Chairmen of the Politically Incorrect

[OldWin]

Happy Thanksgiving to you guys too!

They are saying 8 inches or so here. It's been really dry here, but that's a good thing for me. The woods are dry so there's been very little mud. Saturday is the last day of regular firearms season on deer and I wanted to get some wood cut and a couple twitch trails made for the tractor. Now we've had some rain and 8 inches of snow on ground that isn't frozen means mud.
I should have done the work instead of hunting this month. Haven't seen anything anyway.

[gamekeeper]

Hey Jay you won page 278 shouldn't someone be giving you a prize ? Where is that guy
AWOL is a serious offence.......

[OldWin]

Yeah I think he's checked out. I don't think I got any prizes coming my way anyway.
Gotta finish my coffee and get out to clean up the mess. Lots of power outages around here. Ours went out again sometime during the night but it's back now. We NEVER lose it, so it must have been bad. Limb came down and busted the fence. I got parts so at least I can fix it.

[Walt]

I saw that your area got some severe weather, Jay. I hope it's over and that you get the mess cleaned up to your satisfaction.

[OldWin]

Thanks buddy! I went out a 5:30 and just got back.
Blew out my dooryard, then headed over and did my parents. The neighbors across from my parents are both laid up, so I went over and got them too. The old Honda got a workout this morning.
So did I!

After I eat something, I'm gonna head to camp and see what that looks like. I'm sure I have 3 collapsed blinds and the sheds need to be cleaned off. Hopefully I can get the Gladiator in. The Jeeps are put up for the winter.

The oldest boy has been without power since 9 last night with no end in sight. He, his wife, and the dog are headed over to camp out here.

Just another day in the pine tree state!

[Walt]

You're a good guy, Jay. I'm sure there are lots of people in your community who appreciate your efforts and the help you offer.

[OldWin]

Thanks Walt, but I ain't no different than anyone else.
I KNOW you're a good guy, cause you got guns and a dirt bike!

Anyway, I just got home. What a time. When I went through the bank onto my camp road it filled the grille on the Gladiator. There was well over a foot on the level, and it must have been warm when it started, cause it pulled all the trees and alders down into the road. I got out and knocked the snow off with an axe for a bit but said "screw it" and plowed through them the rest of the way. Got the truck to camp ok but was really questioning whether the Honda would make it through the trails to get the blinds. In our favor was that all three trails were downhill on the way in breaking trail. The downside was they were all rough trails and one had a ton of bent over trees. All 3 blinds were down and buried. Had to dig them out and get em packed, but we did. I humped down a foot trail to my dad's ladder stand with a canopy. That was caved in too, but I got the snow off it.
We got the blinds and got back to camp with the wheeler. She earned her keep today. I beat the hell outta that thing. Glad we had the chains on it! We sat and had a nice couple bourbons in camp.
I cleaned the shed roofs, but everything else looked good.
I have to go back and get the canopy off the stand, two seats off my stands that are WAY up in the northeast corner of the lot, 2 trail cameras, and we have to get the enclosed snowmobile trailer hauled out with the 4 wheeler and the TW. Should be interesting. I'll keep you boys posted.

[Old Savage]

OW, I haven’t seen anything like that for years. Nice pics.

[Walt]

Nice pics indeed! That last one looks particularly warm and inviting. Thanks

[OldWin]

Haha thanks. I'll try and get some more on the next adventure.

[gamekeeper]

Love the photos Jay I was hoping to see something similar where I live not that I'm a fan of snow since I grew up and had to commute, at least now I'm retired I don't have that problem..

[Walt]

It doesn't happen very often here but every now and then we get snow like this and even deeper. This was the only one I could find that I measured and photographed.

[OldWin]

Hey boys!
Sorry I didn't get any pics today. I went back up and got dad's stand canopy. I also got the trailer with the 4 wheeler and TW hauled out. I was going to get the seats off my stands, but I didn't want dad walking way back in there with all the snow. I'll sneak back up and get them myself. Still have a couple trail Cams to get too. Just didn't want dad walking that far with all the snow.

That's some good snow Walt! Here's a few from a few years ago. We got it pretty good. I think it was 40 or 42 inches from this one. The shovel pic is me on my garage roof. And if you notice, I'm not down to the shingles yet.

[Walt]

Nope, we don't get nuttin like that here.....thankfully. A majority of houses here have flat roofs, including mine. That combination would be disasterous.....

Thanks for the pictures, Jay!

[OldWin]

Haha yeah. A flat roof wouldn't fly here Walt. Matter of fact, I don't like valleys on my roofs either. I like a 12-12 pitch too.

[gamekeeper]

When I lived in Hampshire three years ago this is about as bad as it got....

IMG_20210124_105553.jpg

[Walt]

Not bad; that looks like about 7 or 8" on the ground.

[gamekeeper]

Yes the south of England doesn't usually get very much so I'm expecting a bit more up here near the Scottish border.

