Washout
Rain, rain and more rain. No end to this rain. The ground is already well soaked through, cannot possibly accept any more water. There are flood conditions, people are desperate for some sign that the sun still exists up there in the heavens. We were skunked last Thursday. The rain was so heavy, so unforgivingly constant we didn't venture out into the ravine. We took advantage of a brief window of opportunity on Friday morning and off we went.
Down the steep first hill into the ravine; turn left on the trail leading toward the first of the bridges. Then stop half-way there, because there is a great yawning chasm, and where the trail had formerly commenced on its way to the bridge there was nothing. The bank of the creek had collapsed at its highest point, directly into the creek. A large tree overlooking the creek at that juncture had agreed with the exodus and lay in the creek, alongside all the other detritus that had made the journey.
That's what happens when you've got clay, too much clay, and when it's layered with sand as so often happens here in the Ottawa Valley that's a recipe for ecological disaster when the requisite ingredients are combined; in this instance; clay/sand/excess water. That rather stopped us in our tracks. Gap-mouthed in astonishment. On the other hand, in reflection, not all that surprised. The bank had collapsed at the very point where I was always a trifle uneasy treading.
The bank had already succumbed, throughout a period of years, to a gradual crumbling process. When work crews were in there several years back, for the purpose of reconstructing the various bridges that filled the various gaps to enable trekkers to access varied points in the ravine, they had brought in an odd-looking treaded vehicle with a shovel in front, and with it had managed to increase the width of the trail by digging into the upper bank where trees strode up the hillside keeping erosion at bay.
With the widened trail at that juncture I breathed a little easier for a few years. Until this fall, when the unrelenting rainfall stressed our little ecosphere beyond redemption. Our walks, in any event, will not be washouts, since there are always alternate trails which will inevitably bring us to many of the same old haunts, travelling their circuitous routes through this ravine.
The rains continue.
Down the steep first hill into the ravine; turn left on the trail leading toward the first of the bridges. Then stop half-way there, because there is a great yawning chasm, and where the trail had formerly commenced on its way to the bridge there was nothing. The bank of the creek had collapsed at its highest point, directly into the creek. A large tree overlooking the creek at that juncture had agreed with the exodus and lay in the creek, alongside all the other detritus that had made the journey.
That's what happens when you've got clay, too much clay, and when it's layered with sand as so often happens here in the Ottawa Valley that's a recipe for ecological disaster when the requisite ingredients are combined; in this instance; clay/sand/excess water. That rather stopped us in our tracks. Gap-mouthed in astonishment. On the other hand, in reflection, not all that surprised. The bank had collapsed at the very point where I was always a trifle uneasy treading.
The bank had already succumbed, throughout a period of years, to a gradual crumbling process. When work crews were in there several years back, for the purpose of reconstructing the various bridges that filled the various gaps to enable trekkers to access varied points in the ravine, they had brought in an odd-looking treaded vehicle with a shovel in front, and with it had managed to increase the width of the trail by digging into the upper bank where trees strode up the hillside keeping erosion at bay.
With the widened trail at that juncture I breathed a little easier for a few years. Until this fall, when the unrelenting rainfall stressed our little ecosphere beyond redemption. Our walks, in any event, will not be washouts, since there are always alternate trails which will inevitably bring us to many of the same old haunts, travelling their circuitous routes through this ravine.
The rains continue.
posted by Pieface @ 1:19 PM
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