...it is Spring...somewhere

Self portrait with a hiker sign. The hiker should be wearing snowshoes.

No picnics at this table for a while.

Gabby in contrast against the snow.

Gabby and I took a nice walk around the loop at Discovery Campground this afternoon. The road is plowed all the way to the gate where we parked and got out of the truck for our little jaunt. The weather was nice albeit a little windy, but that didn't matter much since we were in the trees. The snow was solid under our feet so we didn't break through with the exception of a couple places where the sun had been softening things.

So, it was all good. Still, I couldn't help thinking that in just a few weeks it will be totally different. The snow will be gone and before we know it we will be camping in these woods. But, for now we wait for melting, because the calendar says...it is Spring...somewhere.

...plenty of ice fishing

The scene at the ice fishing site on Island Lake.

Gabby, Laura, and Karen fish in the sunshine.

The auger waits for holes to drill.

The gang and gear on Island Lake.

So, we have been doing a lot of ice fishing this winter. You probably already know that if you read this blog on a regular basis. It has been great fun and a good way to get out and enjoy the fresh air. Our latest adventure was yesterday afternoon under beautiful weather conditions. We started fishing at noon and didn't quit until 6:00 PM. Our friend Karen joined us and we all had a great time basking in the sun and watching fish through the holes we drilled. We even caught several of them.

We may get out for another ice fishing trip, but the end of the ice fishing season is near. The temps will be warming and the snow will melt. Other activities such as hiking, biking, and camping will take over. The summer frenzy will commence and ice fishing will become a distant memory. That will be alright, because we have done...plenty of ice fishing.

...another ice fishing adventure

The gear sled loaded with an ice auger, the Quick Fish 3, fishing rods, a bucket, and a Duluth Pack full of necessities careens across the surface of Island Lake behind the snowmachine to the fishing grounds.

Getting ready to drill a hole through the ice.

The ice is very thick!

Mrs. Hufford reels one in through a hole we had inside the tent.

Mrs. Hufford skims ice off the the top of a freshly drilled ice fishing hole.

It was a beautiful morning, albeit it cold with a temperature of two degrees, so we decided it would be a good day to spend on the ice of Island Lake doing a little ice fishing. It didn't take long to load the gear sled and pack a lunch so we were at the fishing spot in a jiffy. It probably also helps that the fishing spot is only about 100 yards from our house.

We set things up quickly and within a minute of dropping our hooks through ice Emily caught one! We could peer down the holes and see fish swimming under us constantly. Some we would catch and others we wouldn't, and watching them was just about as fun as catching them. Mrs. Hufford caught a nice one.

We spent about four hours alternately basking in the sun and fishing in the tent. The Burnett's were out riding their snowmachines and they stopped by for a visit. Then, just before we were ready to leave a ski plane landed and out jumped an Alaska State Trooper who came over and checked our fishing licenses. He was very friendly and we talked for a while about the weather and the fishing before he got back in his plane and took off to check on some trappers who had been trapping on Daniels Lake.

Not long after that we packed up and headed for home. It was a spectacular day and we had a wonderful time on...another ice fishing adventure.