Walking along the frozen banks of Lake Nerka and River Bay, was filled with nervous anticipation. A Spruce Grouse flies off in a panic just several feet away and makes every hair on the back of my neck stand up. It's time for the bears of Tikchik State Park to ascend into the mountains and start a very long hibernation, and also make any last minute kills, trying to suppress an insatiable appetite. I however, am by no means willing to be such an offering, so being alert and easily startled is acceptable, where as screaming like a little girl and paralyzed by fear is not.
Luckily on this small hike there were no bears or moose or fox or any other worth while animal to see except an occasional bird or two. I once was flying in Katmai National Park and upon our descent, we came right over a bear that had been grazing or doing something, but whatever it was he preferred peace over our presence. He started off in a full out sprint and I thought wow, a bear that weighs a thousand pounds running thirty miles an hour over rugged tundra. There isn't a chance I'd have if put in harms way. I've also seen first hand the power of ripping flesh from dead animals and the bone crushing jaws at work from these massive bears. I don't believe that my little legs jammed inside the bear's mouth would present any challenge and that I'd soon be another fallen victim to nature. Being out on this open plain really felt alarming, should any bear show itself and pursue me with intent. I was constantly looking at trees, the size of their limbs to hold my weight and whether or not I'd be able to get there. Jumping in the lake, should luck allow me to get there in time would only result in hypothermia and I'd wash ashore soon enough just to be picked up by the bear anyhow. So, as it would seem, the only option was to be loud with my yelling and trying to present it in the most menacing of ways. It sure is silly to be out here doing all that, but it's a precaution and a safety measure.
I have yet to see one bear this year, and if I don't see one soon, I think my chances are near over for a sighting or encounter. That will be the first time in the last 5 years of not seeing one of these amazing animals up close. I won't be baiting any, but I'd like to have one come around, even if it's a little one that doesn't look too mean.
For six weeks, I've been without winter and finally we have snow. I opened my eyes and noticed a dull light, more reflective than direct and thought, has it snowed? No sooner did I look out the window but I saw almost six inches of fresh powder blown all around forming drifts and barren areas but none the less it was snow and mostly covering the landscape. A much welcomed change in scenery and a feeling that there is progress in being here, if not for something to do, but just for something different to look upon.
Today the snow would most likely accumulate quickly if the wind were to ever let it settle. Sideways as linear as it could possibly be, seemingly unaffected by gravity. That's just some strong wind, but it's snowing again and I like it. Hard to say how much there is, not but a few inches of fresh, a few spots of the old and a really great day to be inside drinking tea and writing about it.
There are some really enjoyable moments up here to sit and think. One of which is the time when the power is off. I make some tea and sit in front of the fire with my book and after each chapter I sit there for sometimes hours just staring into the fire and getting lost in thought. There are times when the ideas I entertain are serious and need working out, others are for fun and imaginative. I like the latter more so because it's nice to envision being on some tropical island with fresh produce and an open sea to fish. The funny thing is that I'd sit on the beach for hours staring into the ocean or the horizon and dream of being next to a fire in a cabin with tea and a river to fish.
Some days I'll just go out and fish and the other day I did just that for my fox friend. I was hoping to get him a nice char for supper and so I did, but hours of calling for him, he never showed. I kept the fish in my net on the woodpile outside and later that evening when I was putting the generator in, I noticed that he had stolen his own fish. Maybe he only stole my enjoyment of giving it to him, but never the less he got his char and I suppose was pleased.
A really calm and sunny day allowed for a nice hike up the mountain. I wasn't sure how it would go with snow, but to my amazement I only slipped every other step instead of every single one.
It was worth the constant falling and sliding and two hours of realizing my out of shape heart needed this exercise. Once at the summit, I quickly put my sweater back on and gloves and bundled up. Snapped a few photos and headed back down. I am not one to look at a mountain and say, I'd like to climb that. I particularly like mountains with snow on them and that further deters my inclination to climb them.
The days pass and I keep myself busy enough with the small things like baking some banana bread or making kindling for fires. Occasionally if I get too rowdy, I'll practice throwing my knife at the wood stack. Soon there will be some shoveling and snow removal from areas around the lodge, so I might rest better at night with some good hard work during the day.
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