Field trips 2.0

[PNWexplorer]

Went scouting for elk yesterday and it was beautiful out.  Only saw one other vehicle the entire day.  Unfortunately, not a single sign of any BF activity.  Fortunately, lots of elk activity.

 

The last photo is of a cow elk at around 700 yards away.

 

 

[hiflier]

 

Just got back from spending 2 weeks on the Maine Downeast coast. The coolest thing was on the rocks at the shore line. I think it was waiting for us to get there. It was about 7 ft. tall and quite a work of art like I've never seen. The only thing holding it together was gravity, two days later the wind kicked up to 40 mph! and blew "Poseidon" over:

 

And then the wind toppled it over:

 

 

Edited October 1, 2020 by hiflier

[Kiwakwe]

@hiflierNice! Where'd you get to? ...If you don't mind disclosing.

[BC witness]

Last Saturday, I finally got out in the H3 to an area I hadn't visited in about 20 years. It involves a steep climb up one creek drainage, a traverse along a very rough ridgeline trail, and an even steeper descent down the next creek drainage to the north. Total distance is not much more than 10km (6.2mi), but it took from 11AM to 4Pm to drive that distance, with stops to check for tracks and scat. It was overcast and showery all day, with a smattering of snow along the 6,000 ft. ridge, but even the limited views were great, looking down on the Chilliwack River valley on one side of the ridge, and the Fraser Valley and the town of Chilliwack on the other side. A couple of washed out bear tracks were the the only signs of wildlife for the day.

 

 

[wiiawiwb]

@PNWExplorer and BC witness

 

Absolutely gorgeous areas you're in. Thanks for sharing.

 

@Hiflier   

 

Amazing. The patience involved and creativity of the artist's mind are both off the charts.

Edited October 1, 2020 by wiiawiwb

[hiflier]

9 hours ago, Kiwakwe said:

@hiflierNice! Where'd you get to? ...If you don't mind disclosing.

 

Cobscook State Park with two trips through the Mooselook Wildlife Refuge. Coyote and Moose prints below:

 

 

Edited October 1, 2020 by hiflier

[Kiwakwe]

8 hours ago, hiflier said:

 

Cobscook State Park with two trips through the Mooselook Wildlife Refuge. Coyote and Moose prints below:

Cool track find!

We were up there a few weeks ago, the park was packed so stealth camped at the end of the road in the refuge, don't tell anyone.

Over here following day, which was packed also, at least 100 cars all down the road, last time there, had it to ourselves:

Only sign of our quarry:

[norseman]

[wiiawiwb]

Look at that playland!!

[wiiawiwb]

I came across a beaver dam in a very small pond created by these engineering wonders. There is a creek which flows into it and one that flows out of it. I put a trailcam on both ends and should capture anything that enters the creek area. We'll see.

 

 

 

Edited October 6, 2020 by wiiawiwb

[hiflier]

Looks like it's been there a while. Look at all the new greenery growing on the dam and the lodge. And for the sake of the beavers themselves the lodge is very close to shore. I can see a bear digging into that even though escape is likely. In the early days of trapping those things could weigh upwards of a hundred pounds.

There's a guy here in Maine who buys the castor sacs because they are a source of a kind of vanilla aroma used in perfumes. Of course one has to kill the beaver to harvest them.

Edited October 6, 2020 by hiflier

[wiiawiwb]

Sometimes in the field you win and others times you come home empty.  Returned today from an overnight. It was really windy and en route to a spot I wanted to stay, a dead branch from high up on a tree broke free, hit a low branch, spun, then hit the side of my face like a baseball club. Almost knocked me out. Cut and bloody, I decided to shorten my trek and get to a lean-to a mile away where I felt safe from falling objects.

 

It was really strange. Howling winds during the day, at sunset the winds had died down, then picked back all up night long.  It was a good call to stay at the lean-to as much as I wanted to continue on to one of my spots.

 

I couldn't hear anything with the wind and likely couldn't have been heard. I built a fire and hoped to get lucky but nothing happened last night. Oh well, I strikeout a lot more than encounter things but am committed to keeping my line in the water.

 

 

 

Edited October 10, 2020 by wiiawiwb

[hiflier]

1 hour ago, wiiawiwb said:

Sometimes in the field you win and others times you come home empty.

 

Hear ya on that, w. My case? Beyond seeing signs of "normal" animals, I have always come home empty. I think getting out there more would up my chances and hey, as I say every year around this time, Spring's a-comin' But there's still plenty of good days to be had this Fall. Been slowly accumulating a few items to outfit my truck for more comfortable overnights in cold weather. Ran down my list and been thinking I should upgrade my recording device. Doesn't need to be fancy and was thinking of a Tascam DR-05 fired up with some lithiums. Saw one for a good price at Adorama. Just under $75. Not bad.

[norseman]

Giant photo dump, sorry!

 

Lots of elk, could have shot three branch antlered bulls. Forest is crawling with elk and sign. Never saw someone bolt a chair to a stump to hunt them. They are that regular here. Popular spot though. No bear sign and one old cougar track. Stark contrast to my neck of the woods. We heard one weird call one night. Kinda a scream yell? A fair amount of hunters in the woods so who knows?

[wiiawiwb]

Beautiful area and fantastic pictures. How did you like the e-bikes are how are they on steep terrain (4th and 9th picture from the bottom)?

 

I noticed the picture of the western rattlesnake-is it unusual to encounter one?  In my middle picture, I have laid out snakeproof chaps that I use for off-trail use. I use gaiters by the same company (Turtleskin) for on-trail use.