October 31

Last Saturday, I returned to Lumberjack Park to check out a nature trail that I’ve had the privilege of helping to create over the past year or so. Although still not complete, the trail should be open to the public by next summer. The early morning weather was cloudy with a temperature of 37 degrees and a steady wind from the southwest. Leaving the car in a grassy parking area off the east side of Lumberjack Rd. just north of the Pine River, I proceeded east on an old 2-track into a wooded area of mixed hardwoods and conifers. Just ahead as the trail forked, I took the right prong and made my way along the high bank of the Pine River where I paused to notice the rapid current and swollen channel due to last week’s heavy rain. I continued to follow the trail east and then around to the north through a corridor of mature Red Pine Trees, up an incline before it turned south again where I noticed the pile of old tires that we plan to remove during our cleanup next spring. Continuing south, I reached Mud Creek where I crossed the new footbridge, constructed through the efforts of many dedicated volunteers. Turning west, the trail moved along side the creek past a large pink granite boulder before turning south over the newly constructed 100-foot boardwalk and steps. Next, I turned east and followed the trail as it looped south through dense woods dominated by Sugar Maples to the south trailhead and parking area off Madison Rd. From there, I headed due north on a 2-track along the Pine River back to the boardwalk and retraced my steps over the bridge where I paused to observe Mud Creek as it flowed west to the river. Continuing through the Red Pine plantation, I turned south down the slope and instead of continuing to the river, I turned due west and followed an alternate trail through a large White Pine forest back to the north trailhead. Finally, I got to the car and headed home.

Autumn breathes a sigh

October breathes its last

Green goes in hiding

Others fading fast

Redwings left the marsh

Most muskrats stayed

Gone the flowered fields

Gone the forest shade

Nature dials down

Calls of creatures wild

No more longer days

No more breezes mild

D. DeGraaf