Dave and I love the Dorrien Smith/Spray Lake Trail. We love to take our friends up the narrow, unpaved roadway, through all its twists, turns, and drop-offs—just to scare the crap out of them. You can always tell if someone has been there by their white, dust-encrusted vehicle. A right of passage, at least until the next rain.

Goat Pond is located within the first two miles of the 35-mile road. Again, it’s one of those places that is often passed by on the way to greater adventure. The pond is relatively small and fed by the more massive Spray Lake. Most of the time, we have it to ourselves.

So one evening, we took the 40-minute trip up the mountain to enjoy the beauty of the pond at dusk. We set in, just as shadows started to lengthen. Sunset was close to 10pm, which made it pretty darn perfect for kayaking.

Our pace was leisurely, the only obstacle being the many tree stumps that protruded from the water. We covered the perimeter of the pond, looking for signs of wildlife. No such luck. In the past, we have seen loons, ospreys, and moose tracks in the edges of shallow water.

The mountains and peaks surrounding us began to lose detail, evolving into massive silhouettes.

It was time to head back. As we approached the shoreline, an unexpected visitor appeared.

How often does one search long and hard to find something, only to discover that it was there all along?