Reed Canyon

Somehow we have lived here in Woodstock for eight years without realizing that Reed Canyon was a 10 minute bike ride away.

Explorer's Club to the rescue!

One of Barb's friends told her about it: take Steele to 37th, turn left, and there's the trailhead. The trail loops around a long pond created by beaver dams. On the chilly morning when we explored the canyon, we saw a geese, mallards and buffleheads, a blue heron, and a fair amount of beaver-chewed timber.

Suzanne didn't feel much like hiking, so Barb carried her most of the way. (I was more than willing to be her steed, but every time I offered she repeated one of her favorite phrases: "No! Mommy do it.") Elizabeth had a great time being the hike leader, taking field notes, and discovering.

Reed Canyon. This may look like wilderness, but to the right are houses and to the left is a college campus.

The brainiacs at Reed College apparently enjoy the Game of Kings al fresco.

The Explorers find a "beaver chew."

During our snack break, a duck couple came out of the water to see if they could cadge some pretzels from the ignorant humans. Little did they know we were Explorers, cognizant of the havoc bread products wreak on ducks, duck poop, and the pond ecosystems the ducks poop in.

Elizabeth returning from the water's edge, where she discovered ice. This side of the pond was noticeably colder than the other side, due to having been in shadow all morning. There was a rime of ice at the shoreline, more frost on the ground, and the air had a definite bite to it.