[sooperfly]

The landscape has changed a bit since last year.... Saw this nice critter right by the trailhead.

[Backpacker Joe]

Hey Soop, what bloody camera are you using there to get those wide jobs? Or are you stitching them up? Bummer of a burn youve got there Mr. How far into that there lake? TB

[kiliki]

You saw a moose?? I didn' t know we had those in WA!

[sooperfly]

Sure we do! We even have hunting seasons via permit draws for them too. Not in the Pasayten, but over by Spokane there are seasons. If I remember correctly, if you get drawn it is once in a lifetime. Was my first moose sighting, though I have seen their tracks many times. My Dad had a young bull walk through his field last summer. And the neighbors had to chase a cow and calf out of their orchard around the same time.

[kiliki]

Can you tell me a little more about their habitat? So there are some in the Pasayten; are they only found in this eastern part of the North Cascades? And does their habitat extend further east, to the north central part of the state, all the way to the Spokane area?

[Backpacker Joe]

Hey Soop, I want to hear more about that 10D. HOw do you like it? How well does it operate? What about cropping? What kind of lenses do you use? TB

[sooperfly]

[sooperfly]

[sooperfly]

[Quark]

I went to blklk last year in late May and hit deep snow at the other end of the lake so didn't have a chance to explore. Plus, the thought of more blowdown to scramble over after 5 miles of blowdown after blowdown after blowdown on the trail wasn't very appealing. We poked around the burn area too, and visited the firefighter memorial as well. Chewuch Falls is only 3 miles in from the road end, and I'd love to see them in their new state of surrounding, but man, what a jackstraw of black trees to wade through. it'd be like walking over a billion pick-up sticks. Well and getting across the river might pose a challenge. Is there a type of forest service law or something against hikers going in there now? I know there was at first, but I don't know what the punishment was, or is - an escort out and a fine, I guess...?

[Backpacker Joe]

Hey Soop, I was thinking the new 16-35 lens. I like the F2.8 L jobs. They are just big bucks. That 24-70 F2.8L is a nice jobber that's for sure. Well, Im not the Photoshop guy yet so I dont know about that. Looks like a nice set up that's for sure. I found that camera here for a good price. http://www.digitalliquidators.com/subcategory.asp?scatid=21 TB

[sooperfly]

[Backpacker Joe]

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeell then Soop, you are the lenses meow arent you? Good that I fell over the stump and found your digital joe-bob knowledge base isnt it. Hard to decide which camera to get. I guess that ultimately I should be getting a medium format FILM camera, but I like digits. TB

[sooperfly]

Sorry folks, my bad. Evidently the trail I had referred to is/was closed. The following trails have known impacts from last summer's Needle Creek and Farewell Fires, and will remain closed until the damage can be repaired: Andrews Trail #504, Lake Creek Trail #500, Crystal Lake Trail #100, Fire Creek Trail #561, Peepsight Trail #525, and Coleman Ridge Trail #505, Driveway Butte Trail #481, West Fork Methow Trail #480, and Trout Creek Trail #479. The trails are dangerous for hikers and horseback riders. They have holes in the tread, thin crusts of tread over burned-out roots under the trails, hazardous trees hanging over the trails, destroyed turnpikes, downed logs, and burned bridges. The district has requested funding for the work, but is still waiting to hear if money is available. It is likely that all these trails will remained closed through 2004, since the repairs will take time to complete once the money is allocated. People are urged to call the district for up-to-date information about repair schedules. Forest Service website here: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee/recreate/reports.html#methow and tonasket My apologies!!!!

[Backpacker Joe]

Bad ole Soops. Bad ole Soops. TB