Fishtrap Lake

Noah and Ginny pushed off in our kayaks, while Laura and I pedaled past the put-in and up a hill on the lake's east side. The lake is long and narrow and seems to be crammed into a narrow valley just enough for the water and our trail. Floating grass islands dot some corners of the lake, and a sign at the put-in tells you not to try and walk on them. Noah, a helicopter pilot, seconds that. It's the tail end of summer -- what's left of it is hanging by a thread, which really means that winter is just a few weeks away. A chill breeze cuts a few remaining leaves off the dogwood and aspen, and the water is already almost too cold to touch.