The wetlands area behind our house is a tangled mass of swamp and stunted pines with low branches that intertwine. In the summer with the water, fallen logs, tangled branches, uneven ground, and mosquitos it is nigh impenetrable. In the winter with a few feet of snow it is only slightly less so. What would induce us to travel into such place? A review of satellite images of the region above Bass Lake revealed the location of an isolated pond tucked away in the middle of the swamp! The images were a year old. Did the lake still exist? Had it dried up? If we found it would we be the first humans to visit its shores? It was dubbed Hidden Lake and, since the snow and lack of vegetation offered the possibility passage, an expedition was mounted. Since the snow was higher than the waist of the shortest member of the expedition (and occasionally up to the waist of the tallest), Ben wore his snowshoes to pack down a trail that the others could follow.
There was snow, a howling breeze, and packs of fearsome squirrels that watched us hoping for an expedition member to get separated from the group. We made excellent progress, but, in the end were forced to abandon the quest after snow got into someone’s mittens and it was discovered that the quartermaster had neglected to pack any snacks. Hidden lake remained hidden but not forgotten. Plans are already being laid for a second attempt…
