We're out of here.... see you in the fall.

Freezer Empty... moving supplies.... Busy! Busy!

The last of the freezer meat got canned.  The potatoes, carrot etc are planted.  All the left over supplies are moved forward to make it easier for the next bunch of supplies to go in the back.  Empty propane bottles are being hauled out.  Tin cans are being flattened. 
Lists, and lists are forming.  Panic and stress are building... Getting ready to go out.....

The Boreal Herbal Wild Food and Medicine Plants of the North

 For any trapper, hunter/gatherer, survivalist or healthy living person... THIS IS A MUST HAVE BOOK.  It came in with our mail a couple of weeks ago.  Thank you Cathie!!!!! (Cathie Archbould, who just recently got her trapping license and is seeking a trapline to takeover in the Yukon, contributed many of the wonderful photos to this book).  Vikki was up til last light (11pm) skimming through and learning so much.  Lots of things she already knew a little about but this book breaks it all down.  Gives when to collect.  What part of the plant. Exactly what each plants properties are.   Plus many, many recipes and concoctions.  The book is heavy and full of useful information about wild herbs, plants, berries, and trees. The Boreal Forest is a huge northern area and full of such goodness. 
Now, even out cleaning up trail is a Gatherers Good Time.  Came back yesterday with Devil's Club Root pulled from center of trail, Arnica flowers for Vikki's sore knees, and some wild Saskatoon shoots for rooting with the help of Willow in their water.  Been adding plantain leaves to our salad and had Dandelion Pancakes a few days ago. 
THIS BOOK IS A WONDERFUL REFERENCE BOOK... and worth every penny. 

DANDELION ROOT.

SPRUCE TIPS AND WILD STRAWBERRY LEAVES (FOR TEA)

Moose

 Notice this young bull Moose has pulled off most of it's winter coat.  There is still a small patch on it back.  We often come across area of plucked hair in the spring.  The hair is hollow.

Doing Trail Maintenance.....

For the last few weeks we have been out doing trail maintenance.  This is Coastal Mountain country and in 1 year willows grow 4 feet.  Also it is an over mature forest and there are always old dead trees falling down. 
On one stretch of the trail Bryan noticed lots of Grizzly hair.. big gobs of it everywhere.  He said it was spread out over about 100 feet.  This Griz was either killed by another Grizzly or a pack of wolves.  Nothing but hair remained, but that is normal for any kill.  We've come across a  moose kill in the winter and it is totally gone except maybe it's jaw bone and a few hairs... and lots of tracks from animals who have cleaned it up.  
Yesterday morning at the camp fire coffee time, we watched a single Mountain Goat up on the cliffs behind us.  It was walking like a really old dog, and it was really skinny and the big hump on  it's shoulder was very obvious.  Usually in the spring we see some nannies and their new babies on these cliffs but none so far this year. 
We had really bad winds last week and it swept away the docks in front of the big lodge.  
Today is a read a book day... for Bryan..   He is exhausted.  A few days ago he had a near miss with his chainsaw.  It ate up the whole back of his jean pant leg and even made a big whole in his long underware.  He said to himself "I have to be more careful".

Swallow with added Tail.... more observations.

 Sorry everyone.... the comment section seems to be not working.... keep commenting and hopefully it can be fixed soon.  Now this little swallow is giving us lots to think about.  If you look closely the tail feathers are not equal on both sides...  Maybe someones cats tore out same and the person that saved the swallow added a light feather by crazy glue.  In the flying this bird does we don't think spruce glue would last that long but maybe we are wrong.  Also if there was glue you would think the bird would groom it off.   This is the male and the female is doing the nest building.  He just sits outside the tree on a branch waiting for her to come out so that they can make another egg.   

Tree Swallow has added Tail....whether by glue or nature????

 When Bryan first saw this Swallow gliding over the lake he said "What kind of Bird is that!!!!!"  Since then we have been watching this Tree Swallow trying to figure out if someone 
glued a feather on it's tail or whether he's grown an extra plume.  He is larger then his 5 companions and is very aggressive.  He is always chasing and making a big show.  Bryan hurriedly put up 4 houses... so far the Violet-Green Swallows are nesting in one.  This white plumed Tree Swallow is nesting in a big tree behind us in a hole made by flickers.  Still haven't decided.......

Heavy Spring Rain..... causing Run Off

 The heavy downpour yesterday lasted 12 hours. This was the third day of raining.   This morning the creek is just about overflowing.  This creek is usually 1 foot deep and 2 to 3 feet wide and it dries up in mid summer.  A cold wet spring is hard on all nesting Birds especially Grouse.  Depending on how good a spot she choose and also for how many days the chicks end up soaked and cold.  Also if it keeps cold and rainy, it downs the insect population which she depends on to feed her batch, so she could loose her batch for this season.  A warm spell could bring lots of bugs.  Also haven't seen the usual hummingbirds at the feeder for the last two days.   7 Celcius

 The Beavers are upset also with the creek flooding .  It is about 40 feet from their lodge.  This Beaver came right up to us on the shore and checked us out.  Both Beavers are out of the lodge swimming around. 

 Light purple violets

Packtrains and Airplanes...Memories of Lonesome Lake

 We have great respect for what Ralph Edwards and his daughter Trudy Turner accomplished on Lonesome Lake, BC.  Their remote living, hardiness, and endurance  is to be admired and passed on to others.  Also their dedication to feeding the endangered Trumpeter Swans back in the 1920 and 30's will always be remembered and should show what humans are capable of doing... even against impossibly  hard circumstances.
We've just received an email from Susan Turner... Trudy's daughter.  She mentions that her mother has just published a third book about Lonesome Lake.  Susan said it is better presented than Fogswamp and with plenty of colour photos.   It is put out by  www.hancockhouse.com    We're ordering a copy today.
PACKTRAINS AND AIRPLANES, Memories of Lonesome Lake by Trudy Turner

Vikki had a great trip... but it was really good to be back.

 The Reflection of the Mountain was amazing.  The five days went quickly and were full
of new learning and experiences and lots of laughs... Glad I went but was happy to be back to finish planting the garden before the trail work begins this week. 

5 pound Lake Trout

Joint US and Canada Salmon Enhancement Program

 This Super Otter has 900 Horse Continuous...It's a really big plane.  This Ward Air flight is out of  Juneau, Alaska and it's passengers today are 562,000 Sockeye Salmon fry.  First lake water is sucked up and circulated in the carrying container. Then after a lesson from Ed, the pilot,on how to hold the release hose so that the fingerlings don't hit you in the face and also so that the fingerlings don't break their back upon hitting the lake surface, the little fish are released into their new home where they will stay for a year and then head out .... finally hitting the Ocean near Juneau, Alaska.  Then after about 4 years they will return to this Canadian lake... if they get by all the commercial fishermen.