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The most recent ice age in North
America, known as the Wisconsin period, lasted about 60,000 years.
During this time, Ontario was buried under a sheet of ice up to 2
miles (3.2 kilometres) thick. As these ice sheets advanced, they
acted like a giant bulldozer, scraping the bedrock clean of all
loose material. Evidence of this process can be seen on the smooth
rocky outcrops to the south of the trailhead. Look for the small,
crescent-shaped scars on the smooth, white bedrock surface. These
are known as chattermarks. Under the immense pressure of the ice
sheet above them, small boulders, loosely embedded in the till at
the base of the glacier, pried and kneaded the bedrock surface
creating the marks you now see. Also look for the long, narrow
grooves known as striations. These were created by the scouring
action of rocks frozen in the base of the glacier. Can you tell in
what direction the glaciers advanced over this area? (Clue: What is
the orientation of the chattermarks and striations in the bedrock?)
Between 10,000 - 12,000 years ago, glaciers covering the Temagami
area began to recede. Most of the waterways and landforms you see in
this area are the result of glacial advance and retreat. As you hike
the trails, watch for erratics – large rock fragments that
have been transported away from their place of origin by moving ice,
and deposited in areas of dissimilar rock type. Plant colonization
followed the retreat of the glaciers, and many thousands of years of
natural development and change have resulted in the forests you are
now entering. |
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Point 2 - Tall Pines Project In the spring of 1988, the
Temagami Wilderness Society launched the Tall Pines Project. The
purpose of this ongoing research initiative is to study the
ecological nature of old- growth red and white pine forests in the
Temagami area. In 1990, this site at the north end of Lake Obabika
functioned as the research base camp. From here, researchers can
easily access the 1,300 hectares of continuous old- growth pine.
Old-growth forests have recently been the subject of many research
efforts throughout North America. Very little is known about the
functions and processes within these complex ecosystems. As they
become increasingly rare, it is essential that they be managed more
conservatively. As our knowledge of old growth increases, so too
does our appreciation of its unique and intrinsic value. The
research being conducted on these forests has already led to some
startling discoveries concerning the regeneration of white pine
forests. Past forestry techniques have been based on the assumption
that white pine forests regenerate through widespread catastrophic
disturbances. This premise has led to the practice of clearcutting
forests in order to mimic the natural process of catastrophic
wildfire. But attempts to regenerate white pine forests using this
technique have been unsuccessful. Re- search by Dr. Peter Quinby of
the Tall Pines Project indicates that components of the old- growth
forest, including snags (dead standing trees) and logs (dead fallen
trees), as well as localized disturbances, including small surface
fires and windthrows, are important to the regeneration of this
forest (read on for a more detailed explanation). A study of the
pollen record in nearby lake sediment has shown that white and red
pine have dominated this old- growth stand for approximately 7,000
years. Study of successful white pine regeneration here can help in
the development of techniques to regenerate white pine in logged
areas. While the Tall Pines Project has made significant
contributions to our knowledge of old growth dynamics, there remain
many unan- swered questions. As you hike these trails, you will
notice various markers. Please leave these undisturbed, as they are
important for continuing research in this area. |
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Point 3 - Pathways from the Past These portions of the Obabika old-growth trail system are nastawgan (ancient native trails). Nastawgan crisscross the entire Temagami wilderness, and some are as many as 3,000 years old. They reveal a remarkable and complex system of year-round travel by foot, canoe, snowshoe and toboggan. Nastawagan evolved from native’s knowledge of the land into a web of water routes and land trails that made skillful use of the terrain, and provided access to traditonal hunting territories. In recent years, many canoeists have used and appreciated the nastawgan in their travels through Temagami. Unfortunately, portions of the network have been destroyed by logging activity. The remaining trails are testimony to the threatened heritage of the Teme-Augama Anishnabai.Back to Top |
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To your right, at the south end of Lake
Shish-Kong is a bog. Over hundreds or even thousands of
years, the once open water has been invaded from the
edges by plants. This floating mat of vegetation is
comprised mainly of sedges, sphagnum moss, and shrubs. As
plants on the mat die, they sink into the water below the
mat and form layers of peat. Over time, peat layers have
filled in this formerly shallow bay, and the mat of
vegetation has become grounded. With time, trees such as
the black spruce will further colonize this area, and
eventually a full forest may develop. Around the southern
perimeter of this bog, and at other points along the
trails, you will notice that the forest is dominated by
black spruce. One bird in particular, the spruce grouse,
favours this type of forest. The winter diet of the
spruce grouse consists largely of spruce needles, making
its flesh taste strongly of turpentine, and rendering it
quite inedible. |
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The beaver is a most industrious creature, as
evidenced by the wealth of dams and fallen trees around their
habitat. It is the beaver’s ability to manipulate the
environment in order to create its own habitat that sets it apart
from all other animals but one – humans. It is competition
between these two engineers that sometimes results in considerable
conflict. Many a landowner has cursed the existence of
Canada’s largest rodent. Adult beavers may weigh up to 27
kilograms (60 pounds) and attain lengths of up to 1 metre (39
inches). As well as expanding their own frontiers, beavers were
partially reponsible for the expansion of other frontiers. The first
contact the Teme-Augama Anishnabai had with non-natives was with
representatives of fur trading companies in the 16th century. Beaver
were an important mainstay of fur-trading activity in the region.
