Photos A Walk in Nature

[Will Power]

Today my hound dog and I pulled the cards on a few trail cams. I love this time of year. Flowers and critters galore.

Blackbear sow with cubs
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Lynx with freshly caught snowshoe hare
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Good sized bull moose
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Swallowtail butterfly
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Bear guard
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Lupines
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Siberian asters
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Moose yearlings (born summer of 2024)
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I can see you...
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Fantastic pictures, I need to get a decent game camera.

Here in Finland (and elsewhere in Scandiland) Lupins have fallen victim to group green-think whereby squads of people go out and uproot beds of Lupins. Certain eco fascists have decided in a blanket fashion that they are an invasive non native thing and thus must be eliminated. They arrived here about 150 years ago, apparently, escaped from gardens and now are an object of hate. I find his both depressing and enraging, Lupins were also deliberately planted in desolate barren areas to hold down the soil, they also used to be all along motorway and in between highways giving a beautiful display in June, they fix nitrogen and other elements in the soil and attract bees. Now they are being uprooted everywhere and for what? The areas they mainly grow in are often mowed as verges anyway thus they are not endangering any plants, but you tell that to these zealous bands of women intent on purifying the nature..... Bumblebees and butterflies know otherwise......

 

[kyhunt]

And Rapid River Knifeworks about 15 miles from Escanaba

Thank you for recommending this place. I drove by it several times and finally stopped by today. Very cool place. I didn’t buy anything this trip but still it was cool.

 

[kyhunt]

And just so I’m not derailing the thread. Today was last full day in the U.P. Lighthouse at Peninsula Point.

 

[.577NE]

Fantastic pictures, I need to get a decent game camera.

Here in Finland (and elsewhere in Scandiland) Lupins have fallen victim to group green-think whereby squads of people go out and uproot beds of Lupins. Certain eco fascists have decided in a blanket fashion that they are an invasive non native thing and thus must be eliminated. They arrived here about 150 years ago, apparently, escaped from gardens and now are an object of hate. I find his both depressing and enraging, Lupins were also deliberately planted in desolate barren areas to hold down the soil, they also used to be all along motorway and in between highways giving a beautiful display in June, they fix nitrogen and other elements in the soil and attract bees. Now they are being uprooted everywhere and for what? The areas they mainly grow in are often mowed as verges anyway thus they are not endangering any plants, but you tell that to these zealous bands of women intent on purifying the nature..... Bumblebees and butterflies know otherwise......

Will Power , thank you for sharing your thoughts about the lupine situation in your neck of the woods so to speak. I had no idea. I will look at them now with even more appreciation. I love all things wild.

 

[Will Power]

Thanks .577NE I do understand that some plants and particularly animals have become an invasive species at the cost of indigenous populations - introduction of Foxes in some places have destroyed rare small mammals and birds, think some areas of the southern US have Pythons loose as a result of idiot owners releasing the horrible things. But to me, Lupins have been here so long and much enjoyed in summer that their destruction is pointless and ugly, the places they grow are often disused places, verges, entrances to woodland which otherwise have no other flowering plants and as I wrote earlier, often get mown anyway. Rosehips are another shrub on the eradication list, another piece of intolerance and viciousness-these too attract insects and small birds.

Contrast this with the current mantra & obsession with Windmills, they are appearing all over the countryside despite local opposition and in this area which is flat and open they disfigure the skyline. Nobody gives a detailed cost analysis of this either: the amount of power generated, cost of installation, running and then dismantling-if any- as the useful life is under 15 years. The materials used are expensive and I doubt bio-degradable. Moreover, in an arctic country they frequently are standing idle in low temperatures. The damage to the skyline is one thing but he impacted on birdlife has been awful, ground nesting birds will not go near them, large migrants Geese, Swans, Cranes etc are often killed by the turbines and their noise disturbs bird calls & song, some people say bees are disturbed by them as well and mammals certainly , but hey it's green and clean! So says electric (monopoly) companies. I've seen bird numbers go down these past 4 years, people allege that the birds will get used to them and return, I'm sceptical about that...hope I'm wrong.

Here's an 'invasive' tree I planted on the property, ornamental crab apple, gives wonderful blooms and suggests that knives grow on trees too CASE/Norfolk

 

[mbkr]

Thanks .577NE I do understand that some plants and particularly animals have become an invasive species at the cost of indigenous populations - introduction of Foxes in some places have destroyed rare small mammals and birds, think some areas of the southern US have Pythons loose as a result of idiot owners releasing the horrible things. But to me, Lupins have been here so long and much enjoyed in summer that their destruction is pointless and ugly, the places they grow are often disused places, verges, entrances to woodland which otherwise have no other flowering plants and as I wrote earlier, often get mown anyway. Rosehips are another shrub on the eradication list, another piece of intolerance and viciousness-these too attract insects and small birds.

Contrast this with the current mantra & obsession with Windmills, they are appearing all over the countryside despite local opposition and in this area which is flat and open they disfigure the skyline. Nobody gives a detailed cost analysis of this either: the amount of power generated, cost of installation, running and then dismantling-if any- as the useful life is under 15 years. The materials used are expensive and I doubt bio-degradable. Moreover, in an arctic country they frequently are standing idle in low temperatures. The damage to the skyline is one thing but he impacted on birdlife has been awful, ground nesting birds will not go near them, large migrants Geese, Swans, Cranes etc are often killed by the turbines and their noise disturbs bird calls & song, some people say bees are disturbed by them as well and mammals certainly , but hey it's green and clean! So says electric (monopoly) companies. I've seen bird numbers go down these past 4 years, people allege that the birds will get used to them and return, I'm sceptical about that...hope I'm wrong.

