Autumn in Manitoba makes for the perfect season to head out for a hike, followed by the hearty community tradition known as the ‘fall supper’.
The Prairie Pathfinders Walking Club is a non-profit group that organizes urban walks and out-of-town hikes. You could say they wrote the book on hiking because, actually, they did. A few books, in fact.
Winnipeg Walks, Hiking the Heartland, and Manitoba Picnic Perfect are three titles penned by these avid nomads. They invited me to come along for an on Rae Trail – one of their ‘signature’ hikes.
Hiking the Rae Trail
Located off Highway 34 between the towns of Austin and Holland, the 14-kilometer Rae Trail winds up and down through woodland and meadow. Vantage points boast spectacular views of the Assiniboine River Valley. Here you can gaze upon tufts of forest interspersed with farmers’ fields stretched out like a patchwork quilt.
It’s best to traverse the Rae Trail with someone who knows the terrain. Because the route is not marked. The Prairie Pathfinders have a good system to avoid losing stragglers, though. This involves signing in at the meeting point, and signing out after the hike. In between, you’re book-ended by two experienced guides.
Our group of 33 hikers sauntered along at different speeds depending on ability and desired pace. I found that meandering leisurely was the best way to soak up the surroundings. It allowed more time to take photos, and stop and smell the sage – which grows all along the trail.
Fall supper awaits
After three hours of hiking our reward was that great prairie tradition known as the ‘fall supper’. From September to November, locales all over Manitoba host community-based buffets. The tradition reaches back through generations of farmers. At harvest, families gather together to bask in the blessings of bounty. It’s a time of giving, sharing, and eating.
We visited the village of St. Claude where the line-up for their fall supper stretched outside the community hall and down the street. People from miles around waited patiently for their turn at the table. Including our group of hungry hikers. And boy was it worth the wait!
We feasted on roast turkey, meatballs, mashed potatoes, and other delicious dishes. The desert table featured homemade cakes, pies and puddings galore. Those who prepared and served the food fed close to 1000 people that day. And they did it with smiles on their faces. We felt the community warmth in St. Claude. It warmed my heart to be there.
We drove home with tired feet and full bellies, witnessing a spectacular prairie sunset. In that moment it dawned on me that it was the perfect made-in-Manitoba Sunday.
The kind you could only find in a place like home.
