On the Road Again with Merle

[btb01]

Dreary skies and light snow falling today. Dog walk and a bit of shoveling, but little else outside. I take our tiny Jack Russel Terrier for a good walk every day, down to about -30F. When temps get colder than -30 it's really just quick trips outside to go to the bathroom. She just doesn't have enough fur to be comfortable at those temps (even with a jacket and booties) unlike the huskies and malemutes and other sled dogs that truly *belong* here.

We've been having a winter for the record books in Fairbanks this year. Not because of temps but because of snowfall. By January we already had more snow on the ground than we would normally have in an entire season... with four more months of winter yet to go. Most of that came during one horrendous week at the end of December. We had multiple huge dumps of snow, and in-between a couple inches of RAIN (temps swung from -40 to +40 in the span of hours) then back to dumping snow and 40-50mph winds. Roads impassable, power lines down everywhere, it was a mess. (I hope you'll indulge this chitchat, as a means of sharing some of the "local color")

I always find this kind of stuff interesting, but I wouldn’t expect a job offer from the Alaska tourism board anytime soon.

Sorry to hear about the moose. Hopefully they aren’t too hard-hit when it’s all said and done.

I don't have any pics of charging moose to share, but here's a photo I took a few years ago. <Insert obligatory dogsled picture here > This is on the river a couple miles from my house, they started the Iditarod in Fairbanks that year.

Awesome photo! I don’t know if you saw, but I posted some pics in the Lounge last weekend from a dog sled race that took place here on Lake Minnetonka. (Here’s a link to my post.) It was no Iditarod, but still pretty cool. I think about half the teams were from Minnesota, several were from Canada, and there were a couple teams from Alaska, too.

Elsewhere in the world I know there was a big game today, so I'll end this post with this:

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[beezwax]

I always find this kind of stuff interesting, but I wouldn’t expect a job offer from the Alaska tourism board anytime soon.

I am a firm believer in truth in advertising

Awesome photo! I don’t know if you saw, but I posted some pics in the Lounge last weekend from a dog sled race that took place here on Lake Minnetonka. (Here’s a link to my post.) It was no Iditarod, but still pretty cool. I think about half the teams were from Minnesota, several were from Canada, and there were a couple teams from Alaska, too.

Just saw, great photos and fantastic write-up! Those sprint races are exciting and FAST, obviously they don't need to haul all the gear they would use for multi-day travel so the sleds are like dog-powered rockets.

In the last picture, is that the playhouse/fort you built for your kids and posted earlier this year?

It is not, but I appreciate your recall (of that post here). This is on the other side of my yard, and is a "playset in a box" that I purchased from Sam's Club some years ago. Everything included--swings, slide, climbing wall (except the caribou antlers which I added after assembly lol). The treehouse that I built and shared earlier is on the opposite side. I read your post this morning and I was thinking, next time I will politely ask the moose to move over to the other side of the yard so I can grab some pics over there and then-hard to believe the coincidence-I look out my window this morning and there is another young moose chomping on branches on THAT side of the yard! So, here it is, treehouse with moose:



I tried to catch a picture of Merle with the moose, but shooting with my phone it just looks like a dark smudge on the window:



But the moose hung around long enough I could go get my actual camera and take some nicer shots through the window:

 

[beezwax]

When she walked right up under my deck I tried to grab another pic of Merle with my phone. Now that the moose was much closer I was able to capture..... Merle with a slightly larger dark smudge lol.

