February Snow!

Just a few days ago, I had Nim out on a walk and actually had to take his jacket off when he got too hot.

02/02/19 - Near some old growth stumps, just before I took off the jacket.

By Sunday afternoon it was snowing, and by Monday morning we were buried. Even living in a part of the state that usually get some snow each year, this was an impressive amount. I haven't had a storm like this in a few years. 

 Nim was thrilled as usual.

This has also been a very cold storm. Thankfully nothing like that mid-west and eastern side of the country, but cold all the same. As this is our first winter heating without the pellet stove, the cats have found new ways to a steady source of heat. Such as my lap.

 

Or Nim's head.

Today it was icy cold. No more snowing, but also nothing melting. A friend of mine with a younger dog was trying to burn off his energy by throwing treats in the snow. I had forgot that game. Nim was thrilled.

There was the tiniest amount of sun for him to dig and hunt for cookies while I shoveled to try and open some area up. Especially the area by the front door becomes a nightmare in deep snow.

We didn't last long in the cold. :)

Sunday Lake Area - After the Fire

In the summer of 2017 there was a forest fire near the Sunday Lake area of the north fork. Finally in October 2017, I was able to get back there and see some of the changes and the damage. All photos in this post were taken October, 27, 2017.

The fire was human caused. Most likely in a shooting quarry. What was of interest to me was that they used the abandoned road that starts the Sunday Lake trail as the fire line. These two photos with Nim closer to the trees is actually closer to the site of the fire at the quarry. The quarry is just before you go over the bridge towards forest service road 57. 

 

After we explored the initial fire site, went drove back to the Sunday Lake trail head and really started exploring. I was impressed at how they managed to get equipment through the swamp and wetlands that start the trail. It was obvious they had used vehicles with tracks as opposed to tires (at least as well as I could see). I think this was probably the best solution for getting through the notorious deep swamp.  

Even in the heat of summer, the tracks would have done the least damage and allowed the sensitive area to rebound.

The entire walk down the Sunday Lake trail, the area smelled of smoke. We were having an unusually warm day for October. One of the impacts of this fire is that it ended up re-opening a very overgrown area and there was a lot more beating sun.

 One of my most favorite area of the Sunday Lake area is right before you have to cross the river. The rock faces simply tower beside you. With all the recent bulldozing and clearing, the rock faces are now considerably more open.

They are regrettably very hard to capture in a photo. But that didn't stop me from trying. I have never had this much visual access to them.  

 We didn't try and get across the river in this trip. I had started late and with the bulldozing, the last section of trail down to the river was dramatically change. On a much later trip, I would cross the river and find the next section of trail unbelievably changed. Sunday Lake is bound by an active logging operation, and change seems inevitable.

 I will enjoy seeing how this area grows back. The fire changed it in ways that were unexpected, especially given this is a pretty mature section of second growth.

 This last photo is exiting the beginning swamp area. Fire aside, I have watched this swamp change since I first started hiking the area with Odin. This view and angle never gets old.

Last Day of January

Nim, January 19, 2019, North Fork

 Happy last day of January 2019! Compared to a lot of the country, this area is enjoying a mild winter (at least so far).