We spent a pleasant and informative afternoon with a naturalist at Irving Park, one of the several sections or links of Stonehammer Geopark, a linear geopark.
The 600 acre peninsula of volcanic rock and
forest is sandwiched between the ocean and a wide expanse of tidal salt marsh. In St John, it was adopted by J.D. Irving
Limited to help protect an environmentally significant, endangered area in New
Brunswick along the Bay of Fundy coastline. This special part of the Fundy
Coast, minutes from a major urban center, is now a place where the public can
enjoy and experience the various ecosystems of the Southern New Brunswick
coastline. With 7-miles of hiking trails in the park’s groomed woodlands, this
is some of the best free environmental tourism anywhere. Nature trails are
clearly marked, and being well mulched made for easy walking. The area is great
for bird watching. Over 250 species have been recorded in the area.
Not so long ago the whole area was a field
grazed by sheep. A few years after the sheep were removed we hiked in a natural
regenerated forest. Our guide was most informative pointing out various plants
and trees.
Eventually we came upon the 61 steps
leading up to the park's observation
tower. Hidden among the treetops at the highest point on the peninsula it
provided a 360° view of the land, seascapes and salt marsh below. The large
sturdy structure is more a viewing area rather than my definition of a tower.
We balanced on 2 X 6 planks spanning a
couple stream beds before we reached the wooden boardwalk stretching 330-feet
over the marsh. No
animal eats salt marsh grass, so the marsh becomes a giant compost heap
providing food for birds and tiny invertebrates.
The abundant rich food sources found in
the salt-marsh and the sea attract numerous species of migratory and marine
birds. The area is a traditional staging site on flight paths between the
Arctic and South America, and a breeding ground for many shore birds along the Atlantic
coastline. All of the built features in
the park were constructed with the least disturbance possible to the area's
fragile ecosystems.
The Fundy Trail
The 6323-acre linear park and ecosystem
hugs the coast of the awe-inspiring Fundy Escarpment on the Bay of Fundy, and
it was a thrill to spend all day here. Ten miles of the parkway is finished.
The road follows Fundy cliffs and dramatic coastline sculpted by tides. Another
part of the Stonehammer Geopark, it is also a UNESCO designated Fundy Biosphere
Reserve. Traveling through 251-million year old rock makes it one of the
last accessible coastal wilderness areas between Florida and Labrador. There is
a wide variety of flora, fauna, wildlife and birds in the area. The
trail/park has miles of walking and hiking trails along the last undeveloped
stretch of coastline on the eastern seaboard.
Along the developed coastal trail are 23 solid wood lookouts
showcasing gorgeous seascapes. It was a lovely clear day!
Fifty years ago Mitchell Franklin had the
vision for the trail and bought 2000 acres along the coast. The first section
of the trail opened in 1999. The money is secure now for the trail and road to continue
all the way to Fundy National Park and should be open by 2018. The area is governed
by the Fundy Trust Authority.
We detoured off the trail to see a large
stand of fiddlehead ferns. We had eaten fiddle heads the night
before. It is also called ostrich fern because it can grow 6-feet tall. The
stem of this fern had a V like a celery stalk. That is an easy identifier as
there are other ferns that have a coiled head before leafing out that are not edible.
Another detour took us toward the water to
see a flower pot rock. Carved from
Fundy’s sandstone sea
cliffs over the course of years and years, the Flower Pot Rocks – sometimes referred
to as sea stacks – showcase the
vertical variance of the Bay’s great tides. Originally the rocks were attached
to the coastline, but time, and erosion separated them, sort of like a glacier
calving. The ice floats away; the rocks stay put.
The
unique rocks are called Flower Pot Rocks for the trees that grow at the top of
the reddish-brown stacks resembling plants growing in a terra-cotta clay pot.
Sea stacks are found in a few places along Fundy’s coastline, but are most common
and famous at Hopewell Cape.
By lunchtime we made it to Big Salmon River and its
Interpretative Center. Nice benches lined the wrap
around deck of the center. We ate lunch facing the river below listening to its
rippling sound.
In the theater Mitch Franklin’s daughter
talked to us about her gathering photos and stories for the video. Franklin
died a few years ago and she buried some of his ashes in the anchor post of one
of the bridges named for him. What fascinating stories she had to tell!
A
bit farther we found the 275-foot long suspension
bridge over the Salmon River. On
the
far side was a small waterfall. This is also where the Fundy Footpath begins--a
continuous wilderness trail from Big Salmon River to the boundaries of Fundy National Park,
a total distance of 24 rugged miles where the terrain leads up and down from
elevations of 0 to 984 ft. and across a dozen ravines. Most of the elements of
the Fundy ecosystem exist within this area, including the dramatic Fundy tides. Only one would not cross the bridge. It swung
some but not as badly as the Capilano bridge in Vancouver, then again this was
a shorter and narrower bridge. The ruins
of the old saw mill and the cribs that housed the cut logs were only a short
walk away.
No comments:
Post a Comment