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IN WINTER THERE IS A HEAVY SILENCE... MAYBE THE WIND, A SQUIRREL CHATTERING OR A RAVINE CAWING....BUT AS SPRING APPROACHES THE SOUNDS COME BACK. THE DRUMMING OF THE BLUE GROUSE, THE BUZZ OF THE QUEEN BEE, THE TRILL OF THE BLACK BIRD, THE SONG OF THE ROBIN, THE HONKING OF THE GEESE HEADING NORTHWARD, THE RUSH OF THE HUMMINGBIRD. WE SIT OUT BY THE CAMPFIRE NOW, OUR EARS ALERT.
IT'S THE COMING BACK OF SPECIAL SOUNDS.
NO SIGN OF ANY BLACK BEARS OR GRIZZLY YET. ON THE BIG BARE MOUNTAIN TO THE EAST OF US IS WHERE THEY ARE FIRST SEEN IN THE SPRING.... EATTING ROOTS, POPLAR BUDS, NEW GRASS AND DIGGING UP SMALL ANIMALS.
BRYAN WENT OUT FOR A WALK ALONG THE ICE AND FELL THRU..... IT WAS ONLY UP TO THE BOOT TOPS BUT WAS STILL A LET DOWN FEELING. THE ICE IS UNSAFE NOW. LAST YEAR IT WAS ALL GONE BY MAY 10.
WE COULD HEAR THE GEESE HONKING WAY UP IN THE SKY BUT COULDN'T SEE THEM. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WE COULD SEE A BIRD GLIDING STRANGLY DOWN TO THE LAKE. THEN RIGHT AFTER IT A BALD EAGLE LANDED ON IT AND STARTED PLUCKING. BRYAN GOT ON HIS QUAD AND RACED OVER BUT THE EAGLE DEBOWLED THE GOOSE IN ON TIME AT ALL. THIS IS THE FIRST "LESSER CANADA GOOSE" WE HAVE SEEN. A LOT SMALLER THAN THE REGULAR CANADA GOOSE.
THE BIRD WAS STILL ALIVE AND SO BRYAN PUT IT OUT OF IT'S MISERY.
THE BALD EAGLE MUST HAVE BEEN CIRCLING HIGH ABOVE THE PASSING FLOCK OF GEESE HEADING NORTH AND THEN DIVED DOWN HITTING ONE HARD ENOUGH TO MAKE IT LAND.
AFTER BRYAN BROUGHT IT OVER TO WHERE VIKKI AND HANNAH WAITED, HE LEFT IT OUT ON THE LAKE. THE EAGLES FINISHED IT OFF . ATE THE WING FEATHERS AND ALL. IN THE BELOW PHOTO LOOK FOR THE TWO PATCHES OF DOWNY FEATHERS... ALL THAT IS LEFT OF THAT POOR GOOSE. PATCHES ARE IN SHADOW NEAR FAR SHORE.
NOW THIS IS REAL SPECIAL.... OUR PILOT FRIEND CHRIS FLEW IN ON EASTER MORNING AND LANDED HIS 207 ON WHEELS ON THE LAKE STRIP. NOW THIS IS A FIRST FROM HIM.... USUALLY THIS PLAN NEEDS A GROUND LANDING STRIP, NOT A LAKE, BUT THE CONDITIONS ARE PERFECT. HE BROUGHT US A BIG BUNCH OF EASTER FLOWERS, SWISS CHOCOLATES AND HIS WIFE SUE HAD BAKED US A SPECIAL SUNDAY LOAF. IT WAS HIS DAY OFF. CHRIS STAYED FOR COFFEE AROUND THE FIRE OUTSIDE FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS AND THEN OFF HE WENT SAYING "WELL..... I GUESS THE NEXT TIME I SEE YOU GUYS I'LL BE ON FLOATS"
WHILE BRYAN WAS FALLING THE SNAGS VIKKI SAT THERE LOOKING AROUND. "NOW WHAT KIND OF SCAT IS THIS????" SHE THOUGHT. BRYAN KNEW RIGHT AWAY. THAT'S AN OWL REGURGITATION. A MOUSE OR VOLE THAT AN OWL SWALLOWED AND THEN AFTER THE STOMACH ACIDS WORKED ON IT FOR THE NUTRITION... UP AND OUT IT CAME. BRYAN SAID TO PUT IT IN A CONTAINER OF WATER. IF IT IS A WHOLE ANIMAL OR PARTS WHO CAN TELL HOW BIG THE OWL WAS.
WE'D PLANNED ON SPENDING THE NIGHT BUT THE SNOW CONDITIONS HAVE CHANGED. IT IS LIKE A 7-11 SLUSHY. IF WE DON'T GET OUT OF HERE NOW WE WILL REGRET IT.
WE WON'T BE BACK UP IN THIS AREA UNTIL SUMMER WHEN WE WILL BE WALL TENTING IT .... MAKING THE WINTER SKIDOO TRAIL INTO A QUAD TRAIL.
VIKKI'S TUNDRA 300 STAYS REVED UP... BRYAN HAS BEEN TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT IS DOING IT FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS. TODAY HE TAPED LIGHTLY ON THE CARBURETOR AND IT IDLED DOWN NICELY. SO HE WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE CARB.
WHILE BRYAN WORKS AT CUTTING THE STUMP AND THROWING OFF THE WOOD BLOCKS VIKKI IS AHEAD SHOVELING OUT THE BIG AND LITTLE TREES.
WHEN WE WERE ALL DONE BRYAN TACKLED A LARGE WIND FALL BUNCH. VIKKI THREW THE PIECES HE THREW OUT OF THE HOLE.
ON THE WAY BACK TO WALKERS' VALLEY BRYAN FELL LOST OF STANDING SNAGS THAT WERE LEANING OVER THE TRAIL. THEY ARE EASIER TO DO NOW THAN HAVE TO SHOVEL THEM OUT AND DO NEXT YEAR. THIS AREA IS 760 METERS ELEVATION AND 20 TO 30 FEET OF SNOW FALL A SEASON.
WE HEADED BACK UP TO WALKERS' VALLEY TO TRY TO GET THE BI PASS TRAIL FINISHED. ON THE WAY UP WE WERE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR BEARS ON THE TRAIL. AT THIS TIME OF YEAR THEY ARE MOVING SLOW BUT HOPEFULLY THEY ARE ALL UP ON THE SLIDES GETTING THE NEW SHOOTS. WE ONLY WOULD USE THE GUN AS A DETERRENT IN AN ASSAULT. THE BEAVER PONDS ARE OPENING UP
FRESH TRACKS???? OTTER OR MAYBE YOUNG WOLVERINE.
THE PLAN TODAY IS JUST FOR BRYAN TO FALL THE DEAD SNAGS.
BACK AT WALKERS' VALLEY LINE CABIN FOR THE NIGHT.... HAVING A DOUBLE CAT NAP.
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