Greening Up

It was nice to be back in Southern Ontario for leaf out, the time of year when the bush starts to awaken. 

Back in North-Western Ontario things happen a little slower. By the end of this week I will be back to work and a new experience will begin. I am sure I will have a few interesting things to share as I will be living in the bush 10 days at a time. 

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The canopy starts to fill in.

A true beauty.

Early casualty of spring.

Beginning to shade the forest floor.

Ants play a vital role in the dispersal of Trillium seeds.

Happy to be out and moving.

A few from the road

With a few free weeks before heading back to work, we figured a trip home was in order. 

Caught this Great Grey owl Snow Plunging early into our drive.

Stuck behind a plow on Highway 11. 

Another hitch headed to the landing.

Will get a few more days of use out of this beast...

They pile it high at the Tembec Mill in Hearst. 

Timberjack 4808B - Stands out in the snow.

Pulling through Kapuskasing.

Welcoming you to Iroquois Falls...

What Month is it?

A bit of snow in April never hurt anyone but it does have me wondering what month it is. 

This stuff doesn't want to stop.

Waiting to leaf out...

Just a leaky buncher I passed.

Nothing wrong with a clear cut.

Sitting pretty in the snow.

  A few different lichens taking residents on this White Birch.

 Can really spot those conifers.

What it looks like on the ground

Itching to get back working while out for a drive a week or so back, I finally stumbled upon a forest access road. With little time that day I was only able to go a few clicks up Boreal Rd. just outside of Kakabeka Falls before deciding it was best to get heading home. After getting home I jumped on Goggle Earth to do a little exploring. After retracing where I had driven I locked in on the log yard/ chipping operation above (notice the truck and the grader on the road to the right). That Sunday we took off in the truck to check it out. Bellow is what it looked like on the ground. 

Spring is here and things are softening up.

Parked for the weekend 

Chipper

Piles of pulpwood waiting to be chipped.

Cat 229 Log Loader 

Pecker Poles 

As big as the Poplar gets around here..

 Was excited to see these load aligners - Trucks carrying 8ft crosswise pulp wood, back through these to "align" their load.

Back in the Day

-Impco Porta-Peeler Log Barker-

From a 1958 issue of Canada Lumberman - "One man can easily Porta-Peel four sticks per minute"