The Trees That Make This Place Magic
Over the course of the next year or so I would like to introduce you to a recurring segment about some of the incredible trees that make this place so divinely unique. Today we are going to start with one that is close to the bottom, hidden in plain sight. One of the coolest hardwood trees I have ever seen in all of Cumberland County and beyond.
After almost 20 years of design projects I can finally say I have found an absolute dream property. I should have known right away when the locals told me I would be working in the valley of dreams. Although I have been driving by this mountain since I was very young I did not know just how special this place really was. This used to be the main highway to get to Halifax. All of my youthful pursuits in hockey, and baseball had me whizzing by without ever giving my thought about the hidden gems that I was passing. In my teenage years I started to dabble in orienteering and skiing. I got a little closer to the treasures here but I still couldn’t look close enough to actually see what was there . Then a few years ago in the late summer of 2024 I walked this mountain with purpose. I started to slow down and weave in and out of the beaten paths that exist here. I was in awe of what I saw, and what I continue to see every single day I return here. There are trees here that are so divinely beautiful that I can hardly contain my love for them. So I decided the best thing I can do is to tell you all about them so you might come here and love them too.
The space that we commonly refer to when we say Ski Wentworth is a property that spans roughly 500 acres. The majority of it is converted to forest. There are veins of ski trails that take you down the the south and west sides of the mountain. On the periphery there are cross country trails, bike trails, walking trails, and now disc golf holes. Each one has been carefully cut out of the acadian forest that once blanketed this mountain completely. The story of each of these cuts required to make all of these trails are unique. The first was done by hand and horse, the latest with gas powered tools and gps equipped machines. Despite the gap in time that spans over 100 years there is a common thread that holds each of these incisions together; every cut that was made was made with purpose and each cut still tried to keep the essence of this place intact. It seems we have all collectively agreed, without any formal acknowledgement, that the magic trees must stay in place for as long as possible for us all to truly get the most out of the Wentworth experience.
You don’t have to travel far up the hill to find these beauties either. At the very bottom of the hill where the old Barclay road used to run you can see a stand of maple that followed the road way. Each of these majestic hardwoods are gorgeous in their own right, but there is a giant that stands among them. It is hidden in plain sight and deserves its own recognition. It is an Ash tree well over a meter in diameter that is quite possibly the biggest Ash in a 100 km radius. It is so striking that it shocks me that I have never noticed it in all the years of driving past. I linger near it every chance I get now and it always welcomes me back. This tree frames the homestead there and it seems like the original road made its way around the tree and not the other way around. My best guess puts this tree well over 125 years old. Its long and thick trunk gives way to a canopy that spans over 40 feet high and wide. It is stout and sturdy and you can imagine it lasting for another century. I like to think about how many people have passed this tree in its lifetime, or how the original home was built in its shade. For me it is now a landmark that tells me I have arrived at one of my favourite places on earth. I hope you notice it next time you drive by and feel the same.
One giant Ash tree, and we haven't even started the climb up the hill yet.