Go Easy On the Bears

This morning Ma Pocock bought a hand pump air horn to scare bears away.

So, not ten minutes ago I hear Ma storm onto the front deck, clapping her hands, yelling, "You get out of here. Go on!".

I figure it's the deer eating her garden plants again, so I keep on typing.

She comes inside the house and tells me it was only a young bear. It was 20 feet from the house near the two cats, Silly and Smokey. That's just too close for the bear to be to cats, I suppose.

"Why didn't you use the air horn?", I ask.

"I don't want the bear to become accustomed to the horn", she replies.

All I Need Is A Fire Extingwisher...

Went into Home Hardware today to order the Forest Management Office's (FMO's) wood stove for cold weather heating. I always wanted to install a wood stove and chimney.

What could go wrong?

It's the smallest fire code box I could find - heats 400 to 1200 square feet. But the office is only 108 square feet. Do I really need insulation?

So, Ma Pocock fairly demanded that a big fire extinguisher would be nearby just in case. So, now the office has got the big red can at the ready. Just in case.

Shed Light

I busted my kerosene hurricane lamp trying to fit in a new wick. Cheap metal crap. To be fair, my first response to most challenges is to smash. Now I've got ten gallons of fire excellerant to play with.

So, now I'm onto the cheap plastic crap with a solar powered LED shed light. It's charging in the sun as I type.

Gotta have something to read by in the Office when the sun goes down!

MNR: You're On Your Own

Survived the walk through the bear infested dark wood.

While I was at my construction job today, Ma Pocock called the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) to report the undeterred bear of last night.

The MNR won't do anything about it. Apparently, due to the lack of berries this year, over 300 bear complaints have been made in the last two weeks in Parry Sound District.

MNR recommended packing an air horn and bear pepper spray. And wished us good luck.

That and a suggestion to check out an Alberta company selling wildlife control products.

I love the look of this guy with his bear spray.

Rogue Bear?

I witnessed the three year old bear (?) this evening eating out of one of Ma Pocock's deer feed troughs (40 ft. from the house). I came out onto the deck and shouted at it with arms in the air and it stood its ground and started huffing at me (wanted me to back off). Ma manages to chase the bear off by banging pots together.

Two minutes later, the bear comes back and won't be driven off. The deer feed is inside, but the bear just lurks outside the house. I don't think it's afraid of me.

I cannot be afraid of the bear. If it attacks me, I will kill it.

Here's an informative article about Living With Bears.

Now I read this article - with great interest - as I'm about to visit the Forest Management Office in pitch dark.

Ma Pocock says, "Better take your sword", like wear mittens in the cold.

The Forestry Forum

I was considering the issue of skidding trees out of the woods the other day and visited The Forestry Forum on the interwebs for some skuttlebutt.

I find the sort of chatter these good 'ol boys type up both amusing and compelling. I knew (sadly?) that these were my kinda guys when I got into the 'growing mushrooms' thread. Forestry, mushrooms? Yaup.

Here's a sample of the thread titles...

• Boot break in...
• Intermitent saw head with rotation
• Skidding under powerlines
• Women in logging
• Smuggling problem??
• Log prices
• One of my crazy equipment ideas

What's his crazy idea this time?

Has anyone ever taken a backhoe boom and stick and put a grapple on it to use for a log skidder? I would think that it wouldn't work good on a backhoe, but a different tractor for a carrier. Maybe a way to convert a cabble skidder. I'm sure that backhoe attachments are pretty easy and cheap to get.

Haven't tried that yet.

Treed Powerline

Saturday's minor wind storm brought a maple tree down and over the Deerwood power line.

After Ontario Hydro crews shut off power down the lines (1:15 am Sunday) I hobbled out later that morning to cut down the hung trunk in sections. But, with three broken branches hooking what appeared to be a levitating, small tree in mid-air, we called in the professionals (with a longer pruning saw than I).

Thanks to MacKenzie Triemstra's expert touch, the hooked branches were cut from the power lines and I am able to post this little note.

Wild Strawberries

Yippie!

