Me: Okay kids. Today we are going to walk 1 km into a meterorite crater and then walk back.
Dublin: WHAT!! I’m going to be 14 next month.
Raisin: Will there be cookies?
Me: Don’t worry Dubs – we will take lots of rest breaks. Yes Raisin, there will be cookies.

Yes, 450 million years ago a meteorite slammed into the pre-cambrian rock just 10 kms from our campsite. So we set off at 8 am to walk the trail to the crater floor.

The Friends Of Algonquin Park is a volunteer group that helps to maintain the trail. The print guide books that explain all about the meteorite and its effect on the landscape. We decided to go up to the tower first to have a look down at the site. It was still in the morning shade. Later I took one with the full sun.

Raisin decides she is not going any further. Nope. Not happening. I end up carrying her up the stairs.

It was discovered in 1951 from ariel photographs. It is about 2 miles wide and 1,400 feet deep. We began our descent. There is also a portage point to Tecumseh Lake.

The trail was a gentle slope. Raisin did not want to cross the bridge. She was prepared to take here chances with the brook

We got to a very steep part and had to tread carefully. We took a couple of breaks along the24 way. We were the only ones down there. I took a video of the sounds of the forest.

Here we are at the crater wall. It is in front of us but I thought this would make a better picture with the pines.

There is an observation deck where you can look out on to the crater floor.

The walkway is for the portagers to get to the lake. I decided to walk it and see the lake. However. Raisin would accidentally step off the edge into the marsh, I ended up carrying her.

We reached the lake and sat for a spell. I was surprised there was no one else around. Given that it was the Labour Day weekend and a beautiful sunny day. Although I don’t know what we would have done if we met some canoers while walking back.

I decided, instead of carrying Raisin back. we would walk in single file with Dublin in front, then me, then Raisin. Kept a short leash and managed to keep Raisin on the planks. This brook is found in no other part of Algonquin. The gorge was formed because of the sedimentary rock that was the result of the impact of the meteorite. Everywhere else in Algonquin is hard pre-cambrian rock which cannot form a brook gorge. You can hear it in the video.

We got back to the tent, had lunch, then a long nap. That was a big outing so we stayed around the campfire for the evening. Everyone slept soundly that night.