Algonquin Trail

[dukealien]

Mind the roots and keep apace  "apace" is a way of saying "in time with," but normally doesn't go with physical walking
with the gentle thud of pops walking stick, missing apostrophe in "pop's" fits the naive character of the narrative
its maple gnarled as the antlers of the moose is the first "the" in this line necessary?
peeking through the trees across the pond,  again, is the first "the" needed?  And what kind of trees - birches, fir?
taking a look at the creatures with two legs "these" for "the" perhaps?
as we gaze upon it in mutual wonder. moose mainly wonder why humans don't fall down all the time, with only two legs 

Skip the sog that hugs the pond, "sog" is problematic here.  With  bit of thought, it comes up as a ghost root of "soggy" but unless it's current slang in the region this invention jars with the naive tone
and land on rocks placed by god
to keep our socks dry,  the format of one sentence per stanza is noted, but a period here with "Now" beginning the next line could work better; an inclined trail doesn't fit with the image of a pond with stepping-stones, anyway
as the trail sharpens its incline
and steps begin to gruel. "gruel" is another invention (ghost root of "grueling") that is just too inventive for the naive tone.

Exhale as you crest the ridge
and look upon blue-green sprawls,
the smell of your own sweat mixed with pine
burning your nose as you listen to the birds is "the" necessary here?
and your father’s joyous laughter. good closing, respect ("father") overcoming informality ("pop").  Did pop place the stepping-stones?  Well, he knew they were there. 

This tells an engaging, happy story and contains some good images.  It's a pleasant read, but the occasional flashes of poetic invention seem odd and distracting in an otherwise gently naive work.

This is written as in a diary, first draft before the poet gets at it.  In that frame, the inventions ("sog" and "gruel") could be hurried searches for the right word.  The grammar format - strictly, each stanza/sentence is imperative, ordering the reader to put self in writer's place - is a little more studied than that, though.  (Each stanza begins with a missing "You," in other words.)

To repeat, it's a good story told in a way that pulls the reader along, but the inventions are stumbling-stones rather than stepping-stones.  It could be less inventive but more striking with more detail - what kind of trees, what kind of birds, were the stones mossy or sharp?  The walking stick and burning smell of pine are good examples.

This could become a really fine retelling of a day with dad; it's already nice.

P.S.  "Sog" was dd enough that I actually tried to wedge "Special Operations Group" into the context.  It was a poor fit.