Trails Update: August 14, 2026
doolittle moments
Our work on the Lord of the Squirrels bypass hit me hard with nostalgia this week. It wasn’t the smoke or Huckleberries, it was the “place”. After armouring up last week’s bottomless bog, we reached a welcome ridge from which we caught a glimpse of the shrinking Armchair glacier. Looking towards Sproatt’s summit revealed a wall of trees that towered way above the young forest we’d just emerged from. Our “office” was about to get an upgrade! As we worked into the undisturbed forest, the tall trees offered a calming sense of awe. This “chamber” in the forest is blessed with a surreal soundtrack of bird calls and creaking trees. A family of deer casually strolled through our worksite to get first tracks on the fresh trail. Monster sized tree roots made us change our building style to stacking the trail bed “up and over” the roots rather than benching through them. While flagging the line, I witnessed the commotion of squirrels playing (or flirting…). Wild twists and turns around one tree, leaping to the next and on and on while yipping loudly. The dance was frantic and they spun in my direction! I expected (hoped) they’d run up my leg or bounce off my pack like I was just another parkour feature, but the “chaser” spotted me. He let his partner race off and zoomed in on me! I was treated to the same “What are YOU doing here!?!” show that the trail’s namesake gave me in 2014! He showed a mix of curiosity and assertion that I was in HIS midden! The encounter made me wonder: Could this be the same Alpha Squirrel? Alas, the internet tells me that Red Squirrels in the wild only make it to their 6th birthday. Therefore, I deduced this bold critter must be the Grandchild of the Lord of the Squirrels! What a special (re)encounter!
Trail days will start up again on September 13 so we let the wet weather nudge us back to the Marmot Mayhem to prepare more volunteer projects. On our slate: Flag some trail to bench, pull large stumps and build a rock wall to get around some bedrock. We also cut out the corridor to a quaint ledge in the insufferable steep face. This oasis, which will soon host a sweet left-hand turn, was a perfect lunch spot. “I can see my house from here!”. Between bites of my sandwich, I heard the chatter of a large flock. “Pshhhh Pshhhh Pshhhh!” I called. Within seconds we were swarmed by a dozen curious Chestnut Backed Chickadees! The smart little birds hopped from branch to branch, taking turns at sizing me up: “Chicka-dee-dee!” …I only warranted two “dees” which labeled me: mostly harmless.
See you on the Trails!
Dan Raymond
WORCA Lead Trail Builder
