Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Montreal River

Down by the river between the dam and the bridge yesterday still lots of water going through.  Lots of ice up and down the sides and along the rocks.

Cold and windy

After a short break of warmer weather we are in for a couple of cool days.  This is a pic of the wind blowing the snow across the lake down by the river.  The other ice growing on the porch door.

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Today and a few days back

How the weather has changed last week snow and below freezing and today almost 5°C and rain.  We should not complain at all with the snow problems in Buffalo now.  All across the lake is water, the edges are opening up again.  This won't last long either.  This post is number 900.

TODAY

Most of the lake has thin ice

 Today down by the dam taking some pictures water levels have gone a way down as the dam has six logs removed.  Most of the lake after last night has a skim of ice on it even the North Arm and down by the river.

Last night and this mornings snow and freezing rain

Here is a couple of pics from this morning after getting dumped on during the night and this AM.  Some areas are still getting more and we could get a lot more overnight.  Chance of more freezing rain too.  If this is the start it's going to be a long winter.

Paving the road thru Gowganda

This project started some time ago with new culverts, seepage tube along the road, grading and finally the new asphalt.  By the time it was ready to put the first layer down the weather was closing in and made for hit and miss work.  The second coat started and so did the snow and cold finally a couple of good days lights were bought it for extended paving hours.  In a couple of days the second coat was finished.  I took some video in the dark to show the equipment and the lighting they used when working in the dark even the lines were put down.  It is finally quiet in town again and with a lot less traffic.   The new asphalt road runs from the east of the big hill coming into town to down by the old maintenance buildings on the west side of town.  They widened the road so there is more walking room along the edge of the road great for those big trucks that crowd you all the time.

Rough-legged Hawk

A lucky chance to video a Rough-legged Hawk came up at my neighbours.  Wayne is a trapper who had a few skinned beavers by the side of his house.  Dana alerted me of the hawk eating on one of the skinned beavers.  It is a immature bird that must have been awfully hungry as it kept eating for a least 2 hours. Took lots of video and here is a sample.  Some of this might be a little gory for some be aware.

Fall flooding

The rain hasn't stopped for days and now the lakes and rivers are in spring time flood mode, Gowganda Lake is close to all time high water, the rivers very dangerous.  In Elk Lake the town dock is under water.  The whole system is backed way up now.  Starting tomorrow we will be treated to several days of sunshine, finally.

This is downstream of the Notch Dam

This is the Notch Dam the water is almost to the top of the dam this water is coming from the Montreal River thru Duncan Lake and joining the Montreal River at the Wapus Creek.

Canoe trip to Ishpatina Ridge Part 4 (end)

Day 4 and 5

 After leaving the McCullock Lake campsite we headed back north to Smoothwater lake.  It took several hours of portaging but when we hit Smoothwater the portaging was OVER. We headed up to our first campsite for the night a lot more relaxed knowing there was no more portages.  Next morning we paddled out of the park and north to the landing at Beauty Lake Road. Once again a great trip. Brian's smile says it all.

A video of us just about to pass the boundry line of Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Wilderness Park.

New growth

From the old and decayed life springs up.

Canoe trip to Ishpatina Ridge Part 3

Going for Ishpatina
 Up early had breakfast and packed up for the paddle to Scarecrow Lake where the landing is to take the 3 hours hike to the top. Paddled down Mihell lake to the first portage a small one at 120m. After the portage we decided to leave all the camping gear there and go for the Ridge. If not we would have had a portage of over 1200m to do with all the equipment.  Packed a small bag with some lunch and camera and headed to the 1200m. portage into Scarecrow Lake. What a relief not taking all the gear with us.
Started the hike at the landing, trail was marked but in a few places it took a bit to stay on the right trail the rocks and moss were damp and slippery as we ascended with a few slips and falls, it took a good 3 hours to get to the top both of us were glad to see the top at this point, a few more meters and we were at the fire tower. At this summit we were 693m the highest point in Ontario. Fortunately the sun came out viewing was a little hazy but you could really see for miles. Spent some time taking some pics had some lunch, looked around for about an hour and then started back down, that took about 2 1/2hrs.
Our goal when we got back down to the canoe was to make it back to the camp we stayed at last night good thing we had left all our gear on the other side of the 1200m portage. Got the tent up and a bit of supper and by that time it was getting dark.

More fall colours

   

This was taken at the north end of the Edith Lake Rd.

Canoe trip to Ishpatina Ridge Part 2

After a breakfast of boiled eggs and toast and coffee we headed south to the first portage at the south end of Smoothwater. The first portage is the hardest, this wasn't the case as they just got worse.  Having bought to much for this trip there was, one trip for the canoe, another for 2 barrel packs and whatever you could hold in your hands and another trip of Sealine pack and a smaller pack. 5 trips for each portage. The first portage being around 720m to Apex Lake we are now over the height of land and all waters from this lake flow south. By the way 720m X 5 is 3.6km of portage. At end of Apex lake another portage of 1100m to a small lake another 60m,30m,and 160m takes us to McCullough Lake. This is the where we camped the 2nd nite. Supper that night didn't amount to too much as we were pretty well beat.  Early to bed. 

Map courtesy of Ottertooth.com

McCullough Lake camp

Today's fall colours

Here is a video taken today along highway 560 going west.  