For many years, every man, woman and child in Europe that could
afford one, owned a beaver hat. Fluctuating fashion interest in
beaver pelts has played havoc with trappers and fur traders alike,
but the beaver still remains one of the most important (and common)
fur-bearing animals in Ontario. |  | |
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Point 7 - Lake Obabika Lookout Early non-native visitors to the Temagami
area spoke of extensive waterways, vast stands of high-quality
timber, and an abundance of fish, game, and fur-bearing animals. As
these first travellers were all involved in resource exploitation of
one type or another, it is not surprising that their descriptions
were so utilitarian. Subse- quent rediscovery of the area by outdoor
enthusiasts resulted in descriptions not dissimilar, but focussing
more on the aesthetic values of Temagami. From this vantage point,
you can experience the outstanding landscape that so awed early
travellers. Much of the forest you see has never been logged. |
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Point 8 - Lake Shish-Kong Cliff At this point along the trail, you get your
first full view of the impressive cliff that forms the
backdrop of Lake Shish-Kong. This lake is known as
Shis-kong-abikong, "lake at the place of the huge
rock". To the Teme-Augama Anishnabai, this is an area of great
spriritual significance . This lake and cliff were formed through a
faulting process along a fracture or break. This did not result from
glacial activity, but rather, from tectonic activity (movement in
response to enormous forces in the earth’s crust). Weathering
has occurred over time. As rock broke loose, talus (or scree)
accumulated at the base of the cliff. Nothing in the natural world
is static – all systems undergo continuous, although often
very gradual change. Difficult as it is to comprehend, especially
given the time frame our lives occupy, on a geologic time scale this
feature will last for only a short while before completely
succumbing to the elements. |
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Point 8a - The Burn If you look toward the top of this hill and
to the west (to the left as you walk north on the trail), you will
see an open area with only a few large trees. Look closely at the
ground and you will see charred stumps and logs, and small bits of
charcoal – evidence of a recent fire. Many plant species,
including the white and red pine trees that dominate the old-growth
forest, regenerate in conditions created by periodic natural
wildfire. By burning off dead leaves and branches on the forest
floor, surface fires expose mineral soil making it easier for pine
seedlings to grow. The initial root growth from the pine seed does
not have to penetrate a layer of dead leaves in order to reach
mineral soil. Once the roots of a new seedling penetrate the mineral
soil its chances of survival increase. It attains physical stability
and a supply of water and nutrients. Most fires in the old-growth
pine forest are surface fires that kill only a small portion of the
mature and old trees. Once they reach the mature stage, both white
and red pine trees have developed very thick bark that usually
protects them from fire. How many mature pine trees can you count
within 200 meters of this burned area? These mature trees provide
seed for forest regeneration. Many seeds have already germinated and
produced young pine trees – investigate the forest floor and
you will see them. | ||
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Point 9 - Examining Old Growth Throughout this area you have the opportunity to examine and experience firsthand the many features that make the Temagami old growth pine forest so special. Old growth is much more than just old or large trees, and has many values other than providing habitat for a few wildlife species. By describing old growth in these ways, we detract from the concept that old-growth forests are complex and productive ecosystems comprised of interwoven plant and animal communities. All of the components are important to the maintenance of the ecosystem as a whole. This old-growth red and white pine forest is an ecologically diverse system that can be defined not by a single feature, but by multiple characteristics. Old, large trees are an important component of old growth. The presence of standing dead trees (snags) and fallen dead trees (logs) are equally important to any defini- tion. These dead trees are crucial as feeding and nesting sites for many birds and mammals, and essential to the recycling of nutrients (hence continued productivity) within the ecosystem. As well, old-growth forests contain small and intermediate-sized trees, and an abundance of shrubs, herbaceous plants, mosses, ferns, fungi and lichens. One of the most critical, and least under- stood processes within this and other old-growth forests is that of regeneration. Recent research in this area indicates that white pine are suc- cessfully regenerating. Since the large, old trees are still alive, catastrophic fire cannot be the disturbance that releases the resources that the young pines need to grow. Rather, it is the effect of small, localized disturbances that encourage regeneration. Such disturbances include the natural death of large, old trees, and deaths hastened by surface fires and windstorms. These disturbances expose patches of mineral soil and create gaps in the forest canopy, resulting in an increase in light, water, and nutrients. It is also possible that, in the absence of any kind of disturbance, white pine seedlings are able to grow on layers of dead leaves and needles on the forest floor. Dispersal and germination of tree seeds, especially the white and red pine, may be facilitated by the winter preparations of red squirrels, which actively hoard and cache seeds in the ground during the fall. As a forest develops, it is said to pass through various successional stages. 700 years of tree record can be found in the logs, snags and trees. This process can neither be mimicked, nor hastened, with existing knowledge and forestry techniques. We are just beginning to tap into the wealth of knowledge contained within these remarkable ecosystems. Only through further research can we hope to increase our understanding. |
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