The First Rambler – Hiking to the top of Bald Peak

(This is the first post in what I like to call the Retro-Rambler series. Over the last 15 years I've written over 350 columns for the River Valley News. I'll be weeding through them and posting some of these old columns on a regular basis. Think of it as a trip down memory lane. You may be surprised by how little has really changed over the years. We're beginning with the very first column written for the paper. Hope you enjoy the new format for this blog. Please leave your comments and be sure to check out the new column and podcasts at doingstuffoutdoors.com)


When you first stand on the summit of Bald Peak, the combined force of the wind and the spectacular view literally takes your breath away. The Nerepis Valley stretches out to your left. Off in the distance you can see Grand Bay and a few white dots that are actually houses in Brandy Point. In front of you sweeps an endless carpet of trees, broken occasionally by a lake or bog or man made microwavetower and behind you, the even higher summit of Mount Champlain rises. This looks and feels like big mountain country and it's right here in
the River Valley.

A hike to the top of Bald Peak in Welsford is always an adventure for our family. We've been making the trek every fall since we moved to Grand Bay. I first heard about the trail from Dave Goss. He told me about a hike that starts behind the Welsford school and leads all
the way to the top of what is actually Mount Douglas. A huge rock caps the summit and that's why it's called Bald Peak. He also said it was a perfect lookout to view the fall foliage. Boy was he right. This walk has become an autumn tradition for us and for many others as we
soon discovered.

In all the years we've made the climb, we've only ever seen one other person on the trail. But the mountain was crowded this sunny Thanksgiving Sunday. Before we had parked the van we spotted another family getting out of their car. They were friends from the city and
this was their first attempt at the summit so we hiked together. We met others on the trail. Percy and Pat Perrin of Grand Bay were on their way down. We met and passed Grand Bay town councillor Michael Murphy and his family. Mike had his young daughter perched on his
shoulders. The peak was even busier as climbers leisurely soaked up the view. Five students from the Community College in St. Andrews were rock climbing on the fifty foot cliff that crowns the summit. John and Susan Sheehan of Grand Bay were there with their kids and a
relative who used to live in South America. She commented the mountains in Peru are higher but the River valley is just as pretty.

When we arrived at the peak we found Dave Jones lounging in the"Devils Chair". He's the Saint John police officer who patrols Rockwood Park on horseback. He used to live in Welsford and remembers coming up here as a child. This is where his father told him the
story of the "devils chair". It's actually a large boulder on the summit with a natural hollow in it for sitting. Smaller rocks nearby are the "Devils Foot stool" and a few feet away, indentations in the rock or "the devils foot prints" are clearly visible.

The hike up Bald Peak can be done by anyone of any age at any time of the year. I've made the climb in the snow on Boxing Day and in the spring. (I once took all the kids attending my sons birthday party.) In the new book, "A Hiking Guide to New Brunswick" by Marriane and H. A. Eiselt, the 2.5 km (1.6 mile) return trail is described as being of moderate difficulty with a return hiking time of an hour and a quarter. The clearly marked trail rises 650 feet to the summit. It starts behind Welsford school and to the right of the schoolyard. A short dirt road to the left will lead you to the base. You'll know you're there when you see a collection of old rusted vehicles. Don't worry, this unsightly junk will soon be forgotten once you start on
the climb. The trail is sheltered from the wind so at this time of year you probably won't need a lot of extra clothing for the hike but you'll need a warm jacket for the top. Normally running shoes are fine for your feet although if it's been raining rubber boots are a good idea. We usually take a back pack along full of apples, chocolate bars and other treats for the summit. A camera and binoculars are a must.

The fall foliage may be past its prime but there are still plenty of good reasons to make the trek. The climb is exhilarating. It's good exercise. It's something the whole family can do together
and it doesn't cost a thing. The view from the top is spectacular and makes it all worthwhile. Just one climb up Bald Peak and it will probably become a fall tradition for your family too.