What happened to my new blog?

May 22, 2014

It seems this blog has been unlocked (it had been inaccessible to me for a year). So I started another environmental blog - Natural Eye Environmental.  Now that blog has vanished from Blogger.  Here I am back at my original blog.  We'll see if I can continue to add posts to it.  Please make note that the primary email is incorrect.  If you wish to add a comment, send it to me directly at mjfish094@yahoo.com otherwise I will never get it.

I shall be adding new posts to this blog as long as I can get in here.

Surry Mountain Hike

May 26, 2013

Active Beaver lodge

I decided to find "the Monuments" on Surry Mountain in NH.  I parked in a sandy lot off of Rte 12A which pheasant hunters often use.  First I headed toward the dam, hoping to find a shortcut to the other side of the Ashuelot River.  After a pleasant walk through varied terrain, I walked back to where I started and headed off in the opposite direction.  I got a late start, 3:00 p.m., but I was determined to find this rock formation before dark.  I used my phone GPS to track where I was going by using "mapmyrun".  The total hike including the initial walk to the reservoir, was nearly 8 miles.

I stopped to smell the shrubs, both of which are sweet.

Burning Bush

This shrub is called Burning Bush. It's an invasive species which was introduced to the United States in 1860 as an ornamental plant.

Lilly of the Valley

Single turtle egg found by itself and lying on the sand.

We crossed a grand pasture of yellow looking toward the north.  At far corner there is a bridge, which I believe was called "David's Bridge".

Snowmobile bridge across the Ashuelot River.  The river was a raging torrent.

From the other side of the bridge we got right on to the trail that leads to Surry Dam.  The trail follows the Ashuelot River to the dam.  I estimated the point at which the rock formation would be directly above.  I would look for a trail, or make my own. I found an unmarked trail that may very well have been nothing more than deer traffic.  A very steep scramble with opportunities for treacherous falls, nevertheless I was determined, and so was Evvy. 


Southeast view from the monuments

 At last all the bushwhacking and rock scrambling paid off with this amazing view of Surry Dam.  I wish I had started out earlier because there is surely more exploring to do up there.  The photo bellow is looking toward Walpole.

I found a more legible trail, however in need of serious trail maintenance.  This was a much faster trip for many reasons.  Thank goodness for strong saplings to hang on to whilst sliding downslope.

Southwest view from the monuments, looking toward Carpenter and Derry Hills in Walpole.

I plan on exploring this area in greater detail very soon.  Next time, I will leave earlier and stay longer.

Snowshoe Hike January 7, 2013

First let me say that though I haven't posted for some time, I do not like the "new" blogger.  I can't seem to format my blog as I used to.  It is tedious trying to figure this out while wanting to just write a post. There seems to be much more "white space" now.  I almost think it would be better for me to cut and paste my blog from a word document.

At any rate, yesterday Evvy and I had occasion to snowshoe in the Derryhill area. The sun was bright and not a cloud in the sky.  The first thing I noticed on my way to my favorite trail was that the Derry Hill Rd. has been widened, and graded for access to a timber operation further up.  I certainly hope that what follows is not a development.  I know much of the land was for sale.

 

Evvy

Deer bed 1

Despite being hit by a car last Thursday, Evvy took to the snow like a champ.  Bounding and rooting as energetically as always.  She is a real trooper, and resilient to say the least.

We came across a few small deer yards, which I assume are the same three deer.  I was delighted to find this evidence as I had thought the deer population had not survived the latest hunting season.  In my opinion, Derry Hill is over hunted.
 
 

Deer bed 2

In addition to the three beds we found.  I found a number of tracks belonging to Fisher, Bear, Racoon, and Fox.  Interestingly, I had found a single Bear track last week off County Rd. The tracks I found on Derry Hill were the same size, of the same age, and moving in the same direction as those from last week.

I also found that one other person has snowshoe'd the area.  I bushwhacked across an old beaver pond, Evvy raced around full-tilt without crashing. How she does this, I'll never know. 

We made our way through the woods back to the worn trail.  We'd gone one mile which was all we had time for as I had to get ready for work.  On the weekends though I have enjoyed much longer hikes alone, and with friends.  So far this winter, we have been blessed with snow, however this week is much warmer than last and I fear much of the snow will be lost by week's end.

