...Memory Lane...

[ManicManiac]

The cave is nice and warm, but I don't really have the supplies to sit around for long.  If there's enough daylight, I'll press on for a quick hike through Forlorn Muskeg... but if not, then I'll head out at first light.

I have to think now about how I'd like to get to Ash Canyon.  I do have a couple of options.

Also... already starting to think a head about Keeper's Pass and Blackrock.  It may be worth taking a few detours to start gathering up some ammo.  Not sure which weapon I want to take with me for defense, but perhaps it's a good idea to gather up some of those options and stash them away now at Mystery Lake. 🤔

I'm not sure yet... I'll have to think on it some more.

[ManicManiac]

 

Hmm... there's enough light to at least get to the railroad tracks.  However, the weather is looking a bit threatening.  The wind is kicking up, the temperature is dropping, and the snow is getting heavier. 

I'm torn between making the hard push and risking getting caught in a blizzard... or just staying the night in this cave.  There is maybe an hour or two of day light left (not much time to make up my mind).  🤔

Edited October 28, 2023 by ManicManiac

[ManicManiac]

I sat and watched for a few minutes... to see if the weather was going to shift (one way or another).
It looked the weather was holding (at least for now)... so of course I was going to take the risk.  

This is getting much more dangerous as it starts to get "deadly dark."
Visibility is getting worse... but I've crawled along the edge of the muskeg this far, there's no turning back now.

 

As I kept slowly pushing onward, the storm broke... alarmingly FAST.

Traveling wasn't going to be an issue now...  I just have to be especially watchful for the wolves out prowling.  I should be able to get to the Camp Office in Mystery Lake before midnight.  

 

 

The aurora got wild in Mystery Lake tonight.

Made it back to the Camp Office.  I'll do a quick sort and stow in the morning and decide what to do next.

Edited October 28, 2023 by ManicManiac

[ManicManiac]

I decided I would make a hard push to Coastal Highway to go get Barb's Rifle.  Since I carried Forester's Revolver with me on the way out of Bleak Inlet, and earlier brought Woodwright's Bow out of Hushed River Valley... I'm just a rifle short of my ideal set of weapons all in one place.

Oh yeah... I forgot I'd also left my crampons at the Camp Office also.  

But if I'm honest.  I really don't have much use for them, so they will likely just stay here.

So the route for the day begins.  I'm going to get to the Fishing Camp in Coastal Highway and back to the Camp Office.  If I can't get back before the sun goes down... then it will turn into a night hike.

I picked up Barb's Rifle, ammunition, and a couple night's worth of food to help replenish the limited food supply I've been keeping in my pack.  It spent a couple hours checking over my stashed supplies to make sure I was packing out what I was sure I wanted to take with me.  🤔  I need to remember to fill my storm lantern

As I started making my way back... the sun was already starting to get low in the sky.

Finally made it back... a little after 10 p.m. (if I had to estimate).

Now the collection is all together.   

Edited October 29, 2023 by ManicManiac

[Leeanda]

9 hours ago, ManicManiac said:

I decided I would make a hard push to Coastal Highway to go get Barb's Rifle.  Since I carried Forester's Revolver with me on the way out of Bleak Inlet, and earlier brought Woodwright's Bow out of Hushed River Valley... I'm just a rifle short of my ideal set of weapons all in one place.

Oh yeah... I forgot I'd also left my crampons at the Camp Office also.  

But if I'm honest.  I really don't have much use for them, so they will likely just stay here.

So the route for the day begins.  I'm going to get to the Fishing Camp in Coastal Highway and back to the Camp Office.  If I can't get back before the sun goes down... then it will turn into a night hike.

I picked up Barb's Rifle, ammunition, and a couple night's worth of food to help replenish the limited food supply I've been keeping in my pack.  It spent a couple hours checking over my stashed supplies to make sure I was packing out what I was sure I wanted to take with me.  🤔  I need to remember to fill my storm lantern

As I started making my way back... the sun was already starting to get low in the sky.