[Walt]

GK, I have a younger sister who lives in Hamburg. She has some friends who have a kind of resort for guests at Cornwall. She drives there and stays as a friend several times a year

[OldWin]

That looks like a pretty good storm for over there GK.
Sometimes it's amazing how snow amounts can change in just a mile up the road. We have "snowbelts" here in places. There is one just up the road from my house. It runs in a northeast/southwest direction, and follows a line of hills and small mountains. Our old camp was smack in the middle of it. Our current property is about 6 miles below, but still gets considerably more than my house, which is 17 miles south.

[gamekeeper]

Yes the UK is only a small country but weather conditions can be very different from one place to another. Walt Cornwall is a very beautiful county with great coastal beaches and wild moorland, last time I was there the pubs were especially good..

[OldWin]

It always amazed me how much power and influence the UK wielded over such a vast empire for its size. Says a lot about those folks.
I always figured that's what kept the Germans from making a serious amphibious attempt in 40-41. Probably wisely so.

[Walt]

The railroad tunnel that runs under the English Channel is an engineering marvel, just amazing.

[gamekeeper]

The railroad tunnel that runs under the English Channel is an engineering marvel, just amazing.

I agree with it being an engineering marvel BUT it is going East and I would much prefer it if it was going West.... I know it would have taken a bit longer but I would be more inclined to use it....

[OldWin]

Haha priceless!
That would mean it would emerge over east of me, most likely. Maybe Eastport? Or possibly in New Brunswick. Better bring your passport.
Oh! And pick me up some Moosehead Pale Ale before you cross the border. They don't send the Pale Ale o er the line. And it's the best Moosehead makes.

[Walt]

One of the really amazing aspects of the tunnel is that it was put together on the surface of the channel and then sunk and weighted down.

[Walt]

Let's not lose this thread after almost 115K views.

[gamekeeper]

Let's not lose this thread after almost 115K views.

Yes, us rebels have got to have somewhere hang out...
My son went deer hunting with the boss today they got five Roe deer and saw a few more, their numbers have been increasing and the government are paying landowners to cull them...
I was watching two Roe deer from my kitchen window yesterday but they were a long way off.

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[OldWin]

Lose it? Not a chance! Just been busy.

It was 8 degrees when I got to camp this morning, but the old JD770 rolled over, so I had to go to work. Wanted to get some wood cut, cause the conditions are perfect. Froze enough so there's no mud, there's no leaves, it's cold, and there's enough snow so the logs yard easy, don't get dirty and dull your saw. There's another 8-12 inches of snow coming tonight. I don't have chains for the tractor and there's some pretty good hills to get up. I will just have to see if I can still go.
It's a little more work for me because I dont just hack away. I try and take standing dead, broken tops, or stuff that's down but still good. I still need a 4 wheeler winch mounted on my log skidder on the 3pt. That way if I drop a tree off my twitch trail I can winch it to the tractor instead of making a mess getting to it.
Anyway.....here's a few pics.

[ollogger]

Cool photos! OK ive cut alot of different trees in 23 years of logging, but dont have a clue as to what
grows in Maine,so what all grows on your place?



ollogger

[Walt]

What a neat place, Jay! I am about as green as your tractor with envy. No question it's a lot of work to keep up but it keeps you out of the bingo parlors.

[OldWin]

Haha thanks Walt! You're welcome any time (bring your DR. )

Hi OL!

We have about everything going haha. The upper end of my lot is higher ground, and is mostly hardwoods. Popple (as we call it), but is poplar. Very close to aspen out west. We also have beech, yellow and white birch, some white oak, hornbeam, and ash. The ash is taking it hard now with those emerald ash borers, so if I see one looking peaked I take it. If it's down and good, even better. The hornbeam seems to have a similar issue. There are some interspersed groves of white pine up there too.
Down lower, it's the ever present spruce. But also a good bit of hemlock and fir. Also a good amount of cedar. I lose a lot of the spruce to wind. Roots are shallow and soil is rocky. Once in a while I will lose a big hemlock the same way. I hate it cause there is a lot of boards or beams in them, but most are too far in and I can't get to them without making a road. I'm thinking maybe an Alaska chainsaw mill may help salvage a little. I have about 200 acres and it's all heavily wooded.

