{"id":47689,"date":"2023-04-06T09:59:48","date_gmt":"2023-04-06T14:59:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bemidjistate.edu\/news\/?p=47689"},"modified":"2023-04-06T10:16:02","modified_gmt":"2023-04-06T15:16:02","slug":"blog-lilys-big-adventure-at-lasalle-lake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bemidjistate.edu\/news\/2023\/04\/06\/blog-lilys-big-adventure-at-lasalle-lake\/","title":{"rendered":"Blog: Lily’s Big Adventure at LaSalle Lake"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A<\/p>\n

Lakeside Life is written and produced by Bemidji State students. Each month, they’ll give you an inside look at how they live, study, work and play at BSU…the university on Lake Bemidji.<\/em><\/p>\n

No matter if you are a current or prospective Beaver, you’ll want to read what they have to say about the Lakeside Life.<\/em><\/p>\n

Lily’s Big Adventure at LaSalle Lake<\/h2>\n

It was a chilly October Saturday morning when my friend, Isabella, and I excitedly packed the van and drove to the La Salle Lake State Recreation Area<\/i><\/a>, about a 30-minute drive from Bemidji. Despite the growing chill in the air, the area was still vibrant with life. We were there to hike the Challenge Trail, a 12-mile loop that would take us around the entire lake.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

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Beware the Grouse<\/h3>\n

The leaves crunched under our hiking boots as they fluttered from the canopy overhead. A stream of color swayed in the gentle wind as autumn worked its magic.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

With grouse hunting season well underway, we donned bright orange hats for safety. Being from the Cities and with no hunting experience, I had never seen a grouse, let alone heard one. I froze with fear the first time I heard one’s unmistakable wing beats.<\/p>\n

I quickly turned to Isabella with widened eyes.<\/p>\n

“What do we do?” I whispered frantically. My imagination raced to find an explanation for that infamous growling sound.<\/p>\n

Isabella smiled reassuringly and pointed out the small bird hidden in the brush. We laughed as the adrenaline slowly faded.<\/p>\n

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Crossing LaSalle Creek<\/h3>\n

The trail map marked two water crossings in bold ink that read “No Bridge.” We traveled uphill first, then back down under towering trees that billowed gently in the wind. We could hear the sound of flowing water as we approached the first crossing.<\/p>\n

Ahead of us was a large stream dotted with swamp grass and a beaver dam (Bucky’s work?) stretching across it. We could have turned around then, but we didn’t. The only way to the other side was to use the dam as a bridge.<\/p>\n