What a Difference a Month makes

It's been a few weeks since I've written about what is happening out at Trinity and I apologize for that first off, there has been a lot happening.
The snow has been melting rapidly in most areas but there are still several miles of road that still have as much as 2-2.5' of snow covering it, there are trees and debris everywhere from the Nov rains and Dec wind storms that happened out here. I've been cutting and clearing trees for the last 3-4 weeks just to make it to my vehicle. The river has cut many new channels and as I've mentioned has been feeding the pond that our tail race feeds into causing it to overflow and and erode the bulkhead so now the trail to Buck Creek is under about 5-6' of water so any hikers planing to make it to Buck Mountain or Buck Creek trail should prepare to get wet. The hummingbirds arrived in early May 6th, and the deer showed up the following weekend. There is a constant building of the deer herd coming into the backyard to the salt lick as many as 20-30 at a time and it is almost always deer out there during the day. That is until I get out moving around but then they are only gone for a few minutes. Haven't seen the martens lately but know they are around. This weekend is Memorial Weekend and we know that the Forest Service is wanting to open the campgrounds for it but something people need to know is that there is quite a bit of damage from trees crossing the road and from water crossing the road several places , unless people have 4 wheel drive vehicles they may not be able to get to many campsites. It will be interesting needless to say. There are still places for me to snowmobile or use the Ranger to get around. I've thought about taking my tracks off but still have enough snow to keep them on for another week or 2. Here are a few pictures of what is happening around here, the snow is almost gone behind the house but get in the trees and it can still be 4' deep and maybe even more in some places making it much more difficult to get around. The river and Phelps creek and many of the little creeks are all flowing very well right now making it harder for places where you have to ford them take extra caution around the swift moving water right now.

Sadie, Sam &?

I've lived here for 3 years and until a couple of months ago I had only heard about Martens or American Martens as they are known here but never seen one. The year before last there was a biologist for the forest service that put out traps to see where they were and out of all the traps( a steel plate that has been sooted and placed in the middle of white paper and they look at the tracks of the various animals) and I was told that the only trap that had martens tracks was from here at Trinity, but I had never seen one. Then this winter after Elaine came home we had a visit from 2 of them and were excited about that since one of them even ate from my hand. I've looked them up trying to find out more about them but there just isn't that much info avail except from MI and WI DNR's. What I have found says they are solitary animals except during breeding and that males will defend their area. Well we've been seeing them more since the snow is melting now and each day they entertain us with their antics they are very curious. The other day while Gizmo the cat was watching them I went to investigate had one of them out back but he really had an attitude then from a hole in the snow another one popped out which we know from her markings and size is Sadie. After about 30 minutes of watching and feeding them they were gone. That evening they returned but to our surprise there were not just 2 but 3 of them playing on our back porch, so they don't seem to be loners at all but we aren't sure but believe Sadie and the new member of the group we are naming Sophia are female and Sam is a male based on the information and size difference. They are very curious animals and try to look in the door often which drives Peppy & Gizmo crazy. It's a constant game of chase or hide n seek with all of them playing. To be so secretive they are sure being brave because we see them as much during the day as at night yet they are supposed to b most active in the evening night and early morning. I guess there clocks are off for now.
We also now have 5 pr of mallard ducks living in the back pond that is now being filled from the Chiwawa River because of new channels it has made after this winters storms. Now if we could only see Elk back in here it would be great. There is plenty of food and protection from roads and vehicles out here but no Elk anywhere out here, yet we have an Elk herd at Mt St Helen's that is starving to death and they are wanting to kill them off, instead I think some of them should be relocated to this area where there is great habitat and plenty of food for them, we already have more Mule deer than we know what to do with but having Elk would definitely make Paradise better and everyone could benefit then. I've contacted the Washington Fish & Game department about this but haven't gotten a response back. Maybe it's time to petition for some of the wildlife to be reintroduced into areas that were once habitat to them before they were killed off here because of politics and orchards, many of which are now being sold and converted to developments for more people. I'd like your thoughts about having Elk back in the area, getting things back in balance is what is needed.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.

