June escape

Though employment pressures abbreviated this much needed escape, we are very glad to have been able to escape to the Yonderosa for a few short days.

 Things had definitely greened up since our last visit.

Amelanchier alnifolia

 This was also our first trip of the year over the late(st) opening of the North Cascades Highway.  The extra snow has all of the rivers flowing as high as I've ever seen.  The locals say this is the worst flooding they've experienced since the mid 1990's.

Nature was putting on quite a show - flowers everywhere.

The weather was very mixed.  Beautiful sunshine, heavy rain and hail, to gray overcast.  The low temperature we saw was 38*F and the High was 76*F - very comfortable.

One needed to be very careful where he steps as there are many brand new babies in the forest.  The deer were plentiful and it appears there is a good crop of fawns again.

Yonderosa Spring

The arrival of Spring at the Yonderosa is always welcome, especially when it is as late as it was this year.  The first blooms, the bird songs and Bears announce the end of Winter.

Black Bear track
Piper and I had some excitement on one of our morning walks when she caught wind of a Bear in the bushes.  She alerted me and then hid behind me..  barking her support.  The Bear didn't seem too interested in us, rather more interested in whatever it was eating.  He was good size,  looked healthy, especially for this time of year and I assume he because I saw no sign of cubs.  I didn't manage to get any good pictures, the best being a muddy track... bummer.

There were plenty of Deer, both Mule and Whitetail.  Lots of Moose sign too.

Piper wasn't sure what to think about all the big critters wandering around the yard.

Piper is turning out to be a great trail dog.

Lots of wild strawberry blooms.  Hopefully that means lots of strawberries!

The weather was mostly rainy.  We had one night of frost.  The surrounding peaks were dusted with snow.  Kirby Creek was flowing higher than we've ever seen it. The cabin stayed nice and warm all night without using the heat.  We ate well.  Relaxed.  Can't wait to get back!

Obligatory cabin and Dog photos

I know, I know...  scenery is nice but you're really here to see the cabin.  I didn't take many this trip but I'll post what I have.

I did take quite a few pictures of the girls though!

April Visit

Sometimes it's nice to get away just for the sake of it.

Most of the snow is gone.  The Grouse are drumming.  Moose and Deer are moving about.  No Bears yet.  Found a recent kill, looked like a smallish doe, probably the Cat got her, but it is hard to tell as the Coyotes had the bones scattered by the time I found her.

Yonderosa - a Winter Visit

We finally managed to escape to the Yonderosa for a brief visit.

Pack up the kids

The sight we've eagerly anticipated for months!

Packing in the gear and supplies

A grain scoop makes a handy sled for transporting gear

What better place to spend a weekend with your Valentine than a cabin in the woods

This was Piper's first visit.  She LOVES the snow!

Time to relax

The grub is always good at the Yonderosa

Didn't see any big critters.  Lots of snowshoe Hare, Coyote and Moose tracks around.

As always it enjoyable.  The cabin kept us warm and comfortable.

Puppy update for Debbie

Piper likes snow

It's going to get real cold

The National Weather Service forecast for tomorrow night:
"Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around -21. Wind chill values as low as -36. Northeast wind between 5 and 9 mph. "

November Visit

I'll use any excuse I can come up with to visit the Yonderosa - this last weekend I had a few of them.  Nothing like combining a little business and pleasure.

It was just cold enough to turn the valley rain into snow.  By first light the dusting of snow left a picturesque winter landscape for me to enjoy.

In addition to the beauty and the quiet the snow creates a registry of the local critters for me to discover.  Deer, Coyote, Grouse, Snowshoe Hare and Douglas' Squirrel were the most common.

I was amazed by the amount of deer activity.  About a half hour before dawn I watched a brute of a Whitetail Buck stroll through the meadow.  I tried to get a picture but it was just too dark to capture him.  Based on his presence and the quantity of deer tracks I believe the rut is still on. 

Here is a GameCam picture taken by one of my neighbors a month earlier.

Inside the cabin stayed toasty warm.  It took the Big Buddy Heater a little over 2 hours to heat the interior from 25*F to over 60*F.  Once room temperature was achieved it was easily maintained with intermittent use of the low setting.  Occasionally I would leave it off too long and the medium setting would bring it right back up to cozy warm.  Use of the high setting would spike the temperature over 70*F which was uncomfortably warm for me.  Shut down the cabin would loose 2-4 degrees per hour depending on the exterior temperature difference.