An End of Year Jaunt in the Local Woods

In just a short while it will be 2026. Since it was another sunnyish day in the Great Northland… We thought we’d put on our hiking togs and take a rambling meander through one of our favorite whereabouts: The newly minted Ludlow Creek Trail. The track meanders through a Heritage Grove of Douglas Fir, past ancient Red Alders draped with moss and lichen, temperate fern grottos, and alluring scenes of Ludlow Creek..

The little lass insists on leading the way through the Heritage Grove of Douglas Fir… For more on this grove and others in the area: https://boatingongreatnorthern.org/2025/03/08/so-theres-this-place-its-ancient-and-new/
Captured.
An earlier logging remnant functioning as a nurse stump.. A poor choice for a sapling. As the stump rots, the sapling loses its base of support… and can tumble if not supported by other less stressed brethren.
Ludlow Creek. A view “upstream”. Twas raining a bit last week so there is a bit of froth lurking about.
The downstream view at the same spot is more placid. Rather shimmery with tones of gold and a bit of foam thrown in for contrast.. Further on… a bit of the usual Northwest woods tangle.
A bit further on… a splash of iridescent moss marking the edge of the trail and the beginnings of deep, impenetrable woods.
Another feature upstream: A beaver dam. Tiz a bit leaky in places which suggests that the beavers may have moved on from protecting the containment of quiet, deep waters behind the dam, but it is still quite functional. Beaver Valley is further upstream and there is considerable beaver activity within the valley. Just ask the farmers about their drowned fields at this time of year…
At the apex of our hike through the woods… is a lovely table to perch upon. A good place to nosh on a protein bar and some water. Of course the dogs get a few peanut butter treats to bolster them for the long slog home.
Back to the safety of Great Northern, the scallywags steal the best seats…

And as Kurt Vonnegut stated: “And so it is written in watermelon sugar”. Best to you all and to all… good tidings, fair winds and following seas…

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