Maybe contact these folks, they make some sweet ice shanty’s on skis…Northern Fabrication Solutions |
With the slightly warmer temps and clear weather I was thinking of going scrounging today. Fired the sled up for the first time since last winter and did some test runs on my property. She runs great but I think if I go out today, I will just tow the Otter sled and break trail to some of the trees I marked at the end of last year. None of the trees I will be scrounging are off any groomed trails and everything is back in the woods, so I'll have to make my own trails. I figure if I can do a couple loops today and make some trails, with the temps going back below freezing at night, hopefully the homemade trails will be easier to haul wood out on.
Yeah, I already had to shovel it out once this morning. I didn't bring my snowshoes so had to posthole back to get the shovel (it was, after all, just a 'test run'). I'll definitely be bringing the snowmobile winch when I head out later.
I should’ve mentioned earlier when we did it For sugaring season, we go out every decent snowstorm and just re-packed the trail
Postholing is the worse. Gets so tiring. Especially if you didn't tighten a snowshoe binding, tight enough. You walk out of it and you're crotch deep in snow. Oh, the good times. The snow pics look nice. We're looking forward to getting up there next week!
Plenty of snow up here now for you. Going to have a couple warmer days this week but I don't think there will be much melting so everything should be very picturesque for you next week. On a different note, has everyone in your group had bear meat before? I could whip up some black bear chili in the crock pot and drop it off one morning if anyone wants to try some. I did go out this afternoon on the snowmobile and broke some trails. Glad I did because there were a few dicey spots and there is no way I would have been able to tow a loaded sled out with no established trail. I did get stuck twice in deep drifts; however, I carry an aluminum rescue shovel in the gear bag on the snowmobile and was able to dig out relatively quickly. I also ended up with a few new 'beauty marks' on the windscreen but that's the price paid for snowmobile hoarding in the backcountry. The trails should freeze well tonight and be good to go if I head out tomorrow to cut some wood. I made a few loops on the established road/trail (which hasn't had any traffic since winter began) and made a few off-shoot trails right up to some of the trees we marked. That will make life a bit easier (it's a workout processing everything in snowshoes so the easier the better). I haven't decided yet if I'm going to cut the trees into 4' sections and haul them out with the Otter sled or just cut them into 12' lengths and haul them out with the skidding cone. Either way, I'll work at it as long as it's fun. Once it becomes work, it's time to call it a day. A benefit of being ahead on firewood (and whatever I don't get with the snowmobile, I'll get with the ATV after the spring thaw).
I know some of us will be having chili(smoked brisket and ground beef). But not as fancy as black bear chili. I do know if it's available, we'd all give it a taste. For the most part, we all do our own thing for meals. So, it won't take much to get a taste of bear. That would be awesome!
And yeah. Once you break a trail, it firm's up nice overnight. Same with snowshoes. If packed down enough, you can walk on the trail with just boots.
Finally had the energy and motivation to go out and scrounge a bit. Took down a standing dead red maple and found that skidding in the heavy wet snow just wasn't going to cut it (even with a precut trail and skidding cone). I could have dragged one 8-12-foot length at a time, but I would have been making endless loops. Decided to cut 4-foot lengths and haul them out with the Otter sled. The Indy worked great and had no issues towing a load, even going up a couple of decent hills to get back to the staging area. Definitely a lot of work for just a couple trees but the score was a wind-damaged beech, my favorite type of firewood (the top is buried under snow so will have to wait until after the spring thaw). I think in the end the thing that was the biggest PITA was the snowshoes on/snowshoes off routine. Post-holed down about three feet in one area so snowshoes were a must. I have plenty more trees marked out there so if the body is up to it, I'll keep scrounging with the snowmobile. On a side note, I'm definitely enjoying the new MS400.
That's an option. Once this February thaw is over and temps get back to normal it may be easier as well. These daytime temps in the low 40's and nights below freezing are making a mess of everything.
Temps are too high, and the snow is too slushy to go out today so I took advantage of the warmer weather to dig out my utility trailer. Made a great spot to start stacking new scrounges. Sure doesn't look like much once yesterday's results were in one place but it's good hardwood and I'm pleased for the first scrounge of the year.
Things are wet here, but firming up tonight for a few days. Overnight lows in upper teens. Probably colder up your way. Your trails will firm up. I hope not too icy.
I had one on order from Northern Sled (now Airframes Alaska) last year but couldn't justify the shipping costs. Would still like to get one eventually but my Otter sled will have to work for now.
The guy who started Northern Sled works (Fairbanks, Ak) built them out of his garage. A retired fellow looking to make a few$$$ on the side. He retired again and sold it to Alaska Tarp and Tent (Fairbanks, Ak) a few years back and about 1.5-2 year Airframes Alaska in Anchorage bought Alaska Tarp and Tent. They are trying to keep some unique Alaska businesses here and thriving.