Happy 1st Birthday Avery

Today is Avery's 1st Birthday and we won't be there to share it with her but wanted her to know how much we think of her. These are the latest pictures that we had. Hope she has a wonderful day and many more to follow. You can do anything Avery that you want to do. Can't wait to see you again knowing how fast things happen at this time in your life. We Love You very much have you mom & dad give you big hugs for us. We don't want to forget Aiden who will be having a birthday next month, You'll get your chance to be on here too. We Love ya'll very much.

Late Snow Arrives @ Trinity

I was talking to the owners of Trinity yesterday and we were all commenting on how fast the snow is going and I mentioned that every year I've been here there has been a late March snow before it is gone for the season. The 2nd day of spring we saw a drizzle of snow and today it dumped this is There is still 6' of snow here but the last 9 miles out from Trinity starting around Chikamin Creek the snow is patchy all the way to the sno-park with many bare spots some 10' across others over 100' and I was trying to decide when to change the Ranger back to tires. It started raining yesterday afternoon and by evening it was raining very hard over 0.5" before midnight and it was raining again today but around 2pm it started snowing not just a little but almost whiteout conditions. It is so beautiful and a very wet snow that had the trees white in a very short time, it looked like the Dec & Jan snows we had. What a wonderful way to start out the week with everything turning white again and looking so pure and clean, a nice change from the dirty snow we had been seeing for the last week or two when we traveled out from Trinity. Enjoy the pictures.
We found our Paradise, hope you find your too.

Three Years in a Row

This morning Elaine and I were out riding around and just checking things out and as we were checking the back pond Elaine spotted the mallard hen resting in some brush.. What is so exciting about this is that this is the 3rd year she has come back here , usually she is seen in the company of a couple of drakes, that isn't so uncommon but one of them is a wood duck and the other is a mallard. LAst year she laid and hatched 4 eggs and were were able to see thewm when they first were swimming with mother in the back pond but as they got older we got see them journey to the front pond about 200 yds away before they were gone for good. It was very exciting then and again now to have her back again. Please forgive no pictures today as we are waiting for a power supply for the computer that has all of the pictures loaded on it. Spring is here that is for sure.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.

Buck Creek Trail in Spring 3/23/07

The last couple of days Elaine and I have been going out and looking at how much snow still is on the ground and on the bridges, both the foot and auto bridge at the Trinity TH. That however isn't so unusual at this time of year but what is different is that the trail that hikers usually use to get to Buck Mtn, Chiwawa Mtn and the PCT is at the present time under water, not just a little bit of water as has been the norm but a lot of water because the Chiwawa River has cut a new channel and now is feeding the back pond then heading back to the river. It will be very interesting to watch during the melt out to see if it stays or not but right now it would be good to bring waders.
The 2 top photos are of the foot bridge just different sides but there is still 8' of snow on it, the bottom pictures are where the Chiwawa River has cut a new channel it used to be the trail, the pond is overflowing to the trail that runs behind it, normally hikers have no idea the pond is there, now they will. What else will happen as the snow starts melting. Both the river and Phelps Creek and running about twice as much as it usually does at this time of year and it will only get faster and deeper as the melt/thaw happens.
It's been great having Elaine home and being able to enjoy the snow with her, now she is starting to understand what I've been saying all along "Winter is my favorite time of year, it is so beautiful and clean". We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.

2nd Day Of Spring

Today was the 2nd day of Spring. It was so beautiful. I love playing in the snow, it grows on you. Gregg, Peppy & I were out most of the day playing in the snow. I love driving the Ranger and making trails and packing the snow. It is so peaceful and majestic. We took lots of pictures today and I had my Mother in mind. She asked for pictures, so I think we got 138, wishing we had our best camera instead of the smaller one. Still we have a lot of really good pictures. Hello to Sarah, Chad, Breece, Chris, Kerry and last but not least Austyn! Peace&Love, Elaine

What a Great Weekend

This weekend was supposed to be a wet one but we didn't get much more than a sprinkle most of time. On Saturday Ivan came up and spent the weekend we had a wonderful time playing on the snowmobiles and going up to Phelps Creek Trailhead, it was so beautiful being able to enjoy the solitude and the beauty of the mountains. We found a new snowfield to play in that usually isn't accessible because it is covered in alder and brush but right now it's just buried in snow, it was great. We were able to see where the Chiwawa River had cut a new channel and is now coming up the normal trail and into the back pond bringing much more water than it normally has, and we got to play in the snow in the sun all day, every time we stopped it seems like we were having to take off more clothes until it was time for t-shirts. Bacon and waffles for breakfast with beautiful scenery and good music, what a great way to enjoy the spring like weather in the beautiful Cascades.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.