 

[beezwax]

I'll sign off with this one-- Happy Valentine's Day Bladeforums! I hope you're all able to spend the day with someone, something, or somewhere that you love, and count your blessings if it's all of the above

 

[bigfish64]

It is not, but I appreciate your recall (of that post here). This is on the other side of my yard, and is a "playset in a box" that I purchased from Sam's Club some years ago. Everything included--swings, slide, climbing wall (except the caribou antlers which I added after assembly lol). The treehouse that I built and shared earlier is on the opposite side. I read your post this morning and I was thinking, next time I will politely ask the moose to move over to the other side of the yard so I can grab some pics over there and then-hard to believe the coincidence-I look out my window this morning and there is another young moose chomping on branches on THAT side of the yard! So, here it is, treehouse with moose:

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I tried to catch a picture of Merle with the moose, but shooting with my phone it just looks like a dark smudge on the window:

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But the moose hung around long enough I could go get my actual camera and take some nicer shots through the window:

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Amazing pictures beezwax, thanks for taking the time to take and post them. The original post of your treehouse made an impression on me, but I have to admit I’m a little embarrassed that I got that boxed play set mixed up with that beautiful treehouse you built.

 

[sbh06]

Just got caught up on Merle’s Alaskan adventures, looks like he had a great time exploring with you beezwax . Scary and a little sad to hear what the winter is doing
to the moose and what the impacts will be to their population moving forward.

 

[beezwax]

Amazing pictures beezwax, thanks for taking the time to take and post them. The original post of your treehouse made an impression on me, but I have to admit I’m a little embarrassed that I got that boxed play set mixed up with that beautiful treehouse you built.

Don't be! I was truly flattered that you recalled at all that post of mine from so many months ago. I sometimes struggle to remember things I've seen and read the day before

Just got caught up on Merle’s Alaskan adventures, looks like he had a great time exploring with you beezwax . Scary and a little sad to hear what the winter is doing
to the moose and what the impacts will be to their population moving forward.

Numbers go up and down and seem to follow a cycle, but the moose population is absolutely going to take a hit from the winter we're having. Typically predator-prey cycles track together, with the predator cycle lagging by a year or two. So if the moose or caribou populations decline, the wolves are in trouble and their numbers start falling. Predator-prey population cycles track on the way up too. Check out these pics.





I took these photos last winter, that's a lynx (!) in my yard, right under the treehouse that we were discussing previously. I was absolutely gobsmacked to see this, I had seen lynx before, but only ever deep in the woods, far from the road system. A year before that, there were snowshoe hares everywhere. I had never seen so many hares around, you'd drive down the road and they'd be hopping around all along the sides. Then last winter, lynx started being sighted all over town. And I haven't seen a hare since then You can bet I was extra careful letting my little dog out to pee after I saw the lynx in the yard! I'm always keeping an eye out with her outdoors, too many things here see her as a snack, even owls and eagles and such.

 

[beezwax]

Okay let me preface this by saying, this is the last post that will dwell on moose. There are plenty of other things to see and do here and I don't want the Alaska leg to get stuck in a rut (see what I did there? a little mating season punnery lol). Having said that, I'm sure you'll never guess who we ran into on our walk.





A few phone snaps from yesterday. After I had already uploaded all the pics of the moose in the yard yesterday morning, we ran into another one that afternoon. And then this morning I drove past another one on the road when I was taking my kids to school. I know I said it was not unusual to see moose here, but it really is unusual to run into them so frequently.

Anyway, Merle was getting bored with all the moose. But I said one more photo op and then we'll turn our attention.




So I got some moose steaks out of the freezer and we did some moonlight grilling! A week doesn't go by in our house without eating moose or salmon or both, we're very lucky. Now these were some action shots that Merle was excited to join. Garnished with wild blueberries that we picked and froze last year, so good! I'm sorry to report Barrett but this is a direct quote from Merle: "The only thing better than a Jucy Lucy is a Juicy Moosey!" (reference to post #122 for those who aren't following this thread closely )

 

[bigfish64]

Don't be! I was truly flattered that you recalled at all that post of mine from so many months ago. I sometimes struggle to remember things I've seen and read the day before


Numbers go up and down and seem to follow a cycle, but the moose population is absolutely going to take a hit from the winter we're having. Typically predator-prey cycles track together, with the predator cycle lagging by a year or two. So if the moose or caribou populations decline, the wolves are in trouble and their numbers start falling. Predator-prey population cycles track on the way up too. Check out these pics.