It's wild strawberry season again.

They may be small, but they pack a sweet taste explosion!

The SARO List

Ever wonder what plant and animal species are at risk in Ontario?

Check out the Species At Risk in Ontario (SARO) list.

Here's the write up on the Northern Cricket Frog...

Features: Northern Cricket Frog (Acris crepitanis) is a small, rough-skinned member of the Tree Frog Family. The toe pads which are a characteristic of tree frogs are not well developed in this subspecies. It is normally brown or gray in colour and has a distinctive V-shaped marking between the eyes. The call is said to resemble the sound of "pebbles clicking together." This subspecies is more highly aquatic than other North American tree frogs. After the breeding season, it remains in shoreline areas of marshes, ponds and streams, and can often be found in emergent aquatic plants bordering these sources of permanent water.

Status: Endangered Provincially and Nationally

Range: This subspecies has an extensive distribution in its United States range, which extends from Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky west to South Dakota, and south through Texas into northern Mexico. Although considered abundant in parts of this range, it has declined in some areas. The subspecies is likely extirpated in Ontario. Confirmed records for the province exist from Point Pelee, Essex County, where the first Ontario specimen was taken in 1913, and from Pelee Island. Range Maps

Threats: Habitat loss resulting from drainage, dredging and landfill was responsible, in part, for the decline of Northern Cricket Frog in Ontario. Natural flooding which occurred over the winter of 1972 was likely responsible for the disappearance of Northern Cricket Frogs at one site, and may have affected other sites on the Island. In addition, introduced, non-native Carp (Cyprinus carpio) which eat Cricket Frog larvae gained access to the frogs' breeding ponds during periods of high water. Since the apparent disappearance of the Cricket Frog on Pelee, the highly predatory Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) has increased dramatically at the last known Cricket Frog site, which decreases chances of a recovery, should a small population remain.

Protection: Northern Cricket Frog is listed under Ontario's Endangered Species Act, 2007, which protects the species and its habitat. A recovery plan, sponsored by the Ministry of Natural Resources, has been developed.

Text Sources: Oldham and Campbell 1990; Cook 1984

Kerosene Light

Now and then I'll be in Deerwood's forest management office at night and I need a light to read by. I've tried to be the good 'ol environmentalist and do the LED wind-up flashlights and lanterns, but the near constant winding is all-consuming. Until there's a wind-generation, or solar set up, I'm trying out the old standby - the kerosene hurricane lamp.

From the wiki on kerosene, I discovered that it's still used extensively in Japan and in the Amish community.

Even though my triple filtered kerosene oil is 'clean burning', I always leave a window at the top of the office cracked open to reduce the build up of carbon monoxide. Getting sleepy....

Ma Pocock says that great granny's old farm remedy for colds was a spoonful of brown sugar mixed with kerosene. Yes, you had to swallow kerosene, kids.

Maybe I should try that. What do those doctors know anyway?!

Deerwood: MFTIP Approved!

Eight months of effort have finally paid off!

My application to register Deerwood as a managed forest under the Ontario government's Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP) has been accepted. The Ontario Woodlot Association approved the plan. Many thanks to our forestry consultant, Ken Webb, for his expert guidance.

In exchange for improving the health of the woodlot through an improvement cut of the forest, the woodlot owner will receive up to a 75% reduction in property taxes. My forest management plan will be eligible for renewal in ten years time.

In essence, Deerwood is now a privately owned conservation area.

MNR: Bear Wise

The MNR has a pamphlet on what to do in case you encounter a black bear. Here's the ministry's advice...

