A Waik in the Clouds

Walk in the Clouds Earl Plato
You are forty to fifty feet above the forest floor. You are hooked from your belt harness to a heavy cable for safety’s sake. Quite a thrill as we three Fort Erie senior couples took a “Walk in he Clouds” in the Haliburton forest. That was some years ago. The rustic wildlife reserve camp near Minden, Ontario has operated more than forty years that is until recently. Last month a tornado classified as a F1 with wind speeds of up to 180 km/h cut a 10 kilometre path through the walkway in early August. Owner Peter Schleifenbaum stated, “We can’t be offering any tours at the moment …” I guess not. There was extensive damage. There were large trees ripped apart and uprooted. Some of the trees were half a metre in diameter. Schleifenbaum said “People get up into the forest and they get a beautiful view.” He’s right. A new walkway is being built in another part of the forest and should be ready soon. It is an experience to see the world from the perspective of a squirrel or an owl up in the canopy. Think 20 metres (60 ft.) above the ground. Go for it.
Writer’s note: This walk is not easy but was worth it even for old timers like us.
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Just to enjoy the birds and to appreciate the wild flowers is no longer enough. No longer can we view either with the single-minded innocence of earlier years. In this time of dying lakes and poisoned rivers, abused land, destroyed wildlife, and polluted air, w need not only appreciate nature but appreciate it enough to join privately, and in cooperation with groups in-so far as we are able-the protection of what we enjoy. To enjoy and protect… Enjoyment in the present, in our immediate surroundings, and concern for he future, for the greater whole - both are needed.
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Remember Fort Erie has many areas classified as prime wetlands that are essential to the future existence of plant and animal life. Builders in the town have a responsibility that with the destruction necessary to build new homes comes the responsibility to maintain an acceptable balance for the survival of our wildlife.
Will they do it? Already there is evidence that there are builders who don’t seem to care about our natural heritage.