The Pretty River and explorer Samuel Champlain

Today, I hiked the waterfall trail in the Pretty River Valley. It is named rightfully so. It is so peaceful and “Pretty” in here, but did you also know that famous explorer Samuel Champlain passed by here in 1616! In his journals, Champlain said that “travelling (here) is very troublesome in winter”. No kidding! Can you just imagine trying to travel along the bottom of the Escarpment, from what is now Duntroon, to Craigleith on just Indian paths. It was once called “Father Noel Chabanel’s road, and on December 7, 1616, the trails were described as “roads difficult of passage; and at a most fatiguing season, as the snow had already covered the ground”.. This great traveler thought that he may have found the route to China, but alas, he only discovered a snow filled pretty valley, so headed back to his ship docked at Carhagouha, which is now called “La Fountaine! I love our area history! Signing off “Hiking with the Viking” . November 2019