A very nice surprise

Today was a beautiful day we woke up to sunshine on the mountains and clear blue skies, so I decided to go to town for some things we needed to get and to see what the snow conditions were like at the other end of the road. One thing I found was that there was no snow from the snowpark parking area to our garage, thankfully the fire road trail still had some snow with patches of water and mud that I could use to get my snowmobile to where our truck is parked. At our garage there was almost no snow compared to what was just there last week when I went out. This was a nice change from the 4" of rain we had gotten over the weekend which took our snow level here down to just above 8' of very compact snow, and last night got cold enough to freeze everything that melted yesterday, making it possible to walk anywhere in the snow without post holing while walking. I got home around 3:15pm with everything I bought stuffed into my backpack and saddlebags on the sled, it's heavy but it works quite well. We had just gotten everything put away when I looked outside and saw someone outside on the porch.
I went out and found a friend Ivan Gibbs had snowmobiled up with another friend of his Don, they had been enjoying the groomed trails out here and decided to come for a visit. It was very unexpected but such a great time, we went out to the powerhouse and bowling alley but mostly were looking at all of the back country skiing that is available and untouched at this time. You just never know who or when someone might show up. In the last few weeks we've had more friends out here than most people that can walk next door to their neighbor and it takes a little longer to get here. Yesterday the martens today Ivan & Don. What does the rest of the week have in store.
It was nice to see it start snowing just before they left to go home and has continued on through the night giving everything a nice white coat of snow. I can't wait to get out in it and play before it is gone .

Feeding Sadie & Sam

This morning when we first got up Elaine mentioned that she just saw the marten outside, so we got up to look. To our amazement not just one but 2 martens were playing on the front and back porch, we've named them Sadie & Sam. They are very curious and I even got one to take meat from my hand. Now they have Gizmo's constant attention and he keeps looking where he last saw them go into the snow tunnel outside in the snow off of the roof that is still hanging on. Here are a few shots taken from inside and outside while feeding them. Sadie is the one that seems to be fearless and will take food from me but Sam seems more reserved. Sam is more vocal but both are fun to watch. This is only the second time we have actually seen them but I have been watching their tracks and have often thought that there were more than one but couldn't confirm it until today. Not only will they travel over the snow but they also have tunnels under the snowbanks that have melted out. This weekend was a very wet one almost 4" of rain and the snow is now down to about 8 feet. What a wonderful and exciting way to wake up.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.

A New Friend to Trinity

Yesterday afternoon we had some visitors & friends from out at Chiwawa Pines that came snowmobiling and we knew that some of them, Art & Jim were coming but they even brought their wives Janet & Niki and Jim's brother Tommy from California. We had a great time and the guys got to play in some of the virgin snow here at Trinity and see just how deep the snow really is here. We had a great visit. Here are a couple of pictures of them and more to come soon. Tommmy is the picture by himself & the other picture was taken as we were heading to the powerhouse for a tour.
We found our Paradise, and so have these friends, we hope you find your's too.

Some Pictures for Friends

I was asked by some friends for pictures of Glacier Mountain, Lyman Lake & glacier. I first saw Lyman Glacier 3 years ago, the first year I was here & have seen it every year for the last 3 years. It is very sad to see how small it is now compared to what it was 3 years ago, or what it was like 100 years ago even. These pictures were taken last Oct. when they did the Snotel maintenance. Hope you enjoy these Tommy & Jim.

A New Visitor this morning

As Elaine and I were looking at the weather outside and noticing how warm it was getting, I noticed something outside and as I turned to look I saw a Marten coming back from the snow cave on the side of the house. I tried to get a picture but he saw me and was gone. I went and looked to find him again but only found tracks several of them coming from the creek out from the front pond. It was nice to see him but at the same time means we have to be on guard for our little buddy Peppy, he might not be much competition for a young hungry Marten. Not something I expected to see especially in the morning, last year a biologist for the forest service had set out traps to see if we had any Martens out here in the forest and set out 6 at Trinity and only had one trap with Marten tracks on it so this is really cool. Will just have to keep our eyes open as this is the first time this winter to see him or his tracks and yet today I found 5-6 different places that he has been since Thursday when I was dragging and it was snowing and I never saw any tracks except for a big Buck that always stays here with us.
This next week could be very interesting as the snow level is up to 6000-8000' and temps are supposed to get up in the 40's all week could start to make things here very sloppy and is that the beginning of the end of winter or will we get another big winter blast at the end of the month. Overall this year we've had more snow than last year but only have about 10' showing on the gauge because of the warming and compaction that has been happening all winter. Last year we had 14' on the gauge it just was more spread out when it came and this year came in big dumps. Never a dull moment.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.