View attachment 1743870
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I took these photos last winter, that's a lynx (!) in my yard, right under the treehouse that we were discussing previously. I was absolutely gobsmacked to see this, I had seen lynx before, but only ever deep in the woods, far from the road system. A year before that, there were snowshoe hares everywhere. I had never seen so many hares around, you'd drive down the road and they'd be hopping around all along the sides. Then last winter, lynx started being sighted all over town. And I haven't seen a hare since then You can bet I was extra careful letting my little dog out to pee after I saw the lynx in the yard! I'm always keeping an eye out with her outdoors, too many things here see her as a snack, even owls and eagles and such.

Great posts beezwax, Merle must be having a great time.

 

[btb01]

I am a firm believer in truth in advertising

Just saw, great photos and fantastic write-up! Those sprint races are exciting and FAST, obviously they don't need to haul all the gear they would use for multi-day travel so the sleds are like dog-powered rockets.

Thanks, it was pretty cool to watch!

Slight correction on what I said earlier, there was only one team from Alaska. The guy’s name is Wade Marrs, and from what I could find online, it looks like he’s run the Iditarod several times and finished as high as 4th place.

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I took these photos last winter, that's a lynx (!) in my yard, right under the treehouse that we were discussing previously. I was absolutely gobsmacked to see this, I had seen lynx before, but only ever deep in the woods, far from the road system. A year before that, there were snowshoe hares everywhere. I had never seen so many hares around, you'd drive down the road and they'd be hopping around all along the sides. Then last winter, lynx started being sighted all over town. And I haven't seen a hare since then You can bet I was extra careful letting my little dog out to pee after I saw the lynx in the yard! I'm always keeping an eye out with her outdoors, too many things here see her as a snack, even owls and eagles and such.

Awesome wildlife photos! Seeing that lynx right outside your house is too cool! I saw an obese raccoon here the other day.

So I got some moose steaks out of the freezer and we did some moonlight grilling! A week doesn't go by in our house without eating moose or salmon or both, we're very lucky. Now these were some action shots that Merle was excited to join. Garnished with wild blueberries that we picked and froze last year, so good!

That looks delicious!

I'm sorry to report Barrett but this is a direct quote from Merle: "The only thing better than a Jucy Lucy is a Juicy Moosey!" (reference to post #122 for those who aren't following this thread closely )

 

[Will Power]

Tremendous wildlife shots, Moose or ELK as they're called here in Europe are less common now in this area of Finland, quite a lot of illegal overshooting has caused this Mind you, it's no joke if they -and they do- jump out on you on the highway when you're doing 100 km/hr But the meat is tasty! Never seen a Lynx, they're very wary here but seen their paw marks near the country place. The other day I saw a Redfox trotting happily along a pavement in the centre of town, never seen that before. When I was in Britain they were a common sight in town and suburbs but not here, think it's all the littering and junk from fast-food places that attracts them... Do you get Bear in the spring?

Your little dog looks well kitted out for the harsh conditions, but what about an 'overcoat' for the knife? It'll end up staying indoors all the time and refuse to go out

Thanks for the interesting pictures, Will

 

[redsparrow]

Thanks beezwax for sharing your part of the world with Merle and us. I don't get to go there as often as I would like (or ever) and find Moose, Lynxs and cute Jack Russels quite interesting! Good job!!!

 

[beezwax]

Tremendous wildlife shots, Moose or ELK as they're called here in Europe are less common now in this area of Finland, quite a lot of illegal overshooting has caused this Mind you, it's no joke if they -and they do- jump out on you on the highway when you're doing 100 km/hr

Thank you Will, I definitely agree-- there are two things that terrify me on the roads here in winter, and one of them is moose. They're so tall that if you hit one square at any real speed they're coming straight through the windshield

The other thing is people who have recently moved here lol.

