Walking into Centennial woods after two days of rain was an experience that felt incredibly new. The air smelled pure and cleansed, and the new green growth in the forest pushed through thick layers of leaf litter brown sludge. The last time I visited my site snow covered the ground and the small pond was frozen solid. Since then the snow has melted and given way to budding leaflets, new trees and fungus on fallen down roots.
The hike to the beaver dam was scenic, and took me thirty minutes because I got lost twice. I followed game trail after game trail until I realized where I was, then made my way back up to the main trail and to my spot.
On the walk I heard the warbling and songs of a few birds, and held my camera hoping for a glimpse of the source of the sound. Unfortunately I couldn’t find them and moved on.
Old trees yielded to new ones, creating the perfect grounds for new life. Fungi grew on rotting logs, and ferns sprouted up from decaying litter on the forest floors. Birds flitted from tree to tree, calling out to neighbors as if to tell them spring is here.
By the time I reached the beaver dam the songbirds had faded into a distance. The pond and unmaintained trail were almost eerily silent. All that could be heard was the trickling of the stream created by the dam. The bridge sunk under my feet, creating little ripples in the pond beneath me. The borders and shore of the pond had swelled with recent rainstorms and snow melt, yet the dam held strong.
One would think there was no beaver activity with how difficult it is to actually see one, but the maintenance of the dam was clear, and little chewed logs floated on top of the water.
Dogs and other hikers ran past me and I bounced from makeshift bridge to makeshift bridge to make room for them. I hiked up the hill and through thorny branches just trying to get a shot of the dam from the stream side; alas, no luck.
New green growth on trees surrounding the pond was refreshing. When I say green is my favorite color, spring demonstrates why. In one square foot of forest you can see at least five shades of green, and each offers a different depth and perception of the world.
On my hike back I heard a woodpecker in the treetops above me, which was certainly an exciting sound. I’m eager to see further activity from the beavers and other species in my next visits. Maybe before I go home I’ll see a beaver.