Cross-country brings unique challenges

The hilly and wooded Pine Valley trails, the often too-close encounters with wildlife, and the satisfying smack of shoe on ground … It must be cross-country season.

But this year, we had a bit of a unique snag. Oftentimes, first-day snags include unclear communication or some inconvenient weather. However, we got to start out the year dealing with “aggressive beavers.”

Yes, you read it right. The team met for the first day of practice in the MedExpress parking lot because the balance of power between the beavers and humans at Pine Valley had shifted slightly over the summer.

Fortunately, the b...