Monday, May 20, Day 9

This morning was overcast and 14C (57.2F). The forecast was calling for “intermittent showers with the possibility of a thunderstorm” over the next 3 days. However, by the time we did our rounds, checked in at the office & came back for breakfast, the clouds had cleared out. There were a few campers that have packed up and left already! There are about 100 due to leave today. 

I decide to do the ‘Bat Lake’ trail, which is a 6-km loop which leads through a variety of Algonquin forest types and includes lookout, a bog and a lake.

Tiny differences in history & structure of soils can have big consequences for the forests that grow on them. At the beginning of the trail, we walked through a uniform forest of White Pine, Balsam Fir and White spruce. There are no Sugar Maples. This is because the soil is based on sand and maple seedlings can’t survive in sand.

 

 

 

 

We walked alongside a “babbling brook” which was very pretty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To our surprise, we encountered this large piece of ice, which must have fallen from the rock above!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We passed through one of the largest and most impressive stands of Eastern Hemlock to be found in the Parkway Corridor of Algonquin, nicknamed “Cathedral Grove”. They are important havens for different kinds of wildlife, ranging from two species of warblers that nest up in the canopy, to deer that often find winter shelter beneath the snow-catching branches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After leaving Cathedral Grove, we reached the lookout, which afforded a wonderful view.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eventually, we arrived at Bat Lake, which is a pretty lake. However, it is one of 15 lakes in Algonquin known to be acidified. The water here has a pH of 4.8, meaning that it is about 50 timed more acidic than other Park lakes which generally have a summertime surface pH of around 6.5. Bat Lake has no capability at all to neutralize the acid rain that now falls or drains into it, and it cannot support fish.

Although the mention of an “acidified lake” conjures up visions of a sinister and sterile wasteland, Bat Lake is swarming with life. The most spectacular visitors to Bat Lake are the Yellow-spotted Salamanders. These exotic-looking miniature dragons spend most of the year on land. In early spring they return to the water to breed and lay their eggs. In most lakes, both the adult and salamander tadpoles would be annihilated by fish. Here in Bat Lake, however, there are no fish, which makes it a salamander paradise. 

All in all, it was an interesting hike, outlining how the slight differences in soil can have far-reaching consequences for the forest. However, we didn’t see any wildlife today.

After returning from the trail, we rested before doing the 2:00 rounds. This time it was fairly easy, with almost 100 campers departed! The campground went from 123 occupied sites this morning to 25 this afternoon. 

 

Then it was off to the Visitor Centre to check email and update the Blog. The rain and thunderstorms have not showed up yet. We’ll see what happens tonight!