From a patrol several weeks ago at the beginning of vacation week and a trek more recent. The bogs are quiet, streams are ice covered and full of snow. The pace of activity (snow machiners) has increased dramatically with the addition of regular snowfall and persistent below freezing temperatures. Over this winter we have seen only one other party of hikers; the predominate mode of travel is the snow machines. (I use the Alaskan terminology “snow machines” instead of “snowmobiles” to remind us all how noisy and smelly and obnoxious they are.)

As noted in our previous posts, we have mostly ventured this season over to the pond (in the other direction from the beaver bog). The snow machine trail historically traveled directly to the pond but has been disrupted by the pond-side property the trail goes through being put up for sale. This has been the case for many years now and there has not been any successful sales for the property developers. It is mostly our private pond-side recreation area. There are a number of snow machiners who remember the trail and still use it despite very modest signage saying it is closed. The local snow machine club has created a work-around route that goes down along the state road to another part of the pond as a bypass. Running a snow machine for about a half mile on the shoulder of a state highway isn’t something very attractive, so there are operators who cut over to the old route and proceed to the pond the old way.

Bridge Alpha, looking east) away from the pond direction) toward our road. This part of the trail uses the 100 year old railway right-of-way.

Bridge Bravo, looking east in the Beaver Bog direction. This is where the trail departs from the old railway path.

Bridge Charlie. The Beaver Bog is at left in the image.

The Far Bog, left in the image, looking east on the trail (back on the old railway line) about a mile from our house