• If the bear is not paying any attention to you, slowly and quietly back away while watching the bear to make sure it isn't following you
• Do not approach the bear to get a better look
• If the bear obviously knows you are there, raise your arms and let the bear know you are a human. Make yourself look as big as possible. Speak in a firm but non-threatening voice while looking at the bear and backing away
• Watch the bear to gauge its reaction to you. Generally, the noisier the bear is, the less dangerous it is, providing you don't approach the bear. If a bear huffs, pops its jaw/or stomps its paws on the ground, it wants you to back away and give it space
• If a bear closely approaches you, drop any food you are carrying and continue backing up
• If the bear continues to try to approach, stand your ground and be aggressive - use your whistle or air horn, yell, stand tall, wave your arms and throw objects
• If a bear keeps advancing and is getting close, continue to stand your ground. Use your bear spray and anything else to threaten or distract the bear - bears will often first test to see if it is safe to approach you
• Do not run or climb a tree. Bears can run faster and climb better than you
• If the bear makes contact, fight back with everything you have

source: www.ontario.ca/bearwise

Kit Guns & Samurai Swords

I started to think about my close encounter with the female bear and her cubs the other day. That was a dangerous situation I was lucky to get out of. And if the big bear decided I was enough of a threat to her cubs, it wouldn't be the first time a bear attacked a human to defend her young.

This bear and her unpredictable cubs are here now and I have to deal with this daily reality.

Mentioning to Ma Pocock that the time may have come to "get a gun" just in case, she replied that it was illegal to shoot bears out of season. And live trapping a mother bear is out because the cubs wouldn't likely survive.

"I'm not gonna worry about the legality of shooting a bear when it's coming right at me", said I.

Even one of mom's quilting buddies carries a sidearm into the bush with her - just in case. You don't want to be in the bush wishing, gosh, if only I had something to defend myself right now....

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) recommends people in bear country like me should carry a long axe with them in the bush. First of all, a long axe is a big and awkward item to carry everywhere. Second, you've got one chance at best of hitting an attacking bear (on the head, I guess) with a heavy axe. And you better kill it with that one blow, but more likely piss it off even more.

And rifles are awkward to carry and not as good as pistols at close range (charging bear) with sighting problems in dense bush foliage.

So, I figure, if I'd pack a gun it would be a holstered pistol. Remember kids, revolvers are more reliable than clip fed. I even picked up some RCMP pamphlets on courses and such. Of course, if I was in the USA, I'd probably be able to pick one up right away at the country store....

Anyhoo, I thumbed through a back copy of my trusty 'Backwoodsman' magazine and found a nifty article on kit guns.

The pipe included in this photo is a nice touch.
(photo and text: 'The Backwoodsman' March/April 2009)

Here's a short passage from The Backwoodsman on kit guns:

For pot shooting, running a trap-line, plinking, and even self-defense while hiking, the sadly discontinued S&W Kit Guns have achieved a cult-like status....

But then, I'm not too sure I can trust myself not to shoot human trespassers on sight. So, having a pistol at the ready, is maybe not the best thing.

I remember a report of a rogue bear attack on a boater on Vancouver Island last year. Good Samaritans were stabbing away at the bear mauling the guy to no avail. Then some old sea dog plunged a 12 inch blade into the bear and killed it.

So, I think I'm gonna settle on the short, single edge sword I've got as a forest 'attitude adjuster'. Guess those years of sword fighting instruction may have some practical use after all! A sword can stab and slash quickly. Mine is a good close quarters Japanese-style sword with a one or two hand pummel. After I pick up some army surplus webbing, I'll holster the scabbord on my back as it reaches from waist to head behind the spine so it won't be awkward, or catch branches, and be a swift draw against trouble.

And with some handy-dandy hockey tape wrapping on the handle, I'll have a more frictional grip in case it gets covered in slippery blood.

Now, back to our regular programming....

Camera Problems, Again.

My cameras get some pretty rough backwoods treatment.

After another hard knock last week, my old camera has finally called it quits. Now my backup camera won't work either.

Looks like MOSSONWOOD will be an all text blog for a while until I pick up a new camera. You guys were getting tired of the nature photos anyway. Right?

Bearwood

Yesterday, after spending a few weeks away from Deerwood, it was nice to get back to some sugar maple milling with my brother-in-law, Scott. He helped me sort through some milling details which will make for much better cutting in the future. Thanks, Scott!

