One Dam Fine Hike

The Ladies from Oakhurst Farm are here again for their Gal's Getaway.  We look forward to seeing them every autumn.  They get here early, and take advantage of some outstanding shopping opportunities in Huntsville and the local craft stores.  Jim, at the Oxtongue Craft Cabin always asks which weekend they are coming, so he can be sure to open early. He's on a first name basis with most of them now!

Saturday we go for a long Nature Hike. The weather this year was perfect. While there was a skiff of snow, it was a great temperature for hiking.  This year we headed up to Damalot, our collection of Beaver Dams.

On the way there, we stopped at the Hidden Lake, to check out pitcher plants  (eliciting the best line ever: "How will we recognize a pitcher plant?" "They are the ones with a frame around them.")  We then contemplating the mirror surface of the bog and wondered if it's true old Hyram Wilder's moonshine still is down there, somewhere.

Some deer thought about coming along with us, but when they saw Taffy, they changed their minds.

We played in the sandpit  -- it's all about staying in balance, and on your heels! (get those 'hocks' engaged!)

Beaver has been hard at it. He has spent much of the summer shoring up and putting the finishing touches on Dam #5, which is conveniently located very close to our ski/hiking trail.  We were able to admire the dam, and marvel at the 'canals' he has cut into the banks to move branches and logs, as well as his Skidding Path nicely worn in from the dragging of materials across the trail.

You can see how much water is being held back by this dam, and how the creek below has been choked off to just a trickle. A trickle which Taffy felt needed close inspection!  Why would we want a Polar Bear instead of a Beaver for our national animal? Look what Beaver has created, instead of just hanging out on a dwindling ice floe hoping for a seal to surface. We're impressed.

The hike took us about 2 hours, and worked up a great appetite for the lunch that was waiting back at the Lodge at Bondi.  It's always lovely to be out on our trail network -- the variety of terrain and eco-systems keeps it interesting, every step of the way!