Finally made it back... a little after 10 p.m. (if I had to estimate).

Now the collection is all together.   

You might need that gun for miners folly😊. It's not the best place to try and avoid him..

[ManicManiac]

@Leeanda
I'm not looking to bring any weapons with me for Ash Canyon.  I just took the opportunity to gather them together now since I was thinking ahead to Keeper's Pass and Blackrock.

Though I am tempted to maybe bring the crampons... 🤔
So far, I've not really needed them, but I also know that Ash Canyon has enough climbs to perhaps justify them.

I'll likely be heading out for Ash Canyon soon... so I suppose I need to make up my mind.
It was night to make a side trip to other familiar regions though.  It was a very stress-free way to spend a day on Great Bear Island. 🤭

*Side note: It appears I'm only 13 caffeine doses from getting my "Straight to the Heart" Merit Badge.
And I think I have about 8 shots of Go! Energy... so I think Ash Canyon will be a nice place to spend those.  

 

Edited October 29, 2023 by ManicManiac

[ManicManiac]

I think I'll take the weapons with me, but I'll be leaving them at the Community Hall at Thompson's Crossing in Pleasant Valley.

I realize now that I'd accidently left rifle ammo behind in Bleak Inlet... oh well.  I guess I'll go back for that later on, I suppose.

I think I'll look over my pack one more time and head out.

[Leeanda]

34 minutes ago, ManicManiac said:

@Leeanda
I'm not looking to bring any weapons with me for Ash Canyon.  I just took the opportunity to gather them together now since I was thinking ahead to Keeper's Pass and Blackrock.

Though I am tempted to maybe bring the crampons... 🤔
So far, I've not really needed them, but I also know that Ash Canyon has enough climbs to perhaps justify them.

I'll likely be heading out for Ash Canyon soon... so I suppose I need to make up my mind.
It was night to make a side trip to other familiar regions though.  It was a very stress-free way to spend a day on Great Bear Island. 🤭

*Side note: It appears I'm only 13 caffeine doses from getting my "Straight to the Heart" Merit Badge.
And I think I have about 8 shots of Go! Energy... so I think Ash Canyon will be a nice place to spend those.  

 

Oh I see..  not even the flare gun?    But I suppose if you can cope with the cannery then ash is pretty easy in comparison😊 

Drinking all those go drinks and coffees I doubt you'd need the crampons,lol😁

[ManicManiac]

Heading out for Ash Canyon...

I decided to stop over at the Community Hall.
It was a good place to stash Forester's Revolver and ammunition, as well as maybe pick up a day's worth of food to help sustain me on the trip.

[ManicManiac]

I'm looking forward to returning to the Mountaineer's Hut (even if only for a quick visit to check on the supplies).  Timberwolf Mountain has been my favorite place to live for nearly as long as the route to get there opened up to us.

While it will be nice to visit, and rather tempting to stay there for a night or two... I'm determined to get to Ash Canyon and get an encampment established there today.

[ManicManiac]

Managed an early start... but it was bone chillingly cold.

As I skirted around the Birch Forest (passing by the Lonely Homestead), I didn't see hide nor hair of the bear.  It also occurred to me that the last time I was here, this was the only bear den I hadn't confirmed the location of.  As I continued pushing forward towards my next stopover (just for the sake of warming up), I soon came upon my first sign of the Birch Forest Bear (but still no where in site).

The tracks were very fresh... so I figured it was probably nearer the Lonely Homestead by now, and followed the tracks back.

Bear's Den confirmed... now I know for certain where they all three of them den, and how far they roam.
(Worth knowing for the future)

It wasn't a perfect navigation, but I arrived at the Draft Dodger's Cabin soon after the wind had finally died down.  I would probably be good to press on... but I've spent enough time in Pleasant Valley over the years to know not to trust in the weather (or pass up a place to warm my bones).

