After the brutal beaver-creek grind of Part 2, Part 3 finally delivers the moment I’d been pushing toward: reaching the first lake in the chain that inspired this entire trip. The shift from tight, tangled creek to open water feels like stepping into another world. I take time to explore a small, secluded beaver pond—likely seldom visited—before paddling into the main lake in search of a place to make camp. As the light softens and the shoreline quiets, I settle in, gather firewood, and end the day beside a warm campfire. It’s a welcome pause, a chance to breathe, and the first real payoff after so much effort.