Acclimating to the Cold

The sun shimmers off of Lake Superior.  I'm sitting with a cup of coffee in front of the crackling stove while the black cap chickadees feed in the spruce outside my window.  It's another gorgeous autumn morning in the northwoods!

There was no frost last night as there has been most recent mornings.  Luna found fresh pine marten scat on the road.

Over the past couple of weekends I've implemented another round of clearing.  This time the goal is to open the top acre and a half above our cabin where the home will someday be.  The expanse of the lake is showing itself with every balsam fir that drops.

I've learned to only cut a fast as you can burn.  I should, however, be able to burn a pile this evening since a few drops of rain fell last night.

To me this is the coldest time of the year.  Even though the temperatures are nothing in comparison to the sub zero temp that will persist in January, my body has yet to acclimatize to the weather.  The thirty degree air leaves me shivering and digging out wool sweaters from our cedar chest.  By the time the real winter cold is here I will be used to it and by March thirty degrees will be considered tee shirt weather!

Although the lense on the camera doesn't serve this view justice you can see Lake Superior along the horizon.  At this point I've cleared all the balsam fir in the view shed from the home site to the cabin.  This winter I'll knock the poplar trees that you see in the foreground to really open up this space!  

Changes in Trajectory

A shooting star drops through the atmosphere on a chilly autumn night.  Suddenly, without any apparent reason it changes it's trajectory and glows as bright as ever as it fades into the ink black sky.

It leaves me with a chill down my spine.  It's a metaphor for life.  As you move through time change is inevitable.  You don't know if that change in trajectory will be a bright or dull moment.  Eventually or rather inevitably, it all fades back into the elements.

The next morning an eagle soared a blustery autumn wind over the forest.  It's six foot wingspan casted a momentary shadow over me.  The fleeting shadow came and went as fast as this magnificent aviary soared it's thermal to new heights.

I now find myself under a midnight sky watching an iron ore freighter sail north along the shore of Superior.  It's deck lights floating in stark contrast with the horizon.

The change that my efforts bring to this place is one thing.  Cognisant of it or not, the natural elements provide the real energy for this land.  Although everything in life has energy of some form, the more I experience the more life encourages me to expose myself to the raw elements of the world.  I am ready for what that energy brings me.   I am willing to ebb and flow with it.  I am ready for the changes in trajectory that may come...

The weather has turned so we felt it was time to get into the season.  This year we carved two pumpkins.  Next year there will be a third little pumpkin to carve as well!!!!!!!

Post Peak

Paddled Ram to Poplar Lake last weekend.  The trip traverses the Misquah Hills through some of the highest lakes in the state.  It takes quite a bit of "puddle hopping" through small lakes and over long, rugged, seldom-traveled portages to complete this route but the views are well worth it! 

The hills lost most of their glitter in a single day when 50 mile per hour wind gusts scattered the foliage on to the forest floor. 

Moose and bear season close this weekend while small game and bow season on deer continue. 

We've been busy harvesting apples and stacking firewood. 

Three tenths of an inch of much-needed rain feel yesterday lifting the ban on fires.  Now that the trees have lost their leaves my mind has shifted towards my winter project of clearing the one and a half acre homesite.

We spotted a lone wolf trotting on the side of the road last night in the rain.

Poplar popping

A cold windy autumn day with occasional rain showers.  Trees are in full show right now.  Poplar and birch are golden yellows.  Maples are brilliant red.  The Sawtooth Mountains stand in full glory over the dark blues of the windswept Lake Superior.

We're busy getting the homestead ready for winter.  I've bucked most of the wood.  Now I just have a pile to split and stack.  About 2 cords are already stacked.

We installed the hand pump on our well this weekend.  Installed a bathroom door. Replaced our sheetrock countertops with butcher block.

The growing season is over. The buckwheat has been tilled back into the garden. We've been boosting the compost with greens from the garden.


Hawks and eagles are in the air.  Yesterday our morning drive into town was greeted by an immature Bald Eagle flying low over the Devils Track River gorge.  About 50 black birds were on the road a couple of evenings ago.  There was no obvious road kill around.  Bears are in season and in need of life giving calories.  A skunk has taken up residence in our neighbors culvert.  We're hesitant to bring the dog down there.   Despite an open small game season a grouse has been lingering close to the house.

The brisk evenings are spent reading with Poplar popping in the woodstove...

McFarland to Clearwater via Mountain and Moose Lakes

A guide to one of the most beautiful padddling trips around: 

The palisading linear hills first appear at McFarland.  Put in your canoe and gear at the end of the Arrowhead.

Paddle north through Little John.  In high water shoot the rumbling class one rapids into John Lake.  With another diabase bluff on left head east past a fine pine-studded campsite to the north.  The portage is on the right well before the back bay funnels into a river.  Easy portage.

Paddle the scenic Royale River east then northwest at opening of Royale Lake.

Notice the hills, wildrice, tamarack, cedar and balsam;  not to mention the muskrat lodges

On the left is the flat, longer but easy portage into South Fowl.  The river crashes over beaver dams and through the island chain that seperates South and North Fowl Lakes.  Long, linear diabase sills form the ridges all around you.

To the North is Canada.  A couple bites of bass on a chubbed-out jig head with a leech later you step up a  rock garden of a portage into Moose Lake.

At about four miles in length Moose is a good practice crossing for Mountain Lake.  There is a great historic ledge rock and pine stand form the west shore.  Moose Lake will produce walleye.  Not much luck for us this day as we made camp on a site eating soup about midway along the south shore.

Troll your way out for the early morning bite into Moose Mountain.  Near the end of the lake, cast off a small spinner tipped with some stink along the shores: particularily where those streams are coming in.

The Great Cherry Portage is an uphill climb going west.  At 140 rods, it's not horribly long though.  Slow down and look for critter while traveling through the Lily Lakes.  Moose, beaver, water fowl, snakes in the water...

Mountain Lake is a gem.  Cliffs line most of the southern American shore.  The lake is more than 7 miles long.  Lake Trout reign in her depths.

Fish the east outlet down the Pigeon River shallow with a spinner for small mouth bass.
There's some decent camping mid way down the lake on a broad point.  The evening can be spent trolling with a white chub and leech along structure and the Lake Trout will feed.  Land at your camp, put up gear and start a fire.  Gut the fish and throw one fish on the fire per two.  There really isn't a better meal than fresh lake trout over a fire and instant puddling!

Connect the points west crossing this large lake.  The cliffs are impressive.

Jig your way out of the west side of the lake.  Trout have been had all around the distinct point the protects the portage trail climbing the ridge over to Clearwater Lake.  The Border Route trail intersects the portage at the top of the hill.  Keep dropping straight ahead but keep yours wits about you for some grouse; especially if it is small game season.

Clearwater Lake is a classic.   There are some great areas on the far east end of the lake.  The cliffs provide habitat for plenty of birds of prey.  Considering the increased mobility being a motorized lake, these cliffs begged to be climbed and the bays and narrows provide an excellent fishery.  Take out at the Clearwater landing.

The total trip is 20 some miles.  Gradual portages dispersed by moderate open water crossings.  Great fishing.  Give yourself a few days to enjoy.