This paper presents and evaluates two principles for wireless routing protocols: datapath validation and adaptive beaconing. Datapath validation uses data packets to validate routing topology and detect loops, while adaptive beaconing extends the Trickle algorithm to dynamically adapt control traffic. These principles are evaluated in CTP Noe, a sensor network tree collection protocol. CTP Noe achieves high packet delivery rates (over 90%) across 12 testbeds with varying sizes and link layers. It sends 73% fewer beacons than standard beaconing and reduces topology repair latency by 99.8%. CTP Noe supports low duty cycles (3%) while maintaining aggregate loads of 30 packets/minute. It outperforms MultihopLQI in packet delivery, beaconing rate, and topology repair latency. CTP Noe is robust, efficient, and hardware-independent, adapting to dynamic topologies and varying network conditions. The paper evaluates CTP Noe's performance across diverse environments, showing its effectiveness in handling link dynamics and transient loops. It demonstrates that CTP Noe's mechanisms improve reliability, robustness, efficiency, and hardware independence, making it a promising solution for wireless sensor networks.This paper presents and evaluates two principles for wireless routing protocols: datapath validation and adaptive beaconing. Datapath validation uses data packets to validate routing topology and detect loops, while adaptive beaconing extends the Trickle algorithm to dynamically adapt control traffic. These principles are evaluated in CTP Noe, a sensor network tree collection protocol. CTP Noe achieves high packet delivery rates (over 90%) across 12 testbeds with varying sizes and link layers. It sends 73% fewer beacons than standard beaconing and reduces topology repair latency by 99.8%. CTP Noe supports low duty cycles (3%) while maintaining aggregate loads of 30 packets/minute. It outperforms MultihopLQI in packet delivery, beaconing rate, and topology repair latency. CTP Noe is robust, efficient, and hardware-independent, adapting to dynamic topologies and varying network conditions. The paper evaluates CTP Noe's performance across diverse environments, showing its effectiveness in handling link dynamics and transient loops. It demonstrates that CTP Noe's mechanisms improve reliability, robustness, efficiency, and hardware independence, making it a promising solution for wireless sensor networks.