[ollogger]

I cut logs in the northern half of Wisconsin for 16 years all but the hornbeam in your area ive cut, in fact
ive never heard of it, the other 7 years i cut Ponderosa in the Black Hills ( SD & Wyo,) been here For
29 years, some times i think i had more brain damage than i thought when that limb hit me




ollogger

[OldWin]

I cut logs in the northern half of Wisconsin for 16 years all but the hornbeam in your area ive cut, in fact
ive never heard of it, the other 7 years i cut Ponderosa in the Black Hills ( SD & Wyo,) been here For
29 years, some times i think i had more brain damage than i thought when that limb hit me




ollogger

I've been to Wyoming and SD. Absolutely beautiful. We don't have ponderosa here. My wife and I loved the Black Hills.
The logging industry is the life blood of Maine. Not so much in the last decade, but still huge. Mostly for the paper industry, and the vast majority of the state is owned by the paper industry. It leaves this land open for use (Mostly because it feared fires set to it as a consequence to gating it). Maine is the most heavily forested state in the country. Even more than Alaska. From my little traveling, the woods here seem somewhat unique. Much less open, and incredibly thick compared to most anywhere I've been. Parts of Canada seemed the closest, but I haven't ventured into their woods to get a good look. I'm assuming the parts close to us are the same.
I'm much to young to have experienced the "piney days" of first growth. I've read a lot of it, and seen some photos. It must have been incredible. Many of them were left laying because the river wasn't deep enough to float them. I e heard there are a few on the coast that still bear the kings mark for use as ship masts.

[Old Savage]

Nice pics, way too cold for me.

[gamekeeper]

OS is that a Joshua tree in the centre of the first photo

[Old Savage]

Yes, they are all over the place here.

[OldWin]

Cold here again tonight. Supposed to get a few inches of snow. I'll have to get up to camp this week to see how much they got between Thursday and tonight. Hopefully I can still get around to cut some wood.
It's supposed to be a little warmer next week but more snow and possibly wet. I hope not. May be done getting in with the truck now. Hopefully not, cause it's much easier than hauling the sled up and riding that in.

[gamekeeper]

North of England hit by storm Darragh, just strong winds and rain but it's knocked out the electricity for a few hours. Cooking on top of my log burner for now

[Old Savage]

Sounds rustic!

[gamekeeper]

I like rustic, sophistication is something I strive to stay away from as it clashes with my general outlook on life....

2lxbcz.jpg

[OldWin]

Cooking on the wood stove sounds like a good day to me buddy.
Took an extra half hour to get home this morning with the snow. I knew I had a bunch to do when I got up so I didn't sleep much. Got up with no coffee and ran out to crank up the blower and clean up. Got that done, then cleaned the truck off and went and gassed it. Just now sitting down with a cup of tea. I'll wolf down some tourtiere pie for supper and roll it for work.
Last one. Then I'll have to get to camp to clean off the sheds. More snow tomorrow night. I'm all done driving in for sure. Back to the sled. I have an idea the tractor is done skidding logs too. That doesn't thrill me.

[Old Savage]

Joshua for you.

[gamekeeper]

Interesting looking tree is the wood used for anything?

[Walt]

At least in California, Joshua trees are protected as an endangered species by law.

[Old Savage]

Not aware that the wood is used for anything. Although, you can find articles on its use.

[OldWin]

Well there! After my Monday morning power nap, I figured I'd best get to camp and clean off the sheds. Figured I'm most likely done driving in with the truck, so I wanted to get a "float' laid down with snowshoes. I didn't want to mess with hauling the sled up. Dad had a Dr's. appointment, so I figured I'd snowshoe in. I threw my shoes and a rifle in the truck and rolled it.
By the looks of it, I'd say winter is coming boys. I have about a half a mile to snowshoe from where I leave the truck. It's not a bad walk, but I was breaking trail. The quietest thing in the world is the Maine woods in the winter. Nothing like it. I got to camp and it looked like about another foot since we were here last week. I cleaned the deck, steps, and the roof over the door. Cleaned around the tractor, shoveled out the tool shed, the storage shed, and the outhouse. I even took a stick and knocked down the turd pyramid in the outhouse pit. Then covered it with lime and wood ash.
After all that, it was time to sit in the rocker and enjoy a little sip o' Whiskey.
I loafed around camp a bit, then strapped the shoes back on and started out. I hadn't gone too far when I noticed 2 deer had crossed the road in my tracks. They came out if the woods in front of camp and headed south onto our buddies lot. I was shocked they are still around. Once the snow starts to pile up, they migrate down to Athens, about 5 miles away. Oddly, they come from as far north as our old camp, heading to that yarding area. I think most migrate through on the other side of the stream (east) on their way down.

[gamekeeper]

It sure looks like winter to me..... great photos Jay keep 'em coming, all we've had is rain and strong winds with temperatures above freezing.

I'm hoping to have a walk around the woods now the widow makers should be less of a problem and this place is getting more like home, I have seen deer from my kitchen window and Pheasants come to the bird feeder.

I often see those Joshua trees in Westerns but I know very little about them.

[OldWin]

The only pheasants we have are ones that are released to hunt. They can't make it through the winter here. I saw 2 beside the road this fall. They are pretty birds for sure.
Hope you get out soon buddy.
I really liked it out west. Utah was nice. I like the dry. There's some places I'd still like to see out there. I like it, but I don't know if I could leave the Maine woods.
There's too much of me here I guess.

[Old Savage]

OW, what are these hats called?