Easter in the NorthEast Kingdom

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Vermont, NorthEast Kingdom
Sunday, April 4th 2010

We (Noreen, Mark, Maggie, Thumper) hike this morning; 2 ½ hours logged onto the not-yet-broken-in-boots: there’s a small irritated red spot on my foot & I add “mole skin” to the Himalayan-prep shopping list. Today we walk down hill to the logging road, cross over Bean Brooke & start the hike up Sugar Hill. As we approach the summit we’re greeted by a cacophony of sound: the unmistakable chorus of mating wood frogs. The first time I heard this, 15 years ago after a very late Friday night arrival, caused me to ask Mark “Who could be running a chain saw at this hour?” No man made sound - this is the loud & aggressive call which stops abruptly as we approach. Today we hike to a vernal pool, full with early spring run off. I remember that first Easter in our new home when we pulled our lawn chairs out by the frog pond, and sat in the sunshine eating yogurt & bananas, waiting for the chorus. There’s silence when we disturb them. We wait. There’s a croak, a pause, a second croak, then another, followed in quick succession by a forth & fifth which gives license to the rest and the riotous noise again fills the air. Springtime rebirth & resurrection.

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