Canoe trip to Ishpatina Ridge (Highest point in Ontario) Part 1

Started  the trip on the Montreal River at the Beauty Lake Bridge.  Brian (brother in law) and I have waited a long time to do this trip.  Loaded up the canoe and headed south, the whole trip by way of the crow is around 30 km.  We actually added another 33 km of portages in this trip, the reason for that is we took way to much gear.
We paddled up the Montreal River through Lady Dufferin Lake and into Smoothwater Lake. Smoothwater Lake is in the Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Wilderness Park it is about 7km long with very clear water.  This lake can be very tricky  to paddle when there is high winds, luckily it was not too bad that day.  We paddled down the west side to a campsite about the middle of the lake set up the tent and called it a day.  Lots of pods of Loons gathering for their trip south

First Snow

Out hunting yesterday and the first snow seen this fall.  This morning a heavy frost that had to be scraped off the windshield.

Back from canoe trip

Will be posting more of the trip later but when we got back to Gowganda a Immature Bald Eagle was in the tree across the road. He has been sitting in this tree before too.

Split and Stacked

 Finished the wood today, very happy.

Great star gazing last nite

Last night the stars were bright and the Milky Way crossed the sky from south west to north east.  Very little haze and NO Mosquitos.  Took a few shots of the stars and Milky Way.  Best viewing of the whole summer.

The bright star in the last pic above the left tree is Altair and is the 12th brightest star in the night sky, it also rotates at 286km/sec at it's equator for anyone that really wants to know.

Now the splitting begins

Cutting the pile of wood was finished last week now the splitting begins.

Lots of activity at the Hummingbird feeder

It's a good thing there was action around the Hummingbird feeder the last few days, the weather has been cold and wet.  The waiting and looking out for supermoon's and comets after dark and 3:00am in the morning for the last few days have been a bust.  Clouds and lots of rain, this morning it was 7.5° C.  Finally went out and took some video of the close to 20 hummers that arrived.  I set the video to slow motion so you could see the action better. Click on the small square in the bottom right for full screen look.

Last nights moon

Were getting close to the August supermoon which will be the biggest moon for the year on Aug 10/14.  This is a pic from last nite at 11:00 pm. Don't know why it's red maybe smoke from the fires up north.

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Miller Lake area

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 Driving in from the Highway 560 to Miller Lake you would probably drive right past this wreck on the west side of the road.  It's down where the forest is still standing not in the cut.

August already

Here comes the last month of summer hope it's a bit better than July.  To most the cool weather and rain has dampened lots of plans but it's been fine for me. When it gets too hot I spend a lot of time in the basement where it's cool.
My load of firewood arrived last Thursday so I hope it will remain fairly cool so I can get it cut and split.

Cool and clear today

Lots of cool air today, very comfortable, leading up to a great sunset.

Yesterday's weather

Most of the afternoon the lake was pretty rough, a storm front arrived from the west with high winds knocking some branches down.  The rain didn't amount too much but with the winds it came down hard.
Before the storm I was taking some video of the lake just across the road.

Hedlund marsh last week

Just got the computer back from the mental hospital, had this pic on the desktop when it went crazy.  So I am trying to post again, looks like it found its brain again .

July's supermoon a couple of days late

Had been trying to get a pic of the July supermoon since it was full, cloud cover was the culprit.  Last night through a hoard of mosquitos I finally got a couple of shots.  Fortunately there will be another in August and one in September, this doesn't happen very often.  They claim that the August one will be the best, I'll be there.

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Boat launch at Longpoint Lake

Stopped into the public boat launch at Longpoint lake after taking a load of garbage to the dump.  Water's were calm, years ago we left from here and travelled up Longpoint lake in canoes to Sanderson Lake and portaged to the Montreal River to Sisseney Lake, from there down south on the Montreal River passing thru Tommy Lake, Crotch lake and into Obushkong right back down to Burk Lake in Gowganda. Walked into Gowganda to pic up the truck. Some of those pics are back on the blog in 2008 start of September. One of many good trips we have taken.

Rise of the blueberries

On a warm south facing rock today a first sign of some Blueberries trying to ripen.  Should be a good year again like last year.  Weather has certainly been good for them.

The big one in the picture tasted great, first one of the year.

Early morning on the road

Driving west early in the morn and looked into the mirror to see this shot.

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Trying to eat and I still have white feet and mosquito's all over my face

Here's one from early this morning a snowshoe hare eating with his white feet from winter and his face covered in mosquitos.

HAPPY CANADA DAY

Lots of whitecaps on the lake these days, the wind has been very strong and steady the last couple of days.  Lightning strikes yesterday may generate forest fires in the next day or so.  Here's a pic out the window.

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Some flowers along the way to over 100,000 page views

Just past  the 100,000 page views on Gowganda Views.  Here are some flowers to celebrate.  Top Bunchberry, btm. Orange Hawkweed

Here's looking at YOU

Checking on the ospreys today, can't tell what's in the nest but I suspect there are eggs as I never seen any food coming while I was there.

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Interesting clouds at 11:00 pm with the moonlite

Just got home last night and had to take this pic of the moon and clouds.

 

Water levels have finally settled to normal

They have put the logs back in the dam and the water is about normal.  Took a ride down to the Edith Lake rapids at the landing you can finally see the old concrete boat launch.

  

Tyranite town site

 About a week ago John Ford took me to the Tyranite mine town site beyond the locked gate and numerous signs to stay out. We were there to photograph some of the old remains of houses that date back to the early 30's.
 Back then the same L. O. Hedlund of the Hedland marsh that I have photographed many times had staked 6 claims in 1930.  Shortly afterward he optioned off the claims to others, many took up the cause of finding a gold mine for several years. Finally in 1936 the Tyranite Gold Mines Ltd. began the work of sinking a shaft. Finding gold and working the mine from 1939 to 1942. By this time the directors of the mine reached the conclusion that this mine should discontinue operations for the duration of the war. They recovered over a million dollars of gold and planned after the war to resume operations which never happened. The mine has had many interests over the years and to this day is still active.
 These pictures are some of the remains left standing or otherwise of the townsite where the workers and families lived.