Date: 2007-11-26
To: November
Miles today: 0.0

I continue to be really busy trying to get the last of what ever finished up before the next what ever comes along. It has been a busy summer and fall and I am now just getting back to being in the house enough to get around a computer. The last two years, winter snows started on November 4 and November 12 and put an end to my outside work. (Winter snows meaning I had to use the snow thrower to open and keep open the drive way until spring thaw.) This year, there is just a skiff of snow on the ground in the colder areas, but most of the place is still snow free. The wild turkeys are still working over the clover patch I planted for them (one of nature's lawn mowers). The brood is down from a dozen and a half to 5, at least that is all I have been seeing at a time. Since they are not hunted around here, they do get a bit more relaxed around people but they are still pretty much on the watch all of the time. Earlier this fall, Carla came across a black bear at the end of the driveway. She decided the news paper could stay in the paper box until I came home. There have not been too many bears around. They come in the fall to pick fruit off the wild plum tree and elderberry bushes. So, you can count on them being here once or twice a year for a few days and then they move on. Have not seen the elk come thru yet, but it is still early and the lack of snow means they are still up in the high country. We are along the migration route to the Clockum Wildlife Refuge where they camp out for the winter. It is much warmer down along the Columbia River on the south slopes. Last year a couple really large bulls with trophy sized racks, came by with the herds. They were a lot of fun to watch, especially when they were down in the creek trying to figure out some way to get across without getting their feet wet. Even critters don't like cold water on their feet and legs. I am back into serious training. I walk a mile loop that goes from the house, across the National Forest and back again. I have been packing about 40 pounds for 2 or 3 miles (two or three loops) and then climb up and down stairs until I have a hundred feet of elevation. I do this every other day. My knees (and feet) seem to be holding up so far. My knees are still a major issue with me. While I know they are healed up, I still do not know that I trust or believe the diagnosis that I was given by the doctor. Nor do I feel comfortable that I know the real cause of the problem. Yes, I was doing a lot of hiking but it was not as much or as fast as I was doing in 2005. So, I am concerned that maybe my feet might still be part of the problem. I have a couple months to try and reach a better comfort level with this. Regardless, I am ready to start hiking again. I pulled up my equipment list from 2007 and it needs some updating. I know the tent, ground cloth and some of the other items will remain the same. But, I do need to replace some of the worn out and less then good performing gear. I have already purchased and tried out a new back pack. The old one has two stitch jobs to keep it together. Still need to get the foot ware sorted out put together. The synthetic sleeping bag (20 degrees) has lost all the loft (just like several books said it would) so I am going to go with a down bag rated to a colder temperature (0 degrees). There were some cold snowy nights last year. While I do plan to repeat the cold snow nights, I don't plan to repeat being a bit on the cool side. Lots more ramblings about gear I am sure. Time to make a grocery run. So, I will continue to think on hiking and planning; and, get the journal up and running in the next few days. Cheers to folks following along. I hope you enjoy the trip. At times, I am more excited this year than I was last year and at times I am more worried about what can go wrong next--extremes in emotions.