Camp...Let the Change Begin

We're still going up to camp as much as we can, especially now that major changes are taking place.  They've started clearing land and widening/changing/adding roads so the drilling can begin.  It's a strange sight to see and even a stranger feeling as we're seeing it.  Here's what we saw this past weekend during our visit...

first two shots are of the road heading up Miller Hill Road...

below shot is approaching the clear cut

the next 3 shots are at bernie's lookout.  not so much of a lookout right now.  and to think we were just sledding there less than 2 months ago.

there are massive piles of timber everywhere.  when this "project" began i remember feeling so saddened by the amount of trees i knew would be destroyed.  it still makes me sad but now that i can see that it's actually just a small percentage of the incredible amount of trees within the forest it gives me a little relief.  hey, it's like hair, right?  it will grow back!  Anyhoo, the below few shots are of the road going back to the big corn crib near Huckleberry Road.

the mountain road going towards Bear Wallow from the upper field...

the next 4 photos are a series of shots i took standing on top of the pile of wood chips you see just below.  the pile is probably about 12 feet high.  the 3 shots after the pile are intended to create a sort of panoramic view of a clearing that we think is about 20-25 acres, where a holding pond is going to go.  this is the garden spot.

okay so none of the below (in the next 7 photos) was there when we last visited 2 weeks ago.  in just two weeks they created a small road to act as a shortcut for the large machinery that couldn't navigate one of the sharp turns, and they cleared new acreage and created a road along side of the new clearing to gain access to it.  it's absolutely amazing what is being done in such a short amount of time!

the area shown in the below photo cuts back into the forest about 1/4 of a mile...this was the road back to the pregnant tree.

you can see the access road they created on the left side of the below photo (the one I mentioned at the beginning of this series of photos)

the amount of wood chips covering the ground is stunning-and it smells amazing too!  below you can see how it just goes on and on and on...

it created such a pretty ground cover in contrast to the snow, trees, and blue skies...

there seemed to be less equipment up there this time versus 2 weeks ago.  reese wanted me to take some photos of these red-thingy-ma-bobbers.  pretty much every piece of equipment you see has a "crab claw" as mitchell calls them.

and of course it wouldn't be a fun ride at camp without a few snaps of the boys!

another fine day in paradise!!