Fisher track

Deer Bed 3

Up to Stevens Cabin

		June 11 '12 Walpole VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

1448hr  Derry Hill Rd Walpole   20 deg. C  Elev. 229m
I hiked up to Stevens cabin with Evvy this afternoon.  I was curious to see how the old cabin fared in the recent storm. There were sections of  trail up to the cabin that had been completely washed of sticks, and pine needles.  But there was no serious erosion anywhere. Long extinct beaver ponds were swollen, and bullfrogs hollered the familiar “gar-rump”. The cabin itself was just as solid as could be. No damage whatsoever.  I took the liberty of sweeping inside the cabin. I thought John Stevens might have appreciated it, though he’s been gone for years now. Evvy was quite certain she had found some mice under the bunk bed. The mice or chipmunks were safely holed up within the enclosed bed frame..
I continued to look for evidence of white tail deer Odocoileus virginianus, because I feel strongly the population in the immediate area has declined steadily the last ten years. I found one set of deer tracks but that was it.
I found a pile of leaf litter, and pine needles heaped up, and concluded a Bobcat had been by.  Nearby scat confirmed this.   Perhaps the area is a Bobcat litter box, where he returns to.  I will plan to set up a camera there in hopes of catching the hard evidence. I have one camera set up near the edge of a recently created hay field.  Last year, I watched as hunter after hunter lay in wait there.  Several deer were taken in that field alone.

After the storm

Fay Falls lower pool

Flash floods hit New Hampshire last week.  Many roads, including the road I live on, were washed away and impassable.  The soil is beyond saturated. In fact the slope behind my house now reveals its granite foundation.  The water continues to stream down, from all over.

I went to Fay Falls in Walpole yesterday out of curiosity.  Ordinarily the lower falls is a peaceful spot, where you can watch native brook trout Salvenis fontinalis.  Now all around the upper and lower pools, the devastation can be seen.  Long, wide wash areas with virtual no top soil, reveal boulders and smaller rocks.

The upper pool with its falls, is nearly 4' deep in the middle.  I have seen several trout individuals here, but the water is churning so that it was difficult to see any fish.  This photo doesn't do the scene justice.  Trees hang down across the falls, and newly exposed rocks around the pool, make walking very difficult.








I observed copious downed "green" branches.  Several live trees like this Quaking aspen Populus tremeloides.  Notice the blackened leaves believed to be black leaf fungus.

Here is a White pine Pinus strobus bough with new flowers.  Both trees are typical upland species. 

New fungi are everywhere, and Hen of the Woods Polyporus sulfureus is a wonderful edible.  I have found some, but they had already been ravaged by slugs.   This fungus is a form of Ganoderma applanatum, a.k.a. Artist's Conk.  They are called Artist's Conk because the underside can be drawn upon using a stylus or other drawing implement. This years fungi promises to be a "bumper crop".

I found this lush patch of vines spread across the ground.  Several faint blue flowers emerged from the mat. 

Unidentified vine with light blue flower clusters

Last but not least, my dog Evvy wallowing in new pools.  She was in her glory running from pool to pool, laying in the water, occasionally dipping her head beneath the water. 

Taking the "Otter" Road

Last night, late, I was on my way home from Stoddard.  I had taken the back roads through Gilsum, and Surry.  There in my headlights, a beautiful creature, I'd not seen for years.  Very handsome, as his undulating bounce brought him closer.  I stopped the truck, as he was right beside the truck.  I got a great chance to see this Otter up close.  I gazed at him, and he at me.  I told him we was a very beautiful creature.  Indeed, he was dry, which made his coat most magnificent.   He quickly scampered down the bank, into a small stream.

I had originally taken the Joslin Rd., only to find it closed due to bridge construction.  I am so thankful, that this detour brought me to the next road, and the opportunity to see the Otter.

Hunkered

15” at my house, my big snowblower can barely move the heavy wet snow.  So I’ll wait awhile and try again.  No matter, I’m not going anywhere.  If I do, it’ll be on my snowshoes.  Evvy has already been out loving every minute of playing in the snow.  Thankfully, I had power all night long.  Good thing because my generator just will not work.  Something dreadfully wrong in the carbuerator.

So here is the “snowfish” late last night.

This morning, the snow fish looks more like a manatee, can you see it?

Here is Merle all hunkered down in my jacket.  At 17 yrs. young, Merle is quite spry, and holds her own against the other two cats.  In fact, they pretty much leave her alone.  Casey the cat to the right, can often be seen licking Merle’s head. 

As soon as I’m adequately caffeinated, I’m going to grab the snowshoes for a romp in the woods.  I’ll check the game camera, but I’m certain the deer are holed up somewhere waiting to the snow to melt alittle more.  What a crazy weather event, but beautiful nevertheless.