Don't Give Up on November

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.