 

Next stop, Burned Ridge Cave and the Crash Site...

After the crash... the way back to the old Abandoned Prepper became a bit easier to navigate.  As I was passing by the cave, I could hear the howls of at least two wolves over by Skeeter's Ridge.  I was glad to be able to cut through the crash site and circumvent Skeeter's Ridge altogether (rather having to stealth my through, as I had to do in the past).

The hunter's blind is just off to the left... and on the other side of that slope, is the climb I'm after.

Hmm... Ptarmigans near the Hunter's blind.  Duly noted, for the future.

 

It seems Pleasant Valley is at it again...  It's starting to snow.  😒

Drat... The Pleasant Valley weather followed me into Timberwolf Mountain.

By the time I made it through the trail from Pleasant Valley... the weather was definitely taking a turn.  I'll keep an eye on it... it starts to look threatening; I know I have at least three or four places I can take shelter between here and Echo Ravine. 🤭

Moose on the loose... that is all.  

Cristal Lake... Home sweet home.
I only stopped to fill my stomach and sate my thirst (four chicken/vegetable airline meals and another bottle of water did the trick).

It was time to get moving to Echo Ravine, there wasn't a lot of daylight left.

Almost there...

I'd arrived in Ash Canyon... but there's only a couple hours of daylight left.  I'll need to decide if I'm going to make for the Angler's Den... or perhaps find a place to hunker down on the way through Shattered Cove. 🤔

I'd just committed to heading towards Bitter Marsh (on the way towards the Angler's Den)... and the wind started kicking up and threatening to worsen.  Oh well... I'd just have to press on.

Climbing rope... duly noted.

I'm not sure I remember this being here the last I was exploring Ash Canyon. 🤔  Found a t-shirt and a can of dogfood that I left behind.  ...moving on.

Thankfully the weather cleared (the wind was still blowing at a steady gust).
Also, there just ahead... another moose on the loose. 
 

I'll have to sneak past a couple of wolves.  I'm also next to a cave I could hole-up in if push came to shove.  However, I'm so close to the Angler's Den... that I just had to risk it and keep going.

Close call... but still made it through undetected.
I didn't bring any weapons with me either... so I probably should have picked up a rock or two along the way. 🤭

Made it.  I have my primary encampment for Ash Canyon.

[Leeanda]

Great pictures....and who said pleasant valley was always unpleasant...😁

[ManicManiac]

I have to make up my mind... and I think that as soon as the sun comes up, I'll make my way back around to the Shattered Cove (but I'm not sure which direction to approach it).  I think I will risk the wolves near the climbs and make my way through the narrow pass back to the cove, rather than back tracking to Bitter Marsh first. 🤔

There will be a little more risk up front... but then the walk back around to the Angler's Den will be nice and familiar.  Plus, the trip entire round trip will probably take most (of not the entirety) of the day as long as I'm exploring thoroughly.  

🤔
Still more to think on.  I do think I'd like to get this lower level done (at least for the most part) before working my way higher up.

[ManicManiac]

I got an early start... but the morning was not as cold as I was anticipating.  This, at least, would give me one less thing to worry about.  This was going to be a rather long ring-route, and not having to worry so much about the cold means I can focus more on looking out for wolves.  

It's hard to make out in the low hanging mist, but there ahead are two wolves prowling.

They hadn't made a sound the entire time I was exploring around in this basin... were it not for staying crouched and keeping a sharp eye, I most certainly would have been ambushed. 

I did stop by a couple of shallow caves along the way... but didn't really find anything of note. 
 

I soon came out the other side of the pass into Shattered Cove.

Now to follow the ridgeline to my left and explore the scorched forest.

The hike back around wasn't quite so long as I'd imagined.  While there were both wolves and a moose lurking in the scorched forest... my route gave me a good vantage and was able to give them a wide berth without slowing me down very much.  This will give me more time to explore near and around the Angler's Den before dark.

