In Search of a Beaver Dam with Tricia and Zach

"When you set out for Ithaka
Ask that your way be long,
Full of adventure, full of instruction."
~C.P. Cavafy~

"Tricia, how are you ever going to see a bobcat in the wild if you don't go hiking in the woods?  In order to see a bobcat, one must venture where bobcats are found.  One will never see a bobcat reading a book on the porch of a cabin".

"But Zach, I have never hiked.  Although I played outside most of my childhood, my family was not the hiking kind.  Personally, I'm a little bit afraid about going into the woods.  I don't know whether I could climb a mountain."

This conversation took place the morning after Zach and I had climbed Copple Crown.  As I was eating my bacon and eggs I thought about what Tricia said and thought I heard, though words were not spoken out loud, Tricia's desire to venture out and experience that which Zach had grown up on...being out in the wilds of nature. 

Tricia and I were similar in many ways, though she did not know it.  I, too, as a child was neither a hiker nor a mountain climber.  My adventures came from books.  It was only after I married Papa, an archealogist and mountain climber, that I actually learned the freedom of the trail.  I remember those early days of marriage...knowing fully well that I had to set aside my fears of the unknown, and just experience the joy of hiking.  Hiking a forest untouched... hiking smoothly between earth and sky.  I soon found I enjoyed this activity...it seemed to induce an inner peace as each footstep went forward...it was sort of like a well-regulated ballet. I wanted to give this gift to Tricia knowing fully well that it could be a gift she might reject.

"Hey Zach, I was looking through the Appalacian Guide book and there's an Easy hike nearby...listen Trisha, you might want to go on this hike and Papa I think you can do it too.  The hike is on level ground...two miles to a clear, pristine lake where there are active beavers.  The guide book says one can see a beaver dam as well as a lodge.  I sure would love to get pictures of this and write an article for Gather."

And so shortly there after we found ourselves in the car going over to Knight's Conservation area in East Alton, next to the Wolfeboro town line.  Knight's has been "preserved to show what all New Hampshire lakes must have been like 300 and more years ago".  It is 300 acres of woodlands surrounding a lake devoid of any human structures.



 
We parked the car near an old outhouse by the road and hiked the two miles in to the lake.




From the shore, we saw a large expanse of water and to the left on the farside was a river flowing into the main body.  Ummmm...the guide book mentioned that there was a 5.2 mile trail around the lake...so I guess we needed to start walking to the farside if we are to see an active beaver dam and lodge.  Papa opted to lay in the sun on the grass after he had taken a dip in the lake...the hike to the pond was more then enough for him.


After eating a few wild blueberries growing on the side of the trail, Tricia, Zach and I set out for the river.  At first the trail, although level, went through a swampy area where one had to spring over rocks and roots.




 Then the trail became more even as it meandered around rocky inlets.  Tricia and Zach ran ahead as I stopped every now and again to take pictures.  I could hear their voices conversing in a mood of gaity and every now and again I could catch glimpses of the young
people.
 








 At the the river, the trail left the lake and followed upstream for a mile before crossing over to the other side.  It was here we all came together and though we peered hard, no beaver did we find.











  We found an environment that was conducive to beavers and their ways...but no live animal knawing and felling trees.  Nor did we really see a lodge.  Dam, I was disappointed....I really wanted to take some pictures.  Continueing on with our journey new insight came.  Sometimes we head out seeking one thing and we find quite another in its place.  Something we needed instead.  Isn't that life?

Arriving back at the beginning of the trail, we found a napping papa.  "Hey guys, I'm really sweaty and hot from that hike...I think I'll take a dip before heading for the car. Turn your head, Trish!"

Zach started laughing, "That's my family, Trish, you gotta love 'em!"




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Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.
~ Helen Keller ~