Anyhoo, I took a break from milling to grab a sandwich. As I walked back to the milling area, I surprised a big momma bear with three baby bears at the edge of the clearing. These curious bears were eating insects from a decayed log momma bear had clawed into. The bears, about 20 metres away, looked at me and I at them.

I put my hands up into the air and hollered, "WHHHHOOOOOOO!"

Momma and two of the black bear cubs skedaddled 180 degrees into the forest ridge while the brown cub ran sidelong into some bush.

Seeing as the most dangerous bear is a mother bear with threatened cubs, I decided to backtrack slowly - away from the separated brown cub - and give the bears some space for a while.

Now the official bear count is five in Deerwood: Momma, three cubs, and a two or three year old bear about the size of a large Rottweiler dog. Looks like I'm gonna become a full-time forest yodeller now, boy.

Rock 'n Hole

Dave punishes a troublesome rock.

Which Way to China?

At Karen & Dave's I cut some tree roots from a deck post hole.

dig n cut

That Red Oak Log

I had enough hemlock loaded to give me all the lumber I needed for the office roof after all.

So, the question was, "What am I gonna do with that 8 foot red oak log?".


At an average 11 inches diameter, it translated into a 7x7 cant. From that I cut 3/4" boards 7 1/4" wide.

These board pairs are bookmatched where the blade cut them.

Got eight of them all together and loaded them onto the air-drying pile with the rest of the lumber.


All that was left to do was put a sheet of plywood and some hold-down rocks on top of it. And wait.

The First Day of Milling

Yesterday was a big day - the first day of milling wood on the Norwood mill.

Mom Pocock did the honours of pouring a fine Ontario sparkling white wine on the second cross bunk.

May the milling gods be pleased with this sacrifice!

After some adjustments, I finally got underway with the first hemlock polewood.

The first task was to build the supports for the 8 ft. air-drying station.

Scaredy deer makes a visit to the milling area
to see what all the fuss is about.

The 4x6 'mudsill' beam is placed on the air-drying station. A wood structure must first be built on which to place cut lumber for air-drying.


In between each layer of drying wood on an air-drying stack, small lengths of wood called 'stickers' are placed to allow air to flow which, over the course of several months, will draw the moisture out of the wet wood.

Classy red oak stickers 'cause I'm, like, a class guy.

Mom Pocock tries her hand at peeling a red oak log.

There's no shortage of sawdust.

Old Surveys

Was checking the Deerwood property line the other day and noticed the orange spray paint I'd applied to trees last autumn have faded quite a bit.

Seems your regular, run of the mill orange spray paint don't do too good on tree bark. I've picked up some special tree marking spray paint, but haven't tried it yet. Plastic flagging tape is pretty good too. I'm not going as far as priming wood stakes and painting them red because the boundaries I mark are only with an orienteering compass - red stakes are for the pros.

Below is a nifty photo of a crew of surveyors at camp circa 1870. That's when the first survey work was done in the Parry Sound district. Not too long ago was it?

Surveyors' camp in Parry Sound District (1870s).

Skunked

The first of three days of fishing was the only time Master Steve and I landed fish.

A low pressure system moved in and that's my excuse for not hauling in dinner out of some good lakes. The fish were there but not attacking the tackle.

Here's a few notes from 'Backroads: A Guide to Day Trips in the Parry Sound Area' for my future fishing reference...

Large Northern Pike are most often caught when the water is cool, during spring and fall. At these times, fish 10 - 20 kgs. are common. In the spring, pike are fished in 1 to 2 metres of water, often using light tackle and live bait. In early summer, they are fished over weedbeds, with heavy line and live bait, or trolled for along the edges of shoals. In the fall, pike fishermen troll or use live bait.

Until next time, fishies!

Fissin' Season

Master fisherman, my buddy Steve came up for some backcountry camping and fishing this weekend. So, I figured, what the hey, why not get some pointers from da man.

Thanks to Master Steve, I landed a 5 lb, 20 inch small mouth bass yesterday on Blackstone Lake.

Lucky for this guy it wasn't bass season for another two weeks.
Back in the lake you go!