Never seen a Lynx, they're very wary here but seen their paw marks near the country place. The other day I saw a Redfox trotting happily along a pavement in the centre of town, never seen that before. When I was in Britain they were a common sight in town and suburbs but not here, think it's all the littering and junk from fast-food places that attracts them... Do you get Bear in the spring?

I was truly surprised to see that lynx so close to houses and roads. Red Fox are a fairly common occurrence here (and I don't just mean the pub by that name down the road from me ). They don't seem quite so bothered by people and are not afraid to be around town, but lynx usually keep far away. We do have plenty of bears around, both black and brown, but they are more like lynx. I never expect to see them in town, I only worry about them when I'm out hiking. (Now if you have a cabin off in the woods somewhere that's different, bears are certainly not afraid to come snooping around your stuff.) People seem to be enjoying the critter pics so I'll share some bear photos I took this summer.







This was obviously a spectacular experience. This is not Fairbanks, these shots are from Katmai National Park, which is about 500miles south and slightly west of here. I took my mom there as a Christmas gift (we went in July but it was my Christmas gift to her, it's an expensive trip to organize since it's not on the road system and you can't drive there). Katmai is famous for its grizzly bears, and I can say it's one of those "bucket list" destinations that lives up to the hype!




What do you think is going through this fish's mind right now? (besides a tooth)

 

[beezwax]

Your little dog looks well kitted out for the harsh conditions, but what about an 'overcoat' for the knife? It'll end up staying indoors all the time and refuse to go out

You are 100% correct, and I'm ashamed to admit that it hadn't occurred to me. Merle arrived here in a very nice leather slip, and that's what I have been carrying him with in my pocket. But that doesn't really offer much for insulation. Merle would undoubtedly be much more comfortable in a nice overcoat, especially since I keep dropping him in the snow And I have just the thing, a spare dog bootie!




Don't worry, this one has never been used, so Merle won't smell like dog feet. I made these fleece booties last year, and this one was my first attempt. It turned out to be a bit narrow for the dog, so I set it aside and kept it as a backup, but it fits Merle PERFECTLY. It even has an "ankle" strap from elastic velcro to cinch up snug, so he will be toasty warm on our outdoor excursions now!



I got out a black Sharpie and was going to write "Merle" on the bootie, but then I realized his name is already prominently engraved.... so I just made him a Charlie Brown sweater instead, ha! Good grief. This is Merle's sweater now, and I will send it with him when it's time for him to move on. Perhaps it will continue to serve him on his future travels, I know there are more chilly destinations ahead.

Well, I needed that chuckle. Besides this bit of kitchen counter fun, this day has been upside down and sideways. I was home all day with a very sick child, ugh. So now Merle and I are doing some preventative maintenance. A dram to ward off the stomach bugs and other evil spirits!

 

[Will Power]

beezwax Great pictures again, and the canine footwear works just right for the Arctic conditions
A shot of favourite spirits always wards off evil

As for the Summer Tyres Club, well here where winter is a given, people don't change their habits enough when driving in winter. They think changing tyres is enough...far too many **** driving far too close and attending to their phones without attending to the road and traffic

Do you do any ice-fishing? If so, don't let Merle get too close to the hole

Thanks, Will

 

[JohnDF]

The Charlie Brown sweater is epic.

 

[btb01]

We do have plenty of bears around, both black and brown, but they are more like lynx. I never expect to see them in town, I only worry about them when I'm out hiking. (Now if you have a cabin off in the woods somewhere that's different, bears are certainly not afraid to come snooping around your stuff.) People seem to be enjoying the critter pics so I'll share some bear photos I took this summer.

This was obviously a spectacular experience. This is not Fairbanks, these shots are from Katmai National Park, which is about 500miles south and slightly west of here. I took my mom there as a Christmas gift (we went in July but it was my Christmas gift to her, it's an expensive trip to organize since it's not on the road system and you can't drive there). Katmai is famous for its grizzly bears, and I can say it's one of those "bucket list" destinations that lives up to the hype!