Managed to finish exploring the "bottom" of Ash Canyon before dark, even visiting the lower part of Broad Falls before heading back to the Angler's Den to hunker down for the night.

I'll have to think about the next route... I have a couple of options to consider. 🤔

 

Also of note... Birtch Bark the size of a Hylian Shield is still a thing.  

Edited November 10, 2023 by ManicManiac
Fixed some errors

[Leeanda]

50 minutes ago, ManicManiac said:

I got an early start... but the morning was not as cold as I was anticipating.  This, at least, would give me one less thing to worry about.  This was going to be a rather long ring-route, and not having to worry so much about the cold means I can focus more on looking out for wolves.  

It's hard to make out in the lay hanging mist, but there ahead are two wolves prowling.

They hadn't made a sound the entire time I was exploring around in this basin... where it not for staying crouched and keeping a sharp eye, I most certainly would have been ambushed. 

I did stop by a couple of shallow caves along the way... but didn't really find anything of note. 
 

I soon came out the other side of the pass into Shattered Cove.

Now to follow the ridgeline to my left and explore the scorched forest.

The hike back around wasn't quite so long as I'd imagined.  While there were both wolves and a moose lurking in the scorched forest... my route gave me a good vantage and was able to give them a wide berth without slowing me down very much.  This will give me more time to explore near and around the Angler's Den before dark.

Managed to finish exploring "bottom" of Ash Canyon before dark, even visiting the lower part of Broad Falls before heading back to the Angler's Den to hunker down for the night.

I'll have to think about the next route... I have a couple of options to consider. 🤔

 

  Hide contents

Also of note... Birtch Bark the size of a Hylian Shield is still a thing.  

 

I'm glad it's still in ash.. it's always guaranteed to make me smile..😁

[conanjaguar]

4 hours ago, ManicManiac said:

Also of note... Birtch Bark the size of a Hylian Shield is still a thing.  

That should be an actual thing: Large Piece of Birch Bark. Harvest it for 4 regular pieces or use it to upgrade snow shelters perhaps 🤔…

[ManicManiac]

As I lay in the warm bed of Angler's Den early in the predawn morning, I find myself napping and thinking about how what route to take next to explore the rest of Ash Canyon.  I suppose there are enough alternate routes that, either way I go, I should be able to loop it around as I work my way farther "up" the Canyon.

I should also probably spend a bit of time on a quick sort and stow.  I could save a lot of weight if I pare down to maybe just three night's worth of food (and just leave the rest here at Angler's Den for now).

[ManicManiac]

Very early in the morning, the weather was looking a little grim...

 

After leaving behind as much I could without being too reckless... started to make my way towards Stone Shelf Cave.
 

Thankfully, the weather seemed to have gotten better... the fog is not really doing me any favors as far as visibility goes, but at least it's relatively warmer and not threatening a blizzard.  

It's already midmorning... spending the time to sort and stow some gear and supplies will somewhat limit how far along the route I can get before dark (unless of course I can get clear skies later... in that case, I'm all for a bit of a night hike to cover more ground).

The howls sound like their right over my shoulder when they prowl so close.  This slope is just full of close calls today.  I've spotted at least three wolves skulking around here this morning.  Thankfully I've remained undetected, haven't really needed the stones yet, but I am glad I have a couple in my pocket (just in case).

Stone Shelf Cave just ahead... however, I will also want to check out the basin just farther off to the right, first.

The fog's gotten heavier... still heading to check out the small basin ahead, but now a little more dangerous if I can see what's ahead (and I say that because I've spotted moose here before).

I was admittedly a little worried about running afoul of a moose... but so far, just a Doe.

Hmm... talk about a lopsided risk/reward ratio.  Made it down to the bottom of the small basin... and I call I got was this baseball cap. 