Here's an 'invasive' tree I planted on the property, ornamental crab apple, gives wonderful blooms and suggests that knives grow on trees too CASE/Norfolk

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I was an environmental engineer for 28 years. I find the following sums things up well:

The Four Rules of Nature

1. Everything is connected to everything else;
2. Everything has to go somewhere;
3. There is no free lunch;
4. Nature bats last.

 

[lambertiana]

Today was a warm up hike to start getting ready for a six day backpacking trip in August. We went to Emerald Lake in Sequoia National Park. Ten mile round trip, start at 7200’ and high point 9500’. Not terribly high but I have to start somewhere. I proved that I am out of shape.
Trail starts in mixed sugar pine/white fir/Jeffrey pine, then transitions through red fir and then western white pine/Lodgepole pine as you get higher.




Then past the watchtower

After passing the watchtower it opens to big vistas


And finally to Emerald Lake

Obligatory knife content, my Modoc Sierra Special at Emerald Lake

 

[DirtDawg]

Today was a warm up hike to start getting ready for a six day backpacking trip in August. We went to Emerald Lake in Sequoia National Park. Ten mile round trip, start at 7200’ and high point 9500’. Not terribly high but I have to start somewhere. I proved that I am out of shape.
Trail starts in mixed sugar pine/white fir/Jeffrey pine, then transitions through red fir and then western white pine/Lodgepole pine as you get higher.
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Then past the watchtower
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After passing the watchtower it opens to big vistas
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And finally to Emerald Lake
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Obligatory knife content, my Modoc Sierra Special at Emerald Lake
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Beautiful country. And that knife is quite the handsome affair too. Be safe. Enjoy. Report Back.

 

[Hibou Canne]

Mont Gosford (1,103 meters) is the highest peak in the Eastern Townships of Quebec (Appalachians), though it is surrounded on three sides by the state of Maine. It is located in the ZEC Louise-Gosford, which is a managed hunting/recreation zone. It is similar to any moderate sized peak in Northern New England. You emerge from a spruce-fir subalpine forest at the summit and have spectacular views that stretch all the way to Mt. Washington.
In 2009, Quebec's ministry of natural resources and wildlife set aside part of the Mount Gosford to create an ecological reserve. The same year, about 76 hectares of the mountain was renamed Mount Gosford's Rare Forest and declared an exceptional forest ecosystem. The designation protects mountain woodsorrels, considered rare at this altitude.

I found that covered bridge on my way to gosford. It was made in 1886 and its still in use.

 

[Headwinds]

Mont Gosford (1,103 meters) is the highest peak in the Eastern Townships of Quebec (Appalachians), though it is surrounded on three sides by the state of Maine. It is located in the ZEC Louise-Gosford, which is a managed hunting/recreation zone. It is similar to any moderate sized peak in Northern New England. You emerge from a spruce-fir subalpine forest at the summit and have spectacular views that stretch all the way to Mt. Washington.
In 2009, Quebec's ministry of natural resources and wildlife set aside part of the Mount Gosford to create an ecological reserve. The same year, about 76 hectares of the mountain was renamed Mount Gosford's Rare Forest and declared an exceptional forest ecosystem. The designation protects mountain woodsorrels, considered rare at this altitude.

I found that covered bridge on my way to gosford. It was made in 1886 and its still in use.

Beautiful scenery (and photos). That trail looks like excellent place to turn an ankle.

 

[Hibou Canne]

Beautiful scenery (and photos). That trail looks like excellent place to turn an ankle.

LOL you are right and thats the easy part of the trail. this is what the trail really look like

 

[Headwinds]

LOL you are right and thats the easy part of the trail. this is what the trail really look like

That's a trail? It looks more like a rockslide.

 

[Just Tom.]

I finally managed to get my boat in the water for the first time this season:

 

[Pt-Luso]

 

[.577NE]

Back from a lovely meander through the hinterlands, checking trailcams. One would hardly know what shares our trails if it wasn't for those cams. The question remains, though, why does a bear cross the bridge?

 

[Headwinds]

Back from a lovely meander through the hinterlands, checking trailcams. One would hardly know what shares our trails if it wasn't for those cams. The question remains, though, why does a bear cross the bridge?

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Maybe he just always wanted to be on the stage.

 

[Just Tom.]

Yesterday I paid just $215 for this cheapo plastic kayak, new. It was on sale already, and I got them to knock off an additional 15% because it was dirty and scuffed up from having sat around outside in the supply yard.

This morning I took a 3-hour trip in (on?) it, on a flat stretch of the Potomac. The shortish paddle dripped water on my legs a little, but besides that I stayed high and dry. I would far prefer a canoe as a lightweight alternative to my homemade john boat, but this will do for now.

I thought this cheap, nautical-themed plastic Kiana was an appropriate knife to bring along. It assisted some in fishing.

Note I said fishing, not catching…

 

[DirtDawg]

Back from a lovely meander through the hinterlands, checking trailcams. One would hardly know what shares our trails if it wasn't for those cams. The question remains, though, why does a bear cross the bridge?

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"...why does a bear cross the bridge?" Why, to get to the other side I suppose.

 

[DirtDawg]

Yesterday I paid just $215 for this cheapo plastic kayak, new. It was on sale already, and I got them to knock off an additional 15% because it was dirty and scuffed up from having sat around outside in the supply yard.

This morning I took a 3-hour trip in (on?) it, on a flat stretch of the Potomac. The shortish paddle dripped water on my legs a little, but besides that I stayed high and dry. I would far prefer a canoe as a lightweight alternative to my homemade john boat, but this will do for now.

I thought this cheap, nautical-themed plastic Kiana was an appropriate knife to bring along. It assisted some in fishing.

Note I said fishing, not catching…

As once was said... "fishing is always good. Sometimes the catching ain't worth a heck, but fishing is always good".

 

[D.Ward]