The dude, Eric, who's boat we went out on caught a 51 1/2 inch muskie last week and I saw the pictures to prove it. It looked like a dragon, remarked Master Steve.

Eric was still 'celebrating' the muskie catch all day on the boat. The fishing day was pretty much over when ol' Eric accidentally jumped off the boat - but managed to hold onto his rod.

Gone fissin'.

Almost Millin'

I've spent the last few days preparing the milling site and servicing the mill. That is when I'm not smashing trailer lights against trees, or snapping bolts in two.

The Norwood sawmill manual states that the worst ground on which to mill is wet or organic soil. These ground conditions will not support a level cut once a log is placed on the cutting deck.

Well, the wet and organic soil the mill is currently on isn't the best situation for my first cuts on an unfamiliar mill. Still, these logs are small.


Notice the trench I've dug along the bottom left, trying to drain the black muck soil due to a downpour a few days ago. It's like cold tar full of tree roots.

Shack Attack

Karen kindly sent along some photos of yours truly cutting a tree at The Shack.

It's nice to see that orange goes with everything, but those trou just don't flatter my girlish figure. Better go back to the chaps....

Skiddin'

Yesterday I bought some chain, a cleat, hook and did my first log skidding operation.

Thought I'd first try to solve the old Pine Logs Issue by hauling away some of the logs dumped on Deerwood. The piled logs still threaten to seriously hurt someone and it preys on my mind.

My first skid log is chained and ready to slide.

And it worked! I was able to drag it to the mill site.


Though, the 40 grade 3/8" chain didn't like being dragged under the log for a quarter mile of pavement.


I could have bought some tougher 70 grade chain at double the price, but thought the 40 might do. All in all, I don't think any chain does well when ground into pavement. Better that I stick to gravel or dirt trails for dragging chain. I cut the damaged chain links off and started again. That chain was too long anyway.

Thought I could help solve mom's high gravel/dirt mound problems on the Deerwood road by dragging logs down the centre.


This really did help to smooth out the high middle of the road in a bunch of places. Bonus!

Next, I tried to skid a log over a bumpy forest trail using an old plastic barrel cut in half with the skid chain through a hole in the centre.


The rounded barrel ends did work to get the log over bumps instead of getting the end stuck. This is the way to go, baby. Dragging logs down the new forest trails helps to clear away vegetation to better establish the trail path. Though, it's probably best that I don't use this barrel 'cone' apparatus on gravel as it would destroy it pretty quickly.

Finally, I chained four logs and saplings together for a skid try and it worked too!


Below is a photo of a small toad at the mill site. I almost stepped on it. They're hard to see on the forest floor with a toad's natural colouring. Glad it didn't end up like the chipmunk.

A small toad rests on the sawmill's blade guard.

Death of a Disco Chipmunk

Just in case dear reader thought it was all fun and games here in the forest, I give you the death of a disco chipmunk...

Former chipmunk.

This here chipmunk danced too close to a car or ATV one too many times and wound up dead.

Life and death is abundant in the forest - and on the road, it seems.

Clearin' Land

I was off to Burk's Falls, over at Karen and Dave's place, for a few days.

There was some land clearing to be done down by the lake to make way for their future sauna/boathouse compound. The hard work was eased by thoughts of gourmet meals and hot tubs at night.

Dave and I went over to Gib's chainsaw emporium off Hwy 52o for a couple new chains. I asked the proprietor how much he'd charge, say, for a used 90 cc - if I was to come by some time. He looked around the scattered saws and parts at his feet. He half lifted a Husky I thought was a goner for sure. "Have to put on a new muffler...two-fifty." $250 is darn good when I'd easily pay a grand for a new one.

Think I was still talking to ole Gib when he just turned around and walked back into the farmhouse.

See ya later!!

Dave tries out the new saw chain.

Dave gives the birch an attitude adjustment.

Scene of the carnage.

Case of the Missing Feed Bucket

DEERWOOD - This morning between the hours of 5:30 and 6:00 AM a daring deer feed bucket heist was perpetrated by bear(s) unknown.

