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I went out Friday after work to meet a buddy camping in the Silver-Skagit valley for the weekend. The logging road in was in the best condition I've seen it in years, with the damage from the '21 floods all rebuilt, with just a few small edge washouts from recent storms, and virtually no washboarding, making for a smooth trip at decent speed. About a km from the turnoff to his campsite, I spotted a small doe on the left side of the road, facing the clearcut to the left. I slowed, expecting her to bolt to the left, but as I got very close, she spun right and jumped in front of me. Had I not slowed first, I would have hit her; as it was I missed by about 1/2 a meter. My buddy had been there all week, and had several deer within a few meters of his camp, both does and bucks, as well as a visit with a skunk, which he was very careful not to spook! We saw no bear sign at all, lots of birds, and even a marmot, which haven't been common in that area in the past. This was my first overnight use of the roof top tent I bought last fall. I had no problem climbing in or out of it, but found the thin mattress very uncomfortable to sleep on. The issue that surprised me was trying to get out of bed in the morning. I found it very difficult to get my 81 year old body to sit up, I had to roll onto my stomach, pull my knees and elbows under me to rise off the floor, then get into a position to unzip the door to climb out. I think I'll have to sell it and look for some other solution for camp nights. In spite of that issue, I really enjoyed getting out with a fellow 'Squatcher for the weekend, and solve the world's problems over a drink around a campfire in the silence of the big timber.

I'd love to, norse, but the paperwork hassle just to get into the US to hunt, and to bring a harvested animal back into Canada would be more than I care to tackle. I haven't even renewed my passport in decades.

There's an area in BC between Hwy 3 and the US border, east of Manning park, where red and brown phase black bears are common. I've seen several in there over the years, including a sow and cub, both red.