What do you think is going through this fish's mind right now? (besides a tooth)

Awesome photos!

You are 100% correct, and I'm ashamed to admit that it hadn't occurred to me. Merle arrived here in a very nice leather slip, and that's what I have been carrying him with in my pocket. But that doesn't really offer much for insulation. Merle would undoubtedly be much more comfortable in a nice overcoat, especially since I keep dropping him in the snow And I have just the thing, a spare dog bootie!

View attachment 1744560
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Don't worry, this one has never been used, so Merle won't smell like dog feet. I made these fleece booties last year, and this one was my first attempt. It turned out to be a bit narrow for the dog, so I set it aside and kept it as a backup, but it fits Merle PERFECTLY. It even has an "ankle" strap from elastic velcro to cinch up snug, so he will be toasty warm on our outdoor excursions now!

View attachment 1744562

I got out a black Sharpie and was going to write "Merle" on the bootie, but then I realized his name is already prominently engraved.... so I just made him a Charlie Brown sweater instead, ha! Good grief. This is Merle's sweater now, and I will send it with him when it's time for him to move on. Perhaps it will continue to serve him on his future travels, I know there are more chilly destinations ahead.

That’s fantastic!

Well, I needed that chuckle. Besides this bit of kitchen counter fun, this day has been upside down and sideways. I was home all day with a very sick child, ugh. So now Merle and I are doing some preventative maintenance. A dram to ward off the stomach bugs and other evil spirits!

View attachment 1744563

Sorry to hear about the sick kiddo, that’s never fun. Hope they’re doing better.

One thing’s for sure, Merle’s been eating and drinking well on his tour so far. It doesn’t get much better than Lagavulin 16, at least not in my opinion. Cheers!

 

[btb01]

Very cool. If you need Merle to stop in Florida, I can be added to the list.

Randy, sorry for the late reply! I’ve got you added to the list.

 

[Magizm7]

beezwax those are some stunning photos of your trip to Katmai. It has been nice to see the other photos as well, obviously with Merle, but the bear pics are special, especially that last one with the fish in mouth. Alaska does look an awesome place and I hope to visit one day.
Love that new sweater you have given Merle, fantastic
I have just opened the 8 year old Lagavullin and will be sipping tonight in my Norlan Glass, great minds and all that, cheers!

 

[Old Engineer]

Thank you Will, I definitely agree-- there are two things that terrify me on the roads here in winter, and one of them is moose. They're so tall that if you hit one square at any real speed they're coming straight through the windshield

The other thing is people who have recently moved here lol.

View attachment 1744552


I was truly surprised to see that lynx so close to houses and roads. Red Fox are a fairly common occurrence here (and I don't just mean the pub by that name down the road from me ). They don't seem quite so bothered by people and are not afraid to be around town, but lynx usually keep far away. We do have plenty of bears around, both black and brown, but they are more like lynx. I never expect to see them in town, I only worry about them when I'm out hiking. (Now if you have a cabin off in the woods somewhere that's different, bears are certainly not afraid to come snooping around your stuff.) People seem to be enjoying the critter pics so I'll share some bear photos I took this summer.

View attachment 1744553
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This was obviously a spectacular experience. This is not Fairbanks, these shots are from Katmai National Park, which is about 500miles south and slightly west of here. I took my mom there as a Christmas gift (we went in July but it was my Christmas gift to her, it's an expensive trip to organize since it's not on the road system and you can't drive there). Katmai is famous for its grizzly bears, and I can say it's one of those "bucket list" destinations that lives up to the hype!

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What do you think is going through this fish's mind right now? (besides a tooth)

2 of my Great Grand Daughters and I certainly have enjoyed your Critter Pictures and they wanted to know why a Knife had a name of Merle . Thank you very much for the fine photos .

Harry