Weekend Visitors & Lots of Powder

Friday morning we woke up to some new snow on the ground and colder temps so Elaine & I went out to work on the trails we had been making. We got some new snow over night and just wanted to try to smooth it out since it was frozen and set up better. We even went up to the Bowling alley & did some dragging from there to try to keep as much open as possible, just in case we do get more snow. It's so much easier to do it as it arrives instead of letting it get ahead of you, then it can become somewhat of a problem, besides we like to get out in it and play & enjoy the beauty. We finally had to quit when it got too warm and we were making more of a mess than we wanted to and it was time to eat.

Friday afternoon I heard snowmobiles at the gate and went out to see who it was and saw 3 sleds heading down the road so I went back inside and a little bit later some friends Alan & Shauna showed up at the door, and it was great to see them again, they were part of the group that helped me to get home after Thanksgiving by breaking trail. They had come up for the weekend and were out for a ride with other friends so they came by, a very pleasant surprise, and we had a great visit.

Saturday morning we woke up to near whiteout conditions and about 1' of new powder on the ground so we decided to just stay inside and watch it snow, around 12:30 there was a shout and knock on the house and Jim & Art, friends I met last year were out for a ride making first tracks and enjoying the powder and came out to visit before meeting other friends back out at the Chiwawa river bridge for a fire get together. It was great to see them again and they are also parents of some of the kids, Justin, Ashley & Ryan that also helped me get home Thanksgiving and another time when I was going out to see Elaine and broke down at Chikamin Flats and was walking out to the garage a nice 10 mile walk but was very grateful for the ride out. It is always a pleasure to see friends and I will be forever grateful for all of their help and friendship.
We found our Paradise and so have some of our friends, hope you find yours too.

The Weather is Constantly Changing

Well it has continued to be very hard to know what the weather is going to do at Trinity, earlier this week we had snow then rain/snow mix, then more snow then it got warm with beautiful blue skies all around yet we still saw it snowing in the back yard at the same time. Elaine and I spent almost everyday working on the trails around Trinity and some days got so warm so quick that we could only work for a little while before tearing it up instead of smoothing things out. This morning we are getting snow and are supposed to get almost ft of new snow today and tomorrow. Every time it has snowed the snowmobilers have been out to tear it up or make first tracks but I have been able to make first tracks a couple of days this week when going out to the mail or Leavenworth but the temps have been crazy too some days not getting below 30 and then warming up very quickly but then we have seen high temps after 6pm when it should be getting colder, very strange is all I can say. Last night we had beautiful clear skies with a half moon brightly shining and lighting up the Trinity Valley it was gorgeous, the owls were busy talking to eac`h other and the only sound we could hear outside was Phelps Creek because it has almost a foot more water flowing now than it normally does. Another thing this year is that the Chiwawa River has been diverted north of Trinity and it is now flowing into the back pond that usually only has the water the hydro plant uses in there but now there is water coming in from somewhere upstream probably due to downed trees and snow combination no matter what the cause it has changed course and now has wiped out part of the Buck Creek Trail, it's a stream, actually there are many of these new streams flowing through all of the low areas, it will be interesting to see what happens after the melt starts. Life is always interesting at Trinity, you never know what you will experience from one day to the next. Elaine and I have been enjoying working out in the snow keeping the trails open and smooth as possible using only the Ranger & a drag, and snowmobiles to take out the high spots. It is so good having Elaine back home and even though the weather hasn't cooperated all the time each day we are out playing together and even though it is only in the 20's & 30's most days she is beginning to understand that snow can be great fun. She loves driving the Ranger and does a great job with the dragging now that she is starting to get more comfortable doing it, some days she doesn't want to quit even when it the snow is getting sloppy which it has been a couple of times this week, and I'm very grateful.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too