January 2005

Jan 27th 2005

While the southern and coastal regions of the state have been receiving much snow, we have been getting just a little.  What we have had is very cold temps.  The lowest I have had here at camp is -32 without any wind.  This was one of those mornings that the frost coated the trees along the river.  When the sun came up and hit the frost it was just magnificent!  Today while I was at Ripogenus Dam I saw a large coyote crossing the ice.  It was not running fast, just a mile eating gait.  They cover a large territory, and that one may not be back for days.  If they find an area with plenty of food they will hang around.  There is a small herd of deer located not far from here and I am sure that they have been working them.  I have seen their tracks intermixed with the deer tracks.  The length of the days is getting noticeably longer.  It will not be long and I will be "eatin suppah" when it is still daylight in the swamps.  I have had reports that the fish are biting up in these parts.  There seems to be plenty of ice for fishing now.  The low snow pack and cold have seen to that.  One still wants to check ice conditions before venturing forth upon any body of water.
GT

Jan 21st 2005

We received a few more inches of snow.  The depth varied greatly in a 30 mile radius.  The cold has set in and the air sure has a "snap" to it.  As I write tonight the temps are -22.  The wind is what one has to watch out for at these low temperatures. Tonight is one of those nights that the sky is clear and the moon is reflecting off from the snow.  Katahdin is glowing, like a "glow in the dark" sticker.  Folks must be thinking of spring and summer as the reservations are starting to roll in.  It will only be a few short months before the warm days of spring are here!


Jan 18th
It sure was cool outside today.  It warmed up to -3 in the sun this afternoon.  The temperature is headed for -28 tonight.  Sounds cold I know, but with out the wind you can still go outside for a short time without heavy clothing on.  I just add more wood to the stove.  It is then time to sit back with a cup of hot tea and a book in the easy chair. You can imagine how peaceful it is up here during the winter.  Although the days are short and the nights long, it gives one time to reflect on the accomplishments of the past year and time to plan the projects to take place next spring and summer. The dog and the cat are stretched out next to the wood stove and have not a care in the world.  (they do not even have to lug the wood)  While outside today I got a severe tongue lashing from the Chickadees.  Seems that I forgot to fill their feeder.  They sure let you know when that happens.  They fly around you and "Dee-Dee Dee" right steady!  Now that everyone is fed and happy, (The dog, the cat and all the birds) I guess that I can turn in for the evening.  Stay warm!
GT
Jan 14th 2005

We missed most of the snow up here the last storm.  We received  about one inch of snow and did not get much of the freezing rain that some areas of the state got.
I stopped on "Power House" hill (called this because of the McKay power station that is located on the river, part way up the hill) the other day and took this picture.
                                         
                                             Katahdin sunset from Power House Hill

I never get tired of looking at Katahdin during the winter.  It gets so pretty both in the bright sun and the sunsets and sunrises!  There are nights when you can see Katahdin lit up by the moon.  It looks so peaceful even if the temperature is -20 degrees!  Of course there are other times when the wind is blowing up on top and you can see the snow blowing off and it makes one thankful that you are in a nice warm vehicle.
We have had guests come in when the mountain is completely covered in fog and they do not even realize that it is there.  When they go to town or for a ride and discover it for the first time they get so excited!  I know the feeling, when Maureen and I drove to Alaska on our honeymoon and saw the Rockies for the first time, it just kind of takes your breath away. 
We saw some beautiful country on that trip, but I never found a place that made me want to pack up and leave this part of the world.
GT

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Jan 3rd, 2005
It is the new year already.  We  had a very slippery "New Years Eve".  I plow and sand part of the "Golden Road" in the winter and I spent most of the 31st of December and January 1st in the truck trying to get the road in shape for the fishermen who wished to start out the new year ice fishing.  I did not get a chance to talk to anyone about the fishing as I was hauling sand.

My son, Jed, wanted to know what all of the vehicles were doing at one of the parking lots.  When I told him they were fishing he informed me that we should be doing the same thing.  (how could I argue with such reasoning) Remember, a bad day of fishing is better than the best day at work!  You must check ice conditions as you travel and know where you are going to be sure that you are not traveling in areas that are known to have thin ice even in the middle of the winter.

Remember when you are traveling up in these parts that the logging trucks cannot pull over very far, you should slow down and pull over as far as you can or stop for them.  They appreciate it very much.  I can vouch for that as the plow truck is even wider than the widest logging truck, and I try to pull over or stop for them.  When we meet in one of the tight places we all hold our breath and pray a lot!

I have been seeing a large number of Moose this winter.  I see the tracks of them when I go out plowing at night in a fresh snow.  It is amazing how many tracks that a couple of Moose can make in a few hours.  It must have something to do with the fact that they have four feet and are not home sleeping in a warm bed. Some times I find where they walk up the road for two or three miles going from one side of the road to the other looking for feed.

I will be adding and changing this page on a regular basis.  As things develop up here in the great north woods, I will try to keep you posted.  I will add pictures as I get the chance as well.

We will be getting a new Fish & Wildlife warden in the very near future!  We are very excited as he will be bringing his family here and making it their home. We will now have neighbors that are only 2.7 miles from our camps. (Gittin crowded up here)  (just kidding Mike)  It will be very nice to have a family around here again.

I hope that everyone is having a good winter and that all of you are staying healthy.  Happy New Year

Gene

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                             The truck I use to keep the Golden Road plowed