...Stormy/Gooseneck Lake(s) Canoe/Slosh

THE ROUTE: Stormy Lake via canoe (yellow), Gooseneck Lake walk via rubber boots (red).
TERRAIN: Lake, bog, marsh, swampy/soupy. No trail.

We left our canoe waiting on the edge of Stormy Lake for us to return from our Gooseneck Lake trudge.
Mrs. Huffy at the beginning of the walk to Gooseneck Lake.

Mrs. Huffy and an open area on our way to Gooseneck Lake.

My boot sunk 4-5 inches every step I took. Tough terrain to move through.

Mrs. Huffy on a relatively easy part of the walk.

A different view of the route to Gooseneck Lake.

Mrs. Huffy poses in front of Gooseneck Lake. We made it!

On the way back to Stormy Lake.

This swan just suddenly appeared. We gave it wide berth so we didn't stress it out.

Mrs. Huffy and Gabby pause for a snack on the way back to Stormy Lake.

Gabby watches the water go by as we paddle back to the truck.

Back at the Stormy Lake Swim Beach parking area. This is where the trip started and ended.

We took a combination canoe/walk this afternoon across Stormy Lake (via canoe) to Gooseneck Lake (via rubber boots). The weather was a little blustery but not bad. The walking was very difficult, however, as we tromped through water, bog, mud, etc., all the way to Gooseneck Lake. We saw lots of birds including a swan that just appeared out of nowhere. Once we got to Gooseneck Lake we remembered how it looked when we were there on our skis this past winter which is difficult to do now that the snow and ice is gone! We were very tired on the way back and Gabby was completely exhausted after running at least five times the distance we walked. Dogs are like that. It was a great day and we enjoyed making the...Stormy/Gooseneck Lake(s) Canoe/Slosh.

...first kayak of the season

I had to paddle through some ice to reach open water.
Made it...onward!

It's good to be kayaking on a Friday evening.

Loons and other water birds near the shore.

I kayaked past more ice on my way back home.

The ice on the lake went out yesterday. Well, most of it did. So when I got home this evening I knew it was time to take the kayak out for the first paddle of the season. I had to make my way through a short segment of ice remnants near the shore but I was in open water in no time. The wind was blowing steady and there were some good gusts but nothing unmanageable. I paddled to the boat ramp and then to the back side of the island where the loons and other water birds were sitting out of the wind. They were wary of my presence and I didn't want to stress them out so I paddled back into the wind and across the open water to a small cove. I made a quick paddle around it and headed for home. Ice, open water, loons, and sunshine. It was a great...first kayak of the season.

...a traditional Mother's Day hike

Mother and daughters at the Russian lakes Trailhead.
Laura, Emily, and Gabby pose while sitting on a bench along the trail.

At the trail junction.

Looks like a bear did some chewing on the sign.

The Hufford girls on the bridge over Rendezvous Creek.

These boots were made for hiking.

Cruising down the trail.

On the way back to the truck.

It has become a family tradition over the years to hike the Russian Lakes Trail to the Russian River Falls on Mother's day. This year was no exception. We walked 6.4 miles (round trip) under overcast skies and enjoyed every minute of it. Many other hikers and bike riders were out as well. We made friends with everyone we met on the trail and wished all the mother's a Happy Mother's Day. Everyone was jovial and seemed to be enjoying the warm weather. On the way home we stopped at Golden International in Sterling for some great Chinese food as a way to celebrate and top off...a traditional Mother's Day hike.

...tapping Kenai birch trees

Richard measures the birch tree our group selected to tap for sap.

Measuring the canopy of the tree.

Starting to drill the 7/16 inch tap hole at a downward angle so the sap will drip out of the tree.

More drilling.

Almost to a depth of two inches into the tree.

The set-up: tap, tube, and bucket. Another view of the tapping operation.

After 16 hours we went back and collected our bucket of sap.

Richard carries our bucket of sap out of the woods.

When we put the bucket on level ground we had 1.25 gallons of sap.

Using a refractometer to measure the sugar content of our sap. It was 1.4% sugar.

A blurry photo of what it inside of the refractometer looked like.

Richard clowns around with the refractometer and puts it on his nose.

Richard pretends to drink 1.25 gallons of birch sap. Very funny.

I attended a workshop on tapping birch trees for sap this past weekend at the Kenai Watershed Forum. It was great fun and I learned a lot about tapping Kenai birch trees. I was amazed that we were able to collect 1.25 gallons of sap in just over 16 hours. We all got to taste it and everyone thought it pretty much tasted like water with a hint of sweetness. All-in-all it was a good way to spend a weekend and I was happy to learn how I could be...tapping Kenai birch trees.