The Beaver Dam Obsession

 My family has a funny divide. As I mentioned in my previous post, we are generally, as a family, “indoorsy.” However, despite also being this way, I have this weird compunction to get out and see things every now and again. I like to read up on all the various nearby ‘attractions.’ Sometimes, I can even talk my family into heading off to see one or two of them with me.

 

Sometimes, not so much.

 

Thus, I am forced to make my own fun when I’m in one of these moods. I have been looking at the Bearskin maps of the ski trails for years, wondering what it would be like to travel their distance. This year, I’ve decided that I want to try to make the hike from our cabin to Rudy Lake. There is a ski trail that goes from the Lodge to Rudy Lake called Beaver Dam.

 

The appeal of Beaver Dam is that I can start from the Lodge.  I don’t have to drive to any trailhead to get started. I can just put on my bug spray, grab water and a sunhat, and set out… waving goodbye to my family sitting on the dock reading books and sunbathing. 

 

Since we’re here for so many days (and because I am deeply out of shape) I have decided to tackle a little bit more of the trail every day. Yesterday, I got as far as “Summer House Road.” Today, I almost made it to where Summer House Road crosses a second time. 

 

 

What is perhaps the silliest thing about this quest of mine is that there is little to “see,” along the trail. Obviously, I am enjoying the smell of the pine trees in the sun, the tiny woodland native wildflowers like wild strawberry and trout lily, watching insects buzz about, and listening to the sounds of birds and wind through quaking aspen. 

 

 

But the lack of a specific “destination” is part of what is spurring me onward to reach Rudy Lake, as it is an obvious goal. Today, I passed a small creek where whoever is maintaining the trail had built a simple plank bridge. On my way back, I ran into a couple of ducks. 

 

 

I was elated to be able to tell where I was on the map at one point, because I could see East Bearskin Lake through the trees. There is only one bend on my ski trail where that is possible.  

 

I’ve also been trying to guestimate how long the full trek up to Rudy Lake will eventually take me.  Today’s jaunt took me a full hour (there and back again, as Bilbo might say.) Looking at how much is left on the map, I’m thinking that I should probably budget at LEAST three hours—or maybe three and a half, if I want to rest up at the lake before turning back. 

 

That’s a big walk.  But, I’ve got two full weeks to work up the oomph to make it. I suspect other people could do it in much less time, but as Mason told me today, it’s clear that my body type is build for stamina, not speed. (He’s not wrong, and I totally took that as a compliment!)

 

I will leave this thought with a picture of a cool hollow tree I saw along Beaver Dam trail.  There’s a tree growing in a tree! (Luckily I am easily amused.)