East is the human world, south is the
plants, west represents the minerals, and
north is the animals’ realm. In the centre is
where all four worlds unite to create balance
in harmony with all things.
Maybe the story of lost gold was intended
by the elders as a lure, a way to bring people
to value the area’s natural and medicinal
gifts. Perhaps the medicine wheel and its
path to peace is the real treasure to be found
here on Manitou Mountain.
While the sun paints my skin a deeper hue,
a shadow alerts me to a bald eagle above,
and I know it is time to move on. As I make
my way down from Manitou Mountain a
timber wolf howls in the distance. I wonder
what will be revealed to me next as I hike
through a twilight world back to the hotel.
I’m pretty sure I found the treasure.
Manitou Mountain is a magical place where
rocks, plants, trees, animals, birds, and the
sky itself encourage us to understand we
are all native to the earth.
So I guess the old chief was right, and
the medicine wheel confirmed it. No matter
how lost I get, I always find my spirit in the
wilderness.
(Tim Yearington is the guide for
Backcountry Adventures at the Peaks
www.calabogie.com. For hiking the Calabogie
area contact him at tyearington@calabogie.
com or call 613-752-2720 x 1720.
hOw tO get there
From Ottawa, take Highway 417 west
towards Arnprior, where it becomes Highway
17. Half way between Arnprior and Renfrew
R
a
f
t
i
n
g
turn left onto Regional Highway 508. Follow
508 west 23 kilometres through Burnstown
t
h
e
O
t
t
a
w
a
River
and Springtown to Calabogie, and go straight
through. Soon you will see Calabogie Lake on
your left and the Calabogie Peaks alpine ski
area ahead. Turn Left at Barrett Chute Road
and then immediately right into the Dickson
Manor hotel parking lot at Calabogie Peaks
Resort.
You can get a Lost Valley trail map at the
front desk of Dickson Manor; the trailhead is
just behind it. Follow the yellow Lost Valley
markers up to the Bear Claw trail. Follow
the Bear Claw trail through the hardwoods
to the ascent up into the Lost Valley. Lost
Valley trail itself is a loop, but follow the
yellow markers to Juniper Ridge Lookout.
Return to the main trail and descend to
Indian Pass junction. Here the markers
become red. At the top of Indian Pass turn
1-800-267-8504
left up to Manitou Mountain. Retrace your
www.riverrunrafting.com Beachburg, ON
route back. «OO
www.OttawaOutdoors.ca OTTAWA >> SUMMER/FALL 2008 57
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