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We finally were able to cross the Inklin River Ice and make it up to the Inklin Line Cabin. All was well with the little cabin. No animals had got in and it had been cleaned up by the river traveler that had used it also. He left a note saying "Sure want to thank you for the unlocked door. Spent a night here, reloaded the wood box and cleaned up after. Thanks a bunch" Ken.
This cabin used to be the main base of this trap line for many years, but now that we have connected the two cabins with a good trail we can stay away from the dangerous Inklin. This river has been known to flood at any month of the year.
After the Marten is skinned Bryan wipes the flesh off the hide from the nose down towards the tail with a piece of thick cotton rag, before pinning hide on stretcher.
Vikki cuts up large squares from Bryan old worn out jeans. He used these as protectors on his legs when working.
Bryan cuts the corners of the cardboard he uses to put in the legs.
Bryan likes the cheap plastic tacs for a lot of his work. He uses the big metal ones for anything long haired like Wolverine.
Now River Overflow is nothing to play with. As the river gets colder and it freezes thicker and thicker..... it forces the water to flow on top. Yesterday this was all solid... now there is 1 to 2 feet of slush under the snow. Bryan was sucked into the mush but was able to gun his way out and he turned around. After 48 hours this area was frozen solid again.
Ishi is dead tired..
Talking to Dave on the SBX Radio. He's another trapper 300 miles south of us.
Here we are skidooing on a Beaver cut stream.... That's a Beaver Dam they are climbing up to check before we skidoo up onto it.
Marten scent bob.
Re scenting Marten boxes..... Bryan uses marten feet as stinky bobs... they are on a short bent wire and are easy to remove and dip in the lure jar.
Pole is just wired loosely so that it moves.
Setting Marten snares on a narrow pole that is suspended by wire so that the Marten climbs up the pole carefully and is not jumping.
A bait trick from an old trapper book that really works...
When you get your moose and skin it.... after you handle the meat and get that put away, cut the moose wet hide into 3' pieces and fold wet side touching and fold again and again. Place in plastic bag and hang in shade. When trapping season behinds this bait/lure is wonderful. It does not smell rancid. It seems like sardines.... Good sardines. Bryan cuts it into 5"pieces and ties up near traps.
Another trick to keep that jar of fish gut/skin/head lure from freezing is to put it down past the muffler on your skidoo. But be careful to not touch the hot muffler or you will burn your hand. It sits there for miles of bumpy trail and does not move.
Bryan often sets out two boxes.... that way there is no cannibalism.
First time Vikki saw the insides of Wayde's old cabin....
Lunch time....
Vikki was following Bryan and thought he was stopped to look at all the Wolf tracks..... BUT NO....he couldn't back up the steep hill and he could see the ice had dropped and was unsafe. He gunned it across and made it okay. New trail was cut through the big timber.
This is looking back.... you can see the drop.
A large pack of over 12 Wolves went through the valley a few days ago. Their scat was full of moose hair. They split off and comb the hillsides returning back to travel further down the River. Bryan and Henri were relieved to still see the Cow and Calf Moose had survived. This pack had been up at base camp 4 days before hitting the Sutlahine.
Bryan could see that the Wolverine had checked out the log jam..... and then he could smell the Pack Rats who were nested there. He is going to put a Wolverine box at this place.
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