Hunting for the Trail

We’d been looking forward to a day of hiking with Ben and Nancy and their family for several weeks. Saturday dawned clear, though windy, and we were all excited for the prospect of some time together outside. We enjoyed the drive out to our rendezvous spot then passed another 15 minutes winding past centuries-old houses, short stretches of forest, and cornfields put to rest for the winter. Finally we took the turn onto the dirt road leading to the trailhead, only to find a fallen tree bobbing on a sagging power line. We were crazy enough to wonder if we could drive under it but it didn’t offer much wiggle room. (So much for that adventure!)

As we were about to turn around, a guy in a sports car came from the other direction and passed right under the tree. We decided not to ride out his deliberation over pulling out his chainsaw and instead set off on an alternate route to the trailhead. After another 25 minutes of meandering we were relieved to be approaching the trailhead when we encountered two men in camouflage gear and orange vests with shotguns standing next to their car. As we soon learned, it was opening day of deer season. And while Arwen’s pants and Gabriel’s coat were orange, we decided not to risk it.

We fired up our engines one more time, set to seek out an alternate hike when what should come down the dirt road but a tractor ridden by two fellows decked out similarly to our shotgun-toting friends. And it wasn't just one tractor – another, and another, and another followed until it was apparent that this was a Parade of Tractors. We weren’t certain of the purpose of this parade, though it struck us as some kind of ancient yearly ritual. Given that the tractors passed us before we began our departure, we were destined to become part of the parade, in which we participated for a good ten minutes before reaching a stretch of road wide enough to pass them.

By this time we were laughing all over the place, the tension of too much time in the car dissipated by the rearranging of the occupants of both vehicles. We finally reached the new trailhead, stuck our heads tentatively out, and decided we were too close to civilization to worry about getting caught in the crossfire.

The hike itself was uneventful compared to the approach. Gavin and Gabriel delighted in running up ahead, then jumping out from behind trees in hopes of terrifying the rest of us. Together with the girls they climbed on high rocks and posed for photos. We adults tagged along, immersed in conversation about autumn yard work and movies we’ve watched.

Back at the car, we had to pry the boys away from the stream and the inevitable rock-tossing. As we packed ourselves and stuff back in for the trip home, three shots rang out in the distance. A fitting benediction to our hiking adventure.