I made my way back to Stone Shelf Cave... It was getting rather late in the day (late afternoon/early evening).  I'd also managed to gather up 86 sticks since I'd started out this morning.  I might be able to make it down to Pillar's Footrest and find shelter before dark... there's also potential wolf ambush to consider.  Plus, I'm not wild about getting caught out after sundown when the fog is this dense.  It makes for a deadly dark night (and I need to save my lantern for the cave systems later on).

I've also managed to gather up 26 bits of birch bark (though 14 of them I'd brought with me from my hike from Bleak Inlet all the way to Timberwolf Mountain.

I think I'll sacrifice one of the three matches I have on hand to get a fire going and hunker down here for the night (I wouldn't mind brewing some brich bark tea this evening).

🤔Unless of course, the fog lifts before I bed down... if that happens, then I absolutely will go on a night hike.  I was really hoping to cover more ground today.

Edited November 10, 2023 by ManicManiac

[ManicManiac]

By the time I was done prepping the Birch Bark for making the tea... the fog lifted.  
So... time to head out for Pillar's Footrest, and ideally, I'd like to get to Climber's Cave before bedding down for the rest of the night.  I do have a few hours of day light left... so I shouldn't have to much of a night hike ahead of me.

Strange place to find spray paint and an MRE... 🤔

An aurora was just starting to ramp up as the sun was setting... my night hike was about to potentially get much more dangerous.  

Already exhausted and hungry... feeling half-dead.  I think I'll just hunker down in this cave.  This particular cave system would lead to Deer Clearing on Timberwolf Mountain.  Maybe I'll do a walkthrough tomorrow, but for now I just need to get some sleep.

Edited November 11, 2023 by ManicManiac

[ManicManiac]

It seems I overslept. 🤭  It was nearly noon by the time I woke up.
I quickly set about exploring the cave...

I wandered through the cave for at least an hour before I managed to find something interesting. 
It seems a survivor and a wolf ran afoul of each other... and it didn't work out well for either of them.

I traded the lantern that I'd repaired up for this Spelunker's Lantern.  I already notice there's a more of a hazy halo coming off the lantern... but for me, even though it is a bit dimmer, I find the fuel efficiency well worth the trade off.  

Managed to find the other end of the cave... however, I'm not looking to go to Timberwolf Mountain again, just yet.  IT was time to turn around and head back to Pillar's Footrest.

I hear a howling wind outside...

Yep... a blizzard in Ash Canyon today.  🤔

I suppose I'll spend the rest of the day in the cave.  I guess it's just as well, I need to get my sleep schedule back on track anyways.  

[ManicManiac]

The storm eventually broke... however, the day was already more-or-less spent.

Night approaches with sinister green skies.

One more night spent in this cave, I suppose.

[ManicManiac]

With an exceptionally early start, I have to try to figure out which might be the most useful way to get to Climber's Cave.  If I just go up the hill, I can find a way over the gap, but going the long way around will help me cover more ground.  Honestly though, I can't recall if there actually is a long way around... 🤔

I'm already getting a bit chilly... so I had to make up my mind quickly. 🤔

About to jump this narrow gap in across the chasm below.  Also, yes... getting rather cold.

The first thing I find after leaping across is a hunting knife...  

It's not warm enough in here... but at least I can avoid the wind.  I need it to warmup outside just a little bit more.  I suppose if I really have to, I can use the mag-lens and brew up a tea and a little water. 🤔

Almost forgot I had come across a coffee... no better time to a quick boost of caffeine and warmth. 

Two ravaged carcasses near this out of the way little nook... duly noted.

I'm running a bit too heavy to take advantage of the rope... so I will be circling around and heading up the slope from Pillar's Footrest after I'm done here.

Stopping to get a small fire going was clearly time spent wisely... the weather turned and didn't end up warming up at all.  If anything, it got a little colder and began to threaten another blizzard.  🤭

I don't know that will take shelter here (I do still need to get back to Pillar's Footrest)... but still, a good spot to know about.

This small goating opportunity held an unexpected surprise... duly noted.

