Just chatting with a Lynx yesterday, these are some big numbers...

Eagles - 2 people - 3 dogs
Bears - 3 people - 2 dogs
Buffalo - 6 people - 2 dogs - 2 cats
Wolf - 5 people - 3 dogs
Pecker - 3 people - 0 dogs - 1 cat
Beaver - 4 people - 2 dogs
Lynx - 2 people - 1 dog
Ranger Bill - 2 People - 1 dog
Sargeants - 5 people - 2 dogs?


Totals 32 people 16 dogs and 3 cats. Did I miss anyone?

Treking North

Travel Advisory: Those driving the Seward /Sterling Highway southbound on Thursday or no later than Friday can expect heavy traffic patterns in southbound lane as the hordes descend upon the Kenai Peninsula for the Memorial Day Weekend.
To compound the problem of heavy traffic flow, you can expect long periods of delays due to slow moving expeditions. Reportedly, Ranger Bill started moving north from Lonesome Duck Ranch on Saturday, May 16th at first light. Moving north via the Utah/Idaho Trail into the Pacific Northwest. Expects to re-supply in the last U.S. outpost crossing into Canada north of Puget Sound and follow the Frasier River Trail north to the Alcan Trail. Expected to arrive in LA on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, or a couple days on each side of those day. Will possibly come riding into the HITW on Saturday, May 23rd. Anyone for a "Ranger Bill Pool", buck a shot at the nearest time (hour) and day?

Day +19 To "M" Day

With nineteen days remaining until the commencement of Memorial Day weekend, the HITW is looking pretty good in regards to drying up. Only visible sign of winter is John's Glacier is still intact, although loosing ground fast with the Global Warming Trend that we have experienced. Messican Lane is still packed in ice / snow from winter plowing but should be gone within the next couple of days. All of the drain system, except for about six inches of water in the catch basin and creeks are now dry.

Completed the roofing job on the "Duck House" with the exception of installing the skylight. Just need to lay the glass and "nailer down". With the past two days, I have got a nice sunburn, seems strange working in the HITW the first of May in a T-Shirt. Thought for awhile I was getting heat stroke, had a real severe headache. Finally it got so bad this evening I went to the emergency room to get it checked out. I just have to remember not to scratch my head when I have the nail gun in my hand.




Looks like Mt. Redoubt could be leading up to something, she is putting out a big plume and the seismic activity has increased. Hope it does not scare away the King Salmon into Anchor River.

Day +22 "M" Day

The migrating ducks and geese continue to enjoy the accommodations of Lower Kroc Pond, They have a good source of swimmin water as well as natural food supply supplemented with a 100 pound bag of cracked corn. Each evening, at the designated time following sundown, the local rabbit harem also come out to feed on the lawn. They have become so "regular" that even "Mama Cat" perches in the window waiting for their arrival.

Although, I have not done much in preparation for the forth coming onslaught of summer guests to the HITW, I intend to start soon. Really, I do! spent a few minutes in camp today to survey the area. Looking real good, have not had to pump for the past 48 hours. Currently, 62.6 percent of the parking area is now dry and dusty. The sand hill is dry and just waiting for the first little foot prints to conquer the hill. Bronco Lane is dry except for the historical frost heave by the "Welcome Sign". No one stole the Bronco over the winter months. Messican Lane is still covered with about three inches of snow, the last of the seasonal snow berms that were stocked piled. The slope melt down of snow and glaciers is 90% completed. The cabin sites ground area is dry, after surveying the fall "mud slides" that encroached onto the Wolf Den, I have come to the partial conclusion that it may have been a good thing. At least, I have a concept that that does not involve shoveling and hauling by wheelbarrow, 10 yards of silt. Lot's to get done, but it always looks that way this time of the season when you look at the calendar.

Floods Of 2009

Following heavy rains throughout the past night and into the majority of the day, as could be expected that we have some flooding at the Hole In the Wall. The weather has cleared in this area and now enjoying an evening sun. The ole reliable Doppler Radar shows no significant moisture laden weather fronts in the area. The water expulsion units were not activated yesterday due to low water volumes. Upon assessment this morning, the expulsion system was activated and should have any flooding under control by Monday afternoon, dependent on the saturation point of Moose Meadows.

We do need to develop some type of enforcement system at the HITW to insure our few regulations are adhered to. It appears that the Raven Clan could be violating their day use permit, not to mention payment of their fees.

The high water on Lower Kroc Lake was inviting enough that a
flock of transients decided to spend a little ground time. It appears that there is a green headed goose that thinks it is going unnoticed by the other geese.

Despite the appearance of the untrained eye, this is a "controlled flooding" situation. As I mentioned earlier, the excess water seen in this picture should be extricated no later than early afternoon on Monday. Again to the untrained eye, the flood management plan calls for the accumulation of excess water in lower lying elevations and disbursed from those points. The accumulation points were strategically located away from all dwellings and easy drainage access into the outlet. Note how well all defined creek beds are controlling the run off. Grannies Gulch has never been under this much control.

The creek running out of John's Glacier is also well contained and draining directly into the cistern where it is then pumped out to the drainage ditch on the other side of the parking area. Currently, it is flowing a full rate of water.

Bear Creek has been tamed thanks to the masonry skills of those trained in rock structures and natural mudding techniques.

The drainage creek into Upper Kroc Pond is flowing full force. Enough water is now contained within this drainage that a Pink Salmon enhancement project should be seriously considered in the future.

Since Arnie's Mother Lode was not discovered in the excavation of the new "Duck House" project. Grannies Gulch should be seriously explored for mineral content and nuggets washing out of the overburden.

As you can see, everything is under control. My blood pressure is down this year despite the heavy rains because I know, we have it under control and it will only get better as we do a little more work on the drainage system.
However, a continued problem exists and has to be addressed. Again this year, we are seeing some erosion from the bluff behind the former site of the Wolf Clan. Last fall their new site was also subject to mud slides. I have a plan, which we can discuss around the fire pit.
The Seven P's never fail.