Finding a clearing routine...

I've been spending my evenings on the property clearing, surveying, and planning. The first half of the week has been beautiful! Highs in the low 20's and snow.

Sunday started with a couple inches of dry lake-effect snow and continued throughout the day. It was the kind of snow that skiers dash to the Wasatch Range of Utah for. Instead of skiing, I was sawing away at the firs and poplars; clearing the garage pad. I rather enjoy being out in foul weather. It helps me appreciate the fair days. I guess it's the Norwegian in me. "There's no such thing as bad weather just bad clothes." Right? Hence the wool outfit that I wear religiously. Ever since my time in Alaska working in the bush: wool is the only way to go. It keeps you warm when wet, enough said. Fleece is for sleeping in a tent or the city.

On Monday I decided to take a break from the chain saw and enjoy the white powder. After work I made my way over the hill and skied 10 km of absolutely perfect trails through the red pines of Maple Hill.

On Tuesday I went back out to the land with a GPS unit and surveyed-in the corner pins, as well as the locations of the house, garage, shed, driveway and septic sites. I have been mapping my progress by hand and thought the time was right to get everything surveyed and flagged accordingly. Now I have the property on my own map with my own data and within a meter of accuracy. It's about time considering that we've owned the property for a whole month now!

Wednesday brought me back at the clearing. Here's my routine: I drop a few trees. Limb the straight spruce that I want to keep for structures and basic lashing practice. Drag the limbed poles to their storage by the future shed. Gather the burn brush and hardwoods that aren't firewood worthy. Haul the brush to the burn pile of choice. Drag the wood-stove destined birch to the "bucking log" and repeat at the top.

The big news is that I have now cleared the garage site of all vegetation with the exception of one 10" diameter white spruce that Amy has grown particularly fond of. I will drop this one with her present, so she can say her goodbyes or whatever she's got to do.

So tomorrow I will cut this nice spruce and start burning the slash piles. I'm planning on using kerosene to get the piles going. Kerosene is less volatile than straight octane. As much I love seeing things go boom, I'll play it safe this time. To answer what is on the back of everybody's mind: everything is very green, so yes, the "boy scout juice" is necessary.

There is a huge black wolf roaming the woods. Luna (our mutt who weighs pert-near 70 pounds) stepped in one of its tracks. Her print was less than one half the size of his! I'll keep the camera handy with the hope of sneaking a shot of this one. As I was making my way to the truck I could hear the pack howling in the distance. Apart from the howls, they were making strange hyena-like sounds. In reality, they probably weren't so distant. The critters sounded like they were within a 7 iron shot away!

Hearing that pack at the end of the day has become part of the routine. Cut, limb, drag, pile & howl. Another day done gone...