Coon Camp Springs Habitat Restoration Project (CCSHRP) Contact us at info@cooncampsprings.com
There was a buck antelope hanging out all weekend. Most of the times I saw him he was way off in the
distance. However I did come upon him twice when he was close. He is a curious one. Both times that
I was close, I stopped the truck to watch him and both times, he walked up to around 30 yards from
the truck. Trying to figure out what I was I guess. The first time, I drove off with him still looking me
over. The second time, all of a sudden he spun and ran like lightning. I think the wind must have
shifted and he caught scent of the dogs who were in the back of the truck. What a beautiful animal
when it is just standing, and even more amazing when it is in a full run. I also saw a fox, deer,
chipmunks and squirrels.
I worked on the fencing around the Aspen grove most of Saturday and then again Sunday morning. It
was perfect weather for slamming fence posts. The top foot or so of the soil is thawed and still moist.
The temps never got over the high 40s which kept me from overheating. Between the two days, I
slammed 86 fence posts. I got about three fourths of them in around the grove but I hit bedrock up
above it. I will have to rent an air drill to make holes for the remaining posts. And then I can start
putting up the wire.
The camp was in pretty good shape. A few mouse turds here and there inside. The mice found the hot
pad mittens that we forgot to put away. Looks like the insulation in them made some good nests. But,
I did not find any pack-rat nests or damage that I usually find when I open up the camp. Looks like we
did a pretty good job of sealing up the cracks that they use to get in.
Sunday afternoon, I worked on the back-hoe then packed everything up and headed back home at
around 6 PM. We pulled into Oakland at mid-night. Good trip. Got some work done and made it out
whole....lol.
Event Calendar
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
So, now that I know the property can be traveled, it is time to start planning. I am going up next
weekend to finish the fence posts around the Aspen grove. If it goes well, then I will start on putting up
the wire.
Besides fencing off the Aspen grove, we have 3 other fencing projects that need to be completed by
the end of June. I am going to be out of town on a family trip most of June. So, I need to get as much
work as possible done in April and May.
As usual, I am going to try to organize a work/play gathering around the Memorial Day weekend.
Memorial Day is May 25. I am going to take that whole week off. I will be going up on May 22 and
staying until May 31.
I am hoping that some of you can come up and help out. Besides working on the projects, there will be
lots of fun to be had. As many of you know, you can hike a whole weekend up there and not see the
whole place. We will have some targets set up for target practicing and we will also try to get some
archery targets set up. Besides the bunk beds in the camp, there are acres of property where you can
set up your tent or park your RV.
Eagle Lake opens up for fishing on the Memorial Day weekend. Those big old Eagle Lake trout have
spent the whole winter without seeing any bait. The lake is 15 miles south of our gate.
The grasses and wildflowers will be in full swing and all of the wildlife will be back on the property.
Lots of opportunities for the shutterbugs.
This year, I thought if we get a bunch of kids to come up, we can set up some geo-caches for them to
search for.
And as is always the case at our weekend gatherings, there will be lots of good food, drink and
friendship.
So, please look at your calendars and see if you can come up and join us for part or all of the last 10
days of May.
weekend to finish the fence posts around the Aspen grove. If it goes well, then I will start on putting up
the wire.
Besides fencing off the Aspen grove, we have 3 other fencing projects that need to be completed by
the end of June. I am going to be out of town on a family trip most of June. So, I need to get as much
work as possible done in April and May.
As usual, I am going to try to organize a work/play gathering around the Memorial Day weekend.
Memorial Day is May 25. I am going to take that whole week off. I will be going up on May 22 and
staying until May 31.
I am hoping that some of you can come up and help out. Besides working on the projects, there will be
lots of fun to be had. As many of you know, you can hike a whole weekend up there and not see the
whole place. We will have some targets set up for target practicing and we will also try to get some
archery targets set up. Besides the bunk beds in the camp, there are acres of property where you can
set up your tent or park your RV.
Eagle Lake opens up for fishing on the Memorial Day weekend. Those big old Eagle Lake trout have
spent the whole winter without seeing any bait. The lake is 15 miles south of our gate.
The grasses and wildflowers will be in full swing and all of the wildlife will be back on the property.
Lots of opportunities for the shutterbugs.
This year, I thought if we get a bunch of kids to come up, we can set up some geo-caches for them to
search for.
And as is always the case at our weekend gatherings, there will be lots of good food, drink and
friendship.
So, please look at your calendars and see if you can come up and join us for part or all of the last 10
days of May.
Report from spring 2009
This past weekend, I made my first trip of the year up to
the project. I pulled into camp at 12:45 AM Saturday. The
first surprise I got was the temperature. The preceding
week, I had monitored weather reports on-line. The
closest town listed is Termo which is about 20 miles
away. All week long, the reports had said that it was
hovering around 30 degrees at night and 40 during the
day. When I got out of the truck, it was 17 degrees. YIKES!
My first task was getting a fire going in the wood stove.
Between the stove and two propane heaters, it took two
hours to get the dining room up to 40 degrees.
After a couple hours of sleep and a quick breakfast, I
started loading fencing supplies. Once I had the truck
loaded, I took a quick tour of areas that I thought would
be dry enough. After losing my truck to the mud many
times, I am a little gun shy this time of the year. What I saw
on my tour is that spring is just starting up there. There is
still snow on the ground where the sun does not get to.
The roads are pretty dry but off road is still pretty moist.
The grasses and flowers are just starting to break
through the surface soil. There was an abundance of
birds, flitting around and competing for the few insects
that are around.
This past weekend, I made my first trip of the year up to
the project. I pulled into camp at 12:45 AM Saturday. The
first surprise I got was the temperature. The preceding
week, I had monitored weather reports on-line. The
closest town listed is Termo which is about 20 miles
away. All week long, the reports had said that it was
hovering around 30 degrees at night and 40 during the
day. When I got out of the truck, it was 17 degrees. YIKES!
My first task was getting a fire going in the wood stove.
Between the stove and two propane heaters, it took two
hours to get the dining room up to 40 degrees.
After a couple hours of sleep and a quick breakfast, I
started loading fencing supplies. Once I had the truck
loaded, I took a quick tour of areas that I thought would
be dry enough. After losing my truck to the mud many
times, I am a little gun shy this time of the year. What I saw
on my tour is that spring is just starting up there. There is
still snow on the ground where the sun does not get to.
The roads are pretty dry but off road is still pretty moist.
The grasses and flowers are just starting to break
through the surface soil. There was an abundance of
birds, flitting around and competing for the few insects
that are around.
The new year isn't here yet so I have not looked at planning anything
except our usual Memorial Day and Labor Day events.
If you can, please set aside one or both of these three day weekends
and come up to the property. Memorial Day will be on Monday the
31st of May. Labor Day will be Monday the 6th of September.
We work but we also play a lot on these weekends. Come on up and
join us.
except our usual Memorial Day and Labor Day events.
If you can, please set aside one or both of these three day weekends
and come up to the property. Memorial Day will be on Monday the
31st of May. Labor Day will be Monday the 6th of September.
We work but we also play a lot on these weekends. Come on up and
join us.