, if a trail took you to a lake, a waterfall, a look-off, or a good picnic site, it ranked high on the list of what I wanted to include.

So essentially, the trails profiled in Hiking Trails of Ottawa were selected first for geographic location, also for "Degree of Difficulty", and most importantly for the variety of experiences they could provide.

And if you think that was easy, don't forget that in oreder to evaluate what trails would be included, I would need to walk every one of them, and many others that did not "make the cut".

Next Post: Explaining "Degree of Difficulty"

How Many Trails?

2009-06-21T11:48:00.008-04:00

Developing a book is quite different than building a Website. With a Website there is almost unlimited storage potential, as well as the opportunity to make changes and additions as frequently as required. A book, however, is inflexible; what can be included is constrained by space and once printed it can only be changed at infrequent intervals.

So it is critically important to the success of a book to plan what will be included long before the writing begins. In the case of Hiking Trails of Ottawa, that meant, among other things, deciding how many trail listings will be profiled.

In the previous entry, "What Trails are Included?", I said that I had selected an area within a 100-km distance of Parliament Hill as the region to be profiled in this book. As any outdoor person knows, we are blessed with hundreds of possible hiking destinations inside that small area, and thousands of kilometers of possible walking.

However, if I attempted to profile every trail, the book would be little more than a shopping list, with very small amounts of information available about any particular trail. Either that, or I could produce a volume of 1,000 pages or so - but I think the resulting price tag would be too high for most people. Creating lists is excellent for Websites; books need to be more selective.

For me, two facts are critically important for each trail profiled: how to find the start (trailhead), and what will be seen when on the trail. Obviously, you need to be able to find your way to the trail in order to hike it, but many books I have seen somehow fail to provide adequate directions, and I find few things as frustrating as driving an hour for a hike and being unable to find "the third driveway past the blue house", or some similarly unhelpful postings. Perhaps even more importantly, once on the trail you should be able to follow a route without becoming lost. Again, some books provide such vague comments about a particular route that it is as much by luck as by design that a hiker is able to navigate their way.

To provide this information accurately approximately 1,000 words of text is required for each trail listing. Add supporting information such as natural history facts, hiking tips, maps, and general background, and for a book limited to about 350 pages - about $20-25 retail) that works out to about 50 listings possible.

So, expect that Hiking Trails of Ottawa will provide detailed descriptions of 50 hiking routes within a 100-km circle of Parliament Hill.

Next Post: How were the profiled trails chosen?

What Trails are included?

2009-06-21T11:48:00.003-04:00

The most difficult question to answer for this book had to be, "What trails do I include?" As anyone who has hiked around Ottawa knows, there is an incredible variety of options available.

The first issue to be decided was what I meant by "Ottawa". Was it the city, the river valley, eastern Ontario, or something else? In one of the books I reviewed, Nature and Natural Areas in Canada's Capital, published by the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club, the region was defined as a circle of 100-km centred on Parliament Hill. I found this definition particulalry helpful, because it did not attempt to use political boundaries or even geographical features, but simply anything within a prescribed distance.

As I continued to hike various trails and collect information, the more reasonable this 100-km circle appeared. There were clearly enough possible routes within that distance, as it included Gatineau Park, substantial portions of the Outouais region of Quebec, and most of eastern Ontario.

Next Post: How many trails, and what kind?

Brief Outline of Hiking Trails of Ottawa

2009-04-24T16:03:00.003-04:00

Hiking Trails of Ottawa, or "HTO", as I will refer to it, will be composed of the descriptions of 50 walking routes within eastern Ontario and western Quebec. These are all found within a circle, centred upon Parliament Hill, of a radius of approximately 100-km.

The region is divided into five districts: Gatineau Park, Quebec outside of Gatineau Park, Ottawa within the Greenbelt, Eastern Ontario outside the Greenbelt, and the Frontenac Axis. In each of these districts 10 distinct routes of varying degrees of difficulty are profiled. The difficulty factor ranges from "1", or suitable for almost all fitness levels, to "5", recommended only for fit and/or experienced hikers. The lengths of the selected routes, always given for return trips, vary from 3-km to 42-km.

Publication Tentatively Scheduled

2009-04-24T14:18:00.002-04:00

The long-awaited "Hiking Trails of Ottawa" has been scheduled for a spring 2010 publication and launch. While the exact date has not been established, it is currently being planned for a date in April.

Updates on the precise date and location for the book launch will be published when available. If you are interested in attending the launch, please provide me with your name and e-mail address.