Shirley Pocock, Deerwood owner, was roused from sleep at approximately 5:30 am by Smokey the Cat who wanted to go outside. When Mrs. Pocock let the cat out, she observed two young deer (Scaredy, well known to locals, and another). Mrs. Pocock filled said white plastic feed bucket (containing dried corn, oats, and sunflower seeds) and left it outside for the deer to eat.

When Mrs. Pocock next looked outside half and hour later the deer and the bucket had disappeared.

"It must have been that damn bear!", remarked Mrs. Pocock. It was determined that the deer would not abscond with the bucket as Mrs. Pocock provides the deer with a bottomless supply of feed from the bucket - as long as she knows where it is. The deer, who know the deal, may be dumb, but they're not stupid. Scaredy, while not a suspect, is wanted for questioning.

A subsequent search of the immediate forest area failed to recover the feed bucket. There was no trail of feed into the forest as it is believed Scaredy & Co. ate the evidence before investigators arrived on the scene.

Midnight Rambler

Mom said she thought a deer was walking around the house late that night.  I didn't pay too much attention, watching my fave TV show, Top Gear.  But that couldn't be right - deer around the house late at night.

Around midnight I heard a 'thump' out on the front deck.  Right.  I bolted for the door and threw on the outside lights.

The bear had turned and started away from the front door.  I smashed it open and the screen door as the black rear end boogied off the deck, golden snout swinging back for a look.

"GEEDDOOOTTTAAAAHERRRREEEE!!!!

It wasn't a big bear - maybe three years old - as it tore into the woods.  I like bears, I just don't want them getting used to hanging around.  Bad for humans and bear in the long run.

Bobo 1, Bear 1.

A Portable Sawmill

My buddy Steve did me a big favour a couple days back. He delivered a portable sawmill to Deerwood which I'd picked up a ways back.

Bill with his LumberMate 2000 portable sawmill.

It's a Norwood Lumbermate 2000 which I look forward to using once I've got a loggin', skiddin', millin', dryin' set up a' goin'.

Besides cutting wood for Deerwood outbuildings, I hope to hire myself and the mill out to woodlot owners who would like to make lumber from their logs. All in good time.

Heritage Forest

I was talking with mom about Deerwood a while back and realized that she (the woodlot owner) and I (the woodlot's forest manager) had some different ideas about forest policy.

Mom wanted to plant some more yellow daffodils. I mentioned that daffodils are not naturally occurring in this neck of the woods. She didn't see what the problem was. Well, my forest management practice strongly discourages the introduction or maintenance of foreign or invasive species in the managed ecosystem. It's unnatural.

"In two hundred years, do you want this forest covered in yellow daffodils?", I asked. A smile lit up her face. Hmmm.

"Daffodils grow from bulbs, so they wouldn't spread. Oh, except for the double-headed mutations! They'll spread."

Sometimes being a forest manager means saying a soft 'no' to your mother. When in doubt on these matters I turn to my new bible, 'The Ontario Tree Marking Guide' published by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR). It has many of the answers to practical ecological questions relating not only to trees but many aspects of forest management.

So, I've decided to name my forest management practice 'Heritage Forest' - the forest we leave behind. It's the way I do things as a forest manager. It's firm but fare and based on the latest science made available by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Sorry, daffodils.

Bear - Paw Print and Scat

I was clearing trail in the middle of Deerwood yesterday and came across another bear scat and a paw print this time.

Bear paw pint (outlined in white) and bear scat (right) in Deerwood.

The print (rear paw?) was about the size of my hand (7" x 4"). That's bigger than the partial prints on the door. Though if it's the same bear, the front paws would be smaller than the back paws...I think....

If anyone of both my blog readers knows of a chart to match the size of a bear paw print to the size of the bear, um, please let me know.

Scaredy Deer

All but a lone dear - Scaredy Deer - have wandered off into the woods and left the feed troughs behind for the summer.

Scaredy Deer seems to no longer roll with the herd and prefers to go for the easy chow mom happily provides at Deerwood.