Made it back to Pillar's Footrest... now it was time to head up the slope.

Needed to use this very shallow cave near the top of the slope to warm for a little while before continuing on ward.

Not much of note found so far... but I'm not done looking around up here yet.

This is a more interesting little nook... 🤔

There's my next stop...

I will likely spend the rest of the day here at Climber's Cave.  I'm considering whether or not to setup a secondary encampment here. 🤔

May also slide down to check on the crows that were circling farther up the slope from the Angler's Den... but that would also put my right back down at the Angler's Den again. 🤭

It seems I have to mull it over some more... in the meantime I'll at the very least drop the 80 sticks and 14 pieces of coal I'd picked up along the way. 

[ManicManiac]

Decided to take a quick look around after all...

Of course... it was cloudy until I'd already spent a match to light my torch... and two failed attempts to start a fire, and then it wants to be sunny.  

I will build up a little bit of a water supply to leave behind here... and I can use this as a safe stopover point again in the future.  

[ManicManiac]

...A can of rather sketchy dogfood gave me food poisoning... 
I quickly choaked down some more of the sketchiest food I had to hand, downed some antibiotics with a lot of water, and bedded down hard to sleep it off.

I may have to take it easy when I go exploring today.

Edited November 13, 2023 by ManicManiac

[ManicManiac]

Managed an early start.  The weather was a bit foggy, but I suppose then at least it might be a bit warmer.


Hmm... looks like perhaps some has been through this way before.  I think I'll follow the trail...

Looks like someone's lost their towel... most unfortunate.
According to "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:"

Quote

...towels are regarded as indispensable equipment for experienced travelers, since they can be put to a wide variety of uses. Consequently, a person who can quickly adapt to virtually any new situation is said to really know where their towel is.

... a towel also has immense psychological value. For some reason, if a strag (nonhitchhiker) discovers that a hitchhiker has his towel with him, he will automatically assume that he is also in possession of a toothbrush, washcloth, soap, tin of biscuits, flask, compass, map, ball of string, gnat spray, wet-weather gear, space suit etc., etc. Furthermore, the strag will then happily lend the hitchhiker any of these or a dozen other items that the hitchhiker might accidentally have "lost".

What the strag will think is that any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the galaxy, rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through, and still knows where his towel is, is clearly a man to be reckoned with.

A grand overlook on to Pillar's Footrest...

Also, a couple other things to check out while I'm up here.

 

Ah shucks... empty. 

I suppose first I'll go up... then I'll head down.

Found an interesting openair (sort of) "shelter" complete with pine bough bed.

A gorgeous view below though. 

Speaking of down below... it was time to follow the lower trail.

That's a steep drop just ahead... the cave looked familiar.  I think it was the same one I explored a couple of days ago, which means I think that it will lead me back to Pillar's Footrest.

...and I was correct.  

I decided to head back up the slope and back over to Climber's Cave.  I've stayed hydrated today, but still not feeling the best in the wake of the bout of food poisoning I had to deal with last night... I figured this is a good chance to take it easy and try to fully recover.  This way I know I'm close to good shelter and can finish exploring the area around Climber's Cave before sitting down to decide the next route.

Well, plenty of stick to pick up.   This is the last section of this area to prospect; I should be able to get it done at a leisurely pace before sundown.

The topside of the rope I'd spotted the other day... but I've already been down there though.  Also... starting to snow.  I guess there's little chance of getting some sunshine for "free" fire later; oh well. 

I do love these little rewards we get from exploring Great Bear Island... they are not always material though.  Here is a beautiful overlook of Bitter Marsh below.  The weather, however, is threatening a blizzard... so I'm going to head back to Climber's Cave.

More stunning views...

Back at Climber's Cave for the evening...
Even though I don't need it.  I think I will build up a 12-hour fire, have some tea, and bolster my water supply some more.

Edited November 13, 2023 by ManicManiac
Fixing errors