Trappers Lake is surrounded by a flat area of water-loving grasses, covering an area that is probably wider than the lake itself. Five years ago, the water was not even visible. But the drought has been over for years and the lake is filled with waterfowl.
But when we get as much rain as we did in the last few weeks, the water floods over the trail. As a result, when we hiked the trail last week, we came close to losing our squeamishness about walking in pools of water up to our ankles.
Fortunately, the weather was warm and sunny, and we were able to cheer each other on as we hopped and splashed.
We took the ladder at the high fence into Elk Island Park. and watched a deer browse nonchalantly at the edge of the beaver pond as we ate our lunch.We returned to our cars and drove on to the Ross Creek section for different walk. This trail, which is only 1.5 km long, stays high and dry above the creek as it runs along a stand of larches and into dark, mossy woods.
Thanks go to the two trail maintenance work parties who cleared and signed these sections and to Lee for scouting the trail and leading the hike. You can find more pictures on 
.