Fall in the George Washington National Forest

Fall is here.  Nature makes another turn.  Its time for the creatures of the forest to prepare for the long winter.  Spent a long weekend on Labor Day.  Had to prepare the site for the winter, cut a lot of wood, cleaned the brush.  Was sitting down for breakfast and happen to see a snake crawling around the tool shed.  Had no idea it was as big from what I first saw.  It was sunning, trying to get warm for the day.  It most likely had been hunting the field mice around the shed.   It was just a hog nose snake, typical for this area.  It was really a good snake, not harm, not poisonous.  But it was in the zone, only one chance for it too leave, but it decided to stay.  It had to be eliminated.  Always remember the first rule.  You are in the forest, stay alert.

Two weeks later went for the day.  Area looks good.  The change of nature is always a feeling that cuts to the bone.  Something about how nature re invents it’s self every year.  If you can adopt, it’s the best.

Labor Day in the George Washington Forest

Stayed for a few days and enjoyed the forest without going into the city.  Weather was cool but some mosquitoes from all the rain and a lot of Chiggers.  Planted a crop and did some cleaning up which was wrong for this time of year, lots of Chiggers bites.

Just the same old forest friends came by.  Need to put camera in new location.  There is a lot of new building going on in the area.  Some pictures of everyday things in the forest.

Forest friends and work

This was a good two weekends in the forest.  Lots of friends came by to visit.  Completed some new work.  This is the time to enjoy, rest, and work.

The bear always comes by to visit

The raccoon family

The rabbit has no fear

The chipmunk sitting on log

Moth in the grass

Mushroom

Completing the deck roof

July in the forest

The rains of spring have brought alive the forest not seen in many years.  Past year have been dry, but this year the plants came alive.  The weekend was great, did some work getting ready for the fall camping season.  Had some outside visitors on Friday night down at the lake.  Need to get the bridge built to the new site so it will be easy for those who want to camp in the original scenery.  Also, need to clean-up camps 2 and 3, stack some wood so will be easy for the fall camping.  The main site looks good as always, need to get the other camps up to speed.  Click here to take a 360 degree look at the main site.

Also, the bear made a visit.

New look in the mountains

Have not posted for awhile, but have been up for a number of times over the months.  The rain has changed the look of the site.  It looks like a lush forest, many birds and insects including mosquitoes which has not been a problem in the past.  Spend most of the time keeping the grass cut and general upkeep.

Now have a new forest friend, a flying squirrel.  Was up late at night shining the flash light watching the raccoon going around the campsite.  He went to every spot in the site looking for some food.  My flash light hit a tree then a flying squirrel landed on the tree.  It was a site because I thought it was a bat until it climbed the tree like a everyday squirrel.

The bears came to visit a few times.  It is spiritual to see their eyes in the dark.

Mr. Bear

The deer had a new fawn

Mr. Turkey came by

April in the mountains

The start of spring.  Trees have no leaves yet so it was a good time to do a survay of the land and plan the summer. Visited the site for two weekends. Nice weather and one weekend stayed overnight and the days were in the 80s.  Tested the new digital camera.  Each of the weeks got over 100 photos, but it was because the temperature and tree shadows changed and set off the camera.

The usually friends came by, fox, opossum, rabbit, squirrel, deer, raccoon.  Had a new visitor, the hawk. It came for a different reason, to hunt the others.  Worked on the deck of the cabin getting ready for a roof.

Hawk

Spring Day Trip

Just went for the day.  Called for rain but the sun came out.  Cam had few pictures at one of the salt and mineral lick.  Just left it there.  Put up new digital camera.  A good day to just lay around.  A man came by looking at houses.  He was teacher at nearby town.  Talked to him about the best buy.  Will have new neighbors this year.

Bear is out for the year

Went just for a day trip.  Had some pictures on the cam, but when taken to photo store they ruined the pictures.  The bear was out digging for food on the trees.  Put out a salt and mineral lick for the animals.

Bear digging on tree

Bear digging on tree

Salt and Mineral lick

Spring in the mountains

Went to visit for the day.  Temperatures in the 70.  Birds were waiting for food.  They were at the car when opened the door.  Worked on the new bridge across the creek to the side of the hill.  Cleared the land.

Had a visit from the president of the association and talked about things on the mountain.  While talking a red tail hawk flew through the camp site after a blue jay.  The hawk did not get the blue jay for lunch.  The other mate of the hawk was high in the sky overhead.  They were hunting together.

Remembered tails about hawks and blue jay.  Blue jay is a talkative bird always bragging and telling stories about other animals.  Hawks are protectors that give you warnings.  Woodpeckers are good luck.  Have  been in the mountains for over 10 years and never have seen a sight like the hawk and the blue jay.  Maybe the spirits are telling something about the person that was there.  Hear that hunters may have killed two bear.  Have not seen any signs that my bear visitors have been around.  Hope they were not the ones killed.

New bridge area uncleared

Cleared bridge area

New bridge area to hill side

The big old pine tree fell during the winds weeks ago.  The president said that he moved the tree out the road.  It broke in two big pieces.  The woodpecker that live in the tree all these years came out to get some nuts like the rest of the birds.  The red head usually does not come out in the open.  Think it lost its home and was building a new nest and needed the food.

Old Pine Tree

Old Pine Tree

Birds before the snow

This was the first visit of 2009.  It was around 60 degrees today a break before the cold.  Put out some food for the other forest friends.  It called for snow the next day so the birds were very active.