From high up in the Virginia Range, about 7000' / 2100 m, amongst the rock and shale of those bald mountains peppered with blue sage: a lone beaver, far away from the deep waters she is so keen on creating a shelter within, peers at the hiker in wonder: What are you doing on top of this steep and slippery mountain? Return, return lonesome hiker, before you slip and fall the great distance to the foot. And take your dog with you, too!
Here beady eye peers out at you, the long nose and buck teeth tucked under, looks gravel and old roots make her paw.