Camp property found, now updates.

[ArlyA]

With all that snow, what is the moose eating?

In winter, moose switch from aquatic plants to eating woody browse like willow, aspen, birch, and balsam twigs, buds, and bark, consuming large amounts (up to 40-60 lbs/day) of these low-nutrition, fibrous foods. They use their height and unique digestive system to process tough vegetation, often scraping snow to find food and even licking salt from roads for essential minerals, explains

 

[ArlyA]

Here is moose track pics. Trail-side one is him/her was in the creek for a drink, and water is now on the trail.

 

[Carl_NH]

He/she appreciates your grooming for easier travel - can't be easy going thru 30-40" of snow even with long legs!

 

[ArlyA]

Pushing snow around at camp.

 

[ArlyA]

Picked up wood on Saturday driving on snowy roads. Man this load was heavy and made the 6X6 grunt.

 

[shooterdon]

Spending half a day getting into camp and moving snow gets old Arly. This is a good time to look at what you want your tractor to do, and the best implements to use to deal with snow.

When I moved to northern Michigan 13 years ago, I was a citiot. I get a lot less snow than you do but still made plenty of mistakes. I thought I could depend on having the worst of it handled by a local guy who needed to make a few dollars on the side and learned about the lack of work ethic in my area. I used a guy for the first few months until I moved here permanently and it was a disaster. Came up one time and there was 10" that had not been plowed. Thankfully the pickup made it. It was loaded with stuff for the move. Came another time and had a three foot bank plowed up in front of the pole barn and could not get the sleds out until I dug the bank out by hand. If you find a good snow guy, things are easier, so I hope you have better luck than I did.

 

[EddieWalker]

What's the deal with the firewood?

From the pictures, it looks like a roadside business. Do you drive up, get a load of firewood, pay and leave?

 

[jjeff]

Next year you can make your own wood, didn't you buy a log splitter? Usually find a dying or dead standing maple or beech, I'd make wood in the spring so it will season a little bit over summer. At my place up north I set up a system with at least two face cords using one face cord a year so it's seasoned for a year while the other cord seasons for the following year. Make wood every spring hopefully. Before the mosquitos take over. Depending on your frequency of visits and insulation I assume you will need more than a face cord a season though.

 

[ArlyA]

What's the deal with the firewood?

From the pictures, it looks like a roadside business. Do you drive up, get a load of firewood, pay and leave?

Its a side gig for them. He splits and loads as much as you want and write him a check. Will cut whatever length you'd like. Was a pleasant purchase and would do it again.

 

[thclimer]

Is that wood you are going to be burning next year?

About the only wood I've had any success being in log length and having the split pieces dry enough to burn was standing dead red oak. That red oak had to be dead for 10+ years only about 6-8" in diameter and all the bark had fallen off many years before I cut it down in the middle of a dry spell in the summer.

 

[ArlyA]

Is that wood you are going to be burning next year?

About the only wood I've had any success being in log length and having the split pieces dry enough to burn was standing dead red oak. That red oak had to be dead for 10+ years only about 6-8" in diameter and all the bark had fallen off many years before I cut it down in the middle of a dry spell in the summer.

We are using it now since we are running out. What do you recommend we do if we'd like to be out at camp? The retailer said it 2 years old and it burns fine.

 

[thclimer]

Interesting to hear, If its burning good for you that's what counts.

What type of wood is it?

 

[ArlyA]

Interesting to hear, If its burning good for you that's what counts.

What type of wood is it?

Its mixed maple but I think he said there was some ash in it.

 

[airbiscuit]

 

[ArlyA]

A few items we have ordered for camp. One of those little portable battery packs so we can recharge all our portable lights/phones without the Honda generator going. We use the gen to recharge the 12 battery that powers many lights, but that doesn't take very long to do. It being winter n dark, we use flashlights much.

A better battery charger for the deep cycle battery with over change protection etc, etc. The one left by the previous owner was pretty simple and very dated.

A jumper power pack to start our atv with.

 

[jjeff]

A few items we have ordered for camp. One of those little portable battery packs so we can recharge all our portable lights/phones without the Honda generator going. We use the gen to recharge the 12 battery that powers many lights, but that doesn't take very long to do. It being winter n dark, we use flashlights much.

A better battery charger for the deep cycle battery with over change protection etc, etc. The one left by the previous owner was pretty simple and very dated.

A jumper power pack to start our atv with.

I have two jumper packs one DeWalt lead acid with compressor and AC inverter. Worked ok when I ran a corded AC half inch impact off inverter no problem in the middle of the woods and completed my task. Handy also has low pressure tire inflation settings. Bought a second one off a Amazon promotion with a compressor supposedly capable of starting my 6.6 Duramax what sold me on this one it was lithium ion powered smaller/lighter with convenient storage case and cheaper than my DeWalt with no AC inverter though it's called a wolf box with a built in low or high psi compressor, jump started my dad's completely dead battery no problem. Supposedly has a 2 year shelf life before a recharge is needed depending on usage. Anyways definitely get a decent charge controller off your solar panels or you will fry your deep cycle batteries.

 

[ArlyA]

We canceled our weekend camp trip due to heavy lake snow predicted here but instead with make a rare trip to Marquette MI to buy two cargo sleds for camp. One a large Otter to move supplies to camp 84″ x 44″ x 17″; Weight: 64 lbs while the other small version for moving firewood at camp. Obviously it will have a hitch for being towing behind an atv.

 

[lman]

We canceled our weekend camp trip due to heavy lake snow predicted here but instead with make a rare trip to Marquette MI to buy two cargo sleds for camp. One a large Otter to move supplies to camp 84″ x 44″ x 17″; Weight: 64 lbs while the other small version for moving firewood at camp. Obviously it will have a hitch for being towing behind an atv.View attachment 4792230

I've been thinking about getting something like the large one. How much was it?

 

[ArlyA]

I've been thinking about getting something like the large one. How much was it?

$299 plus hitch and a cover. They also make a lighter version for 200.

 

[ArlyA]

Update, due to snow forecast we are not staying at camp but traveling south to Rhinelander WI for sleds, plus drop implement off at camp. Makes sense?