Big Bad Collars: Two years in a row! Big Bad Collars.

Yep. Two years in a row.

SAME SCENE LAST YEAR

We even said about an hour out from home..."we can't forget again and drive in with the tree on top again". Well we forgot...again.

You see, every year we buy a permit from the forest service to cut a tree. We drive up north, out of the desert to the land of Ponderosa pines and chipmunks and hike for the day with the kids and bring home the kill. And the couple hour drive home can be a long haul with tired kids, stopping for dinner and gas...and Starbucks... So just like a couple of barn bound horses, the parents forget there is a rider on top...


BUNDLING UP TINY ELLETTE

We have done this for six years now. Since Ellette was a newborn, three weeks old. I have a big ol' wool poncho from my mom and the fabulous '60s to cover the babies and keep them warm. I have drug the family down canyons in heavy snow. Deuce has tried to get the "perfect tree" chosen by his princesses off of cliff faces. He has hauled the girls...and tree across rivers. We have literally crossed rain, sleet, snow, ripping winds, fire damage, underbrush and mud to get just the tree chosen by the girls.

almost 3 years old Gwynni...the snow really started after this!


2009...baby Lorelei

2009 hiking out the kill

LETTING THE 4 YEAR OLD TRAIL LEAD

FINDING A PLACE TO FERRY KIDS

RIGHT AFTER THIS...HE IS KNEE DEEP...BUT THE TREE IS DRY!

LOTS OF GREAT MEMORIES

This year we had beautiful clear crisp skies so we decided to hike a new area with the absence of weather concerns. I have never seen so many tracks before. Elk, rabbit...even our first bear. Of course scat from all...great for the kids! There were badger holes and a coyote den. I have learned to really watch the tracks...with the kids being perfectly snack size still, it is a real concern attracting a predator. Also not too eager to cross a peeved Bull Elk. One of the first years, I was cheerfully watching the deer tracks...quite fresh...and was happy to see cougar tracks too. Then the cougar tracks were 'playing' with the deer tracks..."Deuce, time to relocate". We have had to relocate a few times over the years. Being from the Northwest, I am a bit of a nut about trail safety...quite the Cautious Clark. My back country siblings often mock me, but they will all capitulate that when the kids are in tow, you can't be careful enough. Always watch the trail and always watch the sky. Need to add to that list: watch the garage roof too...it's been known to sneek up.

ANYBODY HOME?

THIS IS WHAT I HAVE TO WORK WITH!

THIS WAS THE "GOOD" PICTURE...sigh

THE GIRLS ADDING MORE BEAR TRACKS

THIS YEARS KILL...NOTE HAMMY ON THE RIGHT

This year we tried soaking the tree overnight in the pool...an Arizona thing, I'd imagine there are few logistics problems to this up north...supposed to help keep it twice as fresh. Deuce did say it was twice as heavy to haul out! Let you know how it worked! ;-)