[alexomalley1]

So before i begin, I'd just like to point out this is my first post, but I have been backpacking/camping all my life.

This fall, me and a good friend of mine went into the backcountry for a quick, overnight backpacking trip. We followed old railroad tracks for a few miles and then broke off into the thick, thick woods. We ended up at a place where the Ashuelot River and the Connecticut River meet. All around that area, the place is scattered with little patches of land (islands) that are easily manuverable from the mainland. We decided to go on a pretty big island that was about 15 feet away from the mainland. We got there at about 3 so we had to do the essentials: Set up the tarp, make a fire place and get a fire going, gather more firewood, etc. We gathered and set up everything within an hour or two so we had an hour or so to kill to have fun before dark.

When it turned dark, it got cold. Thank God for that fire. We cooked up some freeze dried meals and some chili which tasted amazing after a decently lengthed backpacking trip. After dinner we gathered more fire wood for the morning, put the fire out and set up our sleeping bags. During the middle of the night, we heard loud thuds coming from the water. We looked outside and couldn't see anything. About five minutes later or so it happened again. It turns out we were right in the middle of a beaver's territory, and it wanted us out.

Apart from the angry beaver, the dam upstream had released some water. We woke up the next morning with about a 10 foot raise in water. Luckily we were on the highest point on the 300 foot island so we were dry. We restarted the fire, cooked up some bacon and eggs and headed out onto the mainland which was about and extra 10 feet away from us now. We had to hold our bags over our heads, Vietnam style. The water was up to our waste.

The reason that this is my favorite camping site is because of its beauty. Rich in wildlife, the beaver-chewed trees, the fast flowing river, and the just the beauty of the fall in New England. Especially the untouched wilderness. I think anyone who has lived in this area or been in it can really appreciate the beauty of the area.

[alexomalley1]

Oh and I am going on a trip Wednesday (the 30th). I will be posting the details of it.