Scaredy eyeballs Smokey the Cat.

Scaredy has to keep a special lookout for threats when eating though as a herd can alternate looking and feeding. Today Scaredy didn't like the looks of Smokey the Cat and high-tailed it over the garden, away from Smokey - a deadly predator....

Scaredy busts a move.

Whos's That a Knockin'?

Boy, you leave the forest for a couple of days and everything goes krazy.

When I was away mom tells me that a bear visited her house late night and pressed it's paws up against a couple doors.


Guess the bear didn't know the secret password. So it decided to tear apart a bag full of weeds. Must be some kinda...weed fiend.

I don't think it's that big by the size of the prints. Nothing to be worried about.

Right?

I'm Off

Will be spending more than a few days away from the forest.

I'm off to make some cabinets at a client's home. I get the bunky - not bad, huh?

Young ferns pop up along the road.

Which Way Did I Go?...

Went into the Deerwood bush last night with just a flashlight (and socks) to find a tree trunk for firepit seating.

So, I walk for maybe 50 metres and turned around - or so I thought. I didn't recognize the trees. With a course adjustment, I walked toward an opening in the trees which quickly disappeared. I tried to walk back to the last place I recalled. Couldn't find it.

"I'm lost", I said to myself. I figured it was important to acknowledge the fact. I stopped and assessed the situation. Didn't have the multi-tool that Skipper gave me! Not much of a survivor man after all. But, I had a lighter so I could make fire if I had to. Though it was supposed to go down to freezing that night, I figured I could shiver through it, covered in hemlock bows.

I wandered around a bit more and got lucky. The flashlight picked up one of my orange trail flagging ribbons on a tree branch. Once on the trail system, I knew I could make it out. And I did.

The bush can be really disorienting without a compass or sun position to guide you. There's been times - before trail tagging - that I've got lost for hours on an overcast day in Deerwood. My guts start to tighten in when I think I may have to spend the night in the woods. Not a pleasant thought.

Bear Country

People who live in bear country - the provincial park is named 'Killbear' - develop different personal sound systems to alert any nearby bears of their approach. Such people think that if the bear knows you're close, the nice, little bear will stay away. There's bear bells, whistling, singing - until recently I would argue with myself aloud and often lose. But now I yodel. The sort of yodelling you'd recognize from old Saturday morning TV cartoons as they taught me everything I know, apparently.

Well, I was walking along a southern Deerwood trail and, as I approached a blackberry thicket, I started a-yodelling. Bears love blackberries.

And I almost stepped in the biggest bear scat I've ever seen.

Big bear scat.

"I didn't know we had Grizz in this neck of the woods...". I blurted between yodels. I was even yodelling while I took this picture of fresh bear sample. You see, the more bear nervous I get, the louder and the faster I yodel.

I made it out of the blackberry thicket, but I laughed, imagining the last thing someone would see of me one day. "The bear was chasing him through the woods and for some reason he was yodelling at the top of his lungs".

Bug Hat

Not the most glamorous self-portrait: I give you my Bug Hat Head.

My exposed wrist was bitten three times (two mosquitoes,

one black fly) while taking this photo.

Bonfire

The Value of Work

Came across a review for the book, 'Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry Into the Value of Work'.

The author argues that cubicle office work is often meaningless, soul-destroying, while craft work (e.g. trades) is ultimately more satisfying and can't be outsourced. I agree.

It's nice to have a lifetime of work - sustainable forestry - where the effects and benefits of improved knowledge and skill is directly applied.

Did I forget to fill out that form? Must have missed the memo....

Blue and Black Feather

Mystery blue and black feather.

Found this blue and black feather (4 1/2" x 3/4") in Deerwood today.

I think it may be from a blue jay - as I've seen at least one fly around the office.

Not sure, and I don't know how to accurately identify it.

Do you?

Pink Trilliums

In the last stage of their flowering the white trilliums turn pink.

Summer's almost here!

The trilliums turn pink on a ridge covered in blue 'Forget Me Nots'.