Spring Cleaning

With lousy weather in the forecast, I delayed my trip back to the trapline by a day. Instead of leaving Thursday after work, I left Saturday morning and came back on Monday. The weather wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it might be; in fact, it seldom rained and when it did, it was nothing more than a light sprinkle. The quad trail ruts we had created last spring from the parking spot to Cabin Trail were as plain as day and just as bad as I remembered them. Even Cabin Trail has a couple of holes that have gotten deeper, but I never had to winch to get in or out.

Boulder Road is as rough as ever and once down Boulder Hill the roads were in rough, muddy shape. I took Smiley Rock Road in and nearly regretted it; it was too soft and I really struggled to get to the top of the hill. It's going to have to dry out a bit before it can be used again. I did spot a young cow moose just fresh out of her winter coat in the trees on Boulder Road.

A young cow moose still working her way out of a winter coat.

At the cabin the grass was about a foot high. Everything remained as I'd left it three months earlier. Even the inside of the cabin was clean and without flies. I flipped the calendar from February to June, unloaded my stuff and fired up the weedeater. Within an hour I had the semblance of a yard carved out. I also cut around the moose boneyard and put it back into shape. I went a little larger this year and even cut around the chives and rhubarb that grows there. Dakota likes the rhubarb, I like the chives. Raking was a pain but necessary. Short grass equals fewer mice.

The new "bigger" yardsite. You can see Dakota's rhubarb close to the right.

The moose boneyard out from under the grass.

A look at the yardsite from the back of the cabin.

You can see the chives are growing well.

Chives are great to cook with or spread over your meal.

Dakota's rhubarb.

Once the yard work was done, I walked to the beaver dam where Dakota and I had battled last year with the beaver (over the dam) beside the cabin. I knew the big female beaver would still be there; sure enough, the dam was freshly tended to. I took my hoe and went back to work taking it down. I'm not sure what to do here. I don't want to kill her before she's prime but I'm not sure I want another summer of a losing battle with the beaver over her dam. On my way back to the cabin, I heard a noise to my left and sure enough, there she was chewing on some willow in the grass just a few feet off the yardsite. I quickly grabbed my camera and managed a good shot of her gnawing on the willows.

The big female beaver chewing willows not more than 15-feet from the yard.

The next morning, after a bacon and egg breakfast, I grabbed my hoe and went back to the dam. Sure enough, it was back in working order. Once again, I took it down knowing full well I'd be doing it again Monday morning before I left.

Back at the cabin, I started my spring cleaning chores, removing everything from the shelves and hitting everything hard with the Swiffer Duster, including every log within the cabin. I put up a new shelf above the main window and took roof measurements for when I put on the new shingles, or metal, I'm undecided yet. I also drew out the plans for a new outhouse, deck and a new stand for under the main window. With that done and early evening approaching, I grabbed my camera and a beer and then headed for the beaver dam. I figured I should be able to get some photos of the big female in action. Much to my surprise, what I thought would be only one beaver left in the house, was now suddenly two. She had a yearling kit with her. Obviously Dakota and I had missed one last fall. I thought it strange then that we'd only removed one kit, usually there are two or more. Somehow we'd missed this one. I did get some decent photos.

The year-old kit we missed last fall.

The big female on her way to start plugging up the dam.

You could throw rocks at her from the cabin, she's that close.

My favourite photo of the female.

The next morning, I awoke to the pitter patter of rain on the cabin roof. It wasn't raining hard but enough to make noise on the cabin roof. By the time I had my breakfast finished, the rain had stopped. With one last thing to do before heading home, I grabbed my hoe and headed back to the beaver dam...

Until next time.