Fall chill is in the air

Well I started my trek out to the trail the same way I do every time I go out there.
I get myself all ready the night before..
I go through my list.
Food..yep
Water...uh huh
Bear spray...for sure.
Bells...ummmm nope.
Bug spray...yes, the bugs are still out there by the billions.
Camera...yyeeessssssss
Hunting knife...yes and it is on me.
Compass...yes but my friend is a built in compass so I know I don't need it, I just use it for practice...just in case I am out there on my own.

I was all excited and ready to go, I did not have to be there until 930am as the sun is not out quite as early, and I like to sleep in a wee bit when I only have one day off.
But yippeee I was ready to go...

So come with me...........

It was a beautiful morning, still a wee bit cloudy, but lots of promise.
I started my drive out to my friends place and I could feel a bit of chill in the air...fall is starting to come out to BC, and I could smell the crispness.....
I got to my friends house and there were three of us going this morning...we were stopping one cabin to put a full propane tank in it and get it ready for the winter to come.   (yes we pack everything in on our backs) :)
We had to take an axe in, and few grates to put on the trail as there are parts that are starting to get very wet and muddy already.
Pick a few berries along the way...
Then head out to another cabin about 1.5 hours away and fix part of the roof, a door and haul a bit of wood in to get it ready for the winter.

I could hardly contain myself, although my pack was fairly heavy I only had to take it for about an hours hike in.
We cleared a bit of the trail, had a snack and then went on our way.

Along the way I was at peace, it is very hard for me to explain but I will try.

When I walk through this great forest I can smell the trees, pine, fir, maple, balsam and the forest floor.
The air was crisp and clean and a chill in the air at the first cabin.
When starting on our way to the other cabin, I could smell the air so clean and fresh, I could breathe.
I could hear the birds singing there happy song...
A chickadee---going chick a dee dee dee....it's one of many of my favorite bird songs.
A few eagles flew over head probably looking for mice, or small rodents.
A few brown squirrels nattering away.

There is a place up there that they call squirrel top and the story was told to me on how it got it's name.
Every time somebody went by this certain spot, a wee brown squirrel would come out and chatter away...they would leave a few nuts for him, and he would greet someone every time you went by him.
This happened for three years.
One winter day while snowshoeing there, they saw martin tracks and squirrel tracks running all about.
The third time going back they saw martin track...lots of fur and stuff (wagghh), and no squirrel.
Sad but true the circle of life....this was about 3-4 years ago, they had not spotted a squirrel in that area again until maybe 6 months ago, they are just starting to come back...

So I thought about that story for a bit, then we crossed elk valley where the elk used to pass every winter.

So I was told the story about all these great elk that used to pass through this valley every winter, to get out of the valley and into lower ground for the winter before the snows came and locked them in.
One winter the snows camer very...very...early and the elk got trapped in this valley...30 elk perished because they could not get out of the valley because the snow was so deep......but the good news is that they are going through the valley once again.

So many stories to hear...so little time.

So as we got to the other cabin, I indulged in some lunch...sat on the helicopter landing pad (used only in emergiences), took some photos, ate some blueberries...and looked around at all the great scenery that mother nature had to offer...closed my eyes...let the sun warm my face...and I was in heaven.

After hauling in some wood, making sure everything was good for the winter, checked the water filters, the supplies...we left for home again.
I am always a but blue when I leave. ..because it has such an impact on my soul...
But I know I will be back, for some more adventure.

I look forward to the great colors of fall, the whites of winter...and lots of fun with all of my friends who love this place as much as I.....

So close your eyes, breathe deep smell the pine, the balsam, and the forest floor...
Hear the twitter of the birds....feel the softness beneath your feet....listen for the deer bouncing through the forest.....

And dream a little dream with me.............