Uncle Henry´s Universe.

Snow, frost and
thaw has created perfect tracking conditions. Now is the winter at its finest,
it’s just to enjoy. In the mountains the snow depth varies from 65 to 85 cm, it
is built over many obstacles and makes skiing a real pleasure.

In difficult
terrain, is usually snowshoes best choice, but if I expect that tracking also
will offer longer distances over flat bogs, I put on my old-fashioned wooden
skis. With hand-sewn beak shoes and leather straps that hold them in place,
they are quick to put on and off and perfect for tracking!

The snow depth
means that many moose leave the mountains and gather in the valleys and
lowlands, where there is less snow and easier to access food. A colleague saw
16 of them together at a feeding place.
Convenient for moose, but
also an additional offer for the wolves, there is much food in one place. These four joined together near
our farm today.

This week I
finally found the wolf pack that
eluded me this winter. I have not yet tracked them together for a long
distance, but I have accumulated quite a lot of urine and droppings for DNA
analysis. The young wolves lived around an old moose carcass while their
parents were in search of new prey. They had filled an ice-covered lake with traces
of fun and games. It must have been a lovely sight.

It is now
busy days. Only one week left before the rutting season puts a stop to track
lynx families, and I have not found one yet. And more wolves to trace. And
almost time for golden eagles. And a guilty conscience because I have not had
time with the birds home on the farm, missed this year’s bird count. A sign of
the times, the stressful lives we all live…

I was down to the
office yesterday, to the employer, 150 km south – to civilization! Tried to
behave naturally to blend into the urban environment, but already when I parked
the car, I met suspicious glances.

I wonder how they
knew that I was not one of them, that I came from the north …

Just got news
that wolf hunting is to start again … Hmm… Not quite as inspiring to work
then.

Otherwise, winter
is back in full force, it’s nice, if only the wolves wanted to collaborate
better everything would be really nice.

The criteria for
a passing rejuvenation of the wolf pack is tough, we need to track at least
three to four (depending on conditions) wolves together for a distance of 15 km. (or 3 km at three different
occasions) Ideally, we also find urine or faeces for DNA test.

Last week has been a struggle. I
know they’re five, but how hard I try, the result is the same. It’s almost like
a conspiracy; if that tracker arrives so we all go in different directions, and
guys remember, no peeing and no poo!

This week’s last
working day gave us beautiful weather with both wolf and lynx tracking, but
above all a big surprise.

Only a few hours
before the hunt for 24 wolves in our county would start, the Administrative
Court stop it all. At least for now. They should consider whether the new
restriction of the right to appeal, is compatible with EU law. It ought
politicians thought about a little earlier. I certainly understand the
frustration of hunters, there is a lot of work expended on planning and
logistic. We can only hope that decision makers succeed in producing an in
every way sustainable management of the wolf population for the future.

But I’m not
particularly sad, I like wolves, I do not mind if they get even more. (I know
that not everyone shares my opinion, I respect that, but I am going to enjoy
wolves’ presence as long as they are)

New Year’s night
was cold but when the day dawned, it was above zero. Then it got warm and
almost all the snow disappeared. Yesterday was bare ground at our farm. At
night the snow came back, so now it’s winter again, but the weather forecast
promises rain for tomorrow … Where has the old-fashioned winters gone?

First working day
of the new year. Nice, but hard to come up in the mountains despite four wheel
drive and high ground clearance. 20-30 cm of wet snow over icy roads … Yummy!

Found night old
traces of a wolf pack but it became less than a kilometer tracking.
Backtracking led to a sump area where I did not want to go over. (Comfortable
after the holidays 🙂 The tracks ahead indicated hunting for moose, so there I
did not want to disturb. At least I know where I’ll continue tomorrow.

Our corn sheaf this year was extra packed, so as oat sheaves looked in
the past. Some birds visiting it have not received this Christmas either,
sparrows do not come here until closer to spring, but it is an ornament and
related to Christmas.

This morning it took an end to both Christmas and the sheaf, and that’s
okay. Roe deer also need to have a good time during those harsh days.

The winter solstice is just passed and slowly, very slowly, the days grow slightly longer and the nights slightly shorter.

Now is the darkest time of the year and our
farm rests for a time in the shade although the occasional ray of sunshine finds
its way through the branches. This morning it was 26 degrees below zero, grimly
with the first real cold before you become accustomed.

Late at Christmas Eve, when we were out to the wooden storehouse with Santa’s
porridge (an important tradition that we never miss!),offered nature an unusually clear starry sky which was also painted with Northern Lights. Amazing, it was a really evocative Christmas night.

The last
working day was evocative. Not only for Christmas and New Year’s leave is
waiting with lazy days into the sofa, but perhaps mostly because I track four
wolves through a seductively beautiful pine forest where fresh snow attached to
the trunks of the strong wind.

The work
will be extra challenging and stimulating when tracking conditions are
difficult, when you get to use all the knowledge and experience that the years
given, to follow the pack in the grooves. Blueberry bushes wearing less snow where
the wolves went before the recent snowfall.

Despite 5
cm of fresh snow that fell during the night are the traces of wolves that went
here two days ago yet easy to follow. (At least here, in the easiest parts 😉

At the
river, it stops for this year. The
wolves have waded across, but I think that’s enough for me today. Now is the
time to take time off over Christmas and New Year.

On the
riverbank do I find a previously dialed prey, a young bull moose. The wolves
have investigated whether there is anything more to eat but everything seems
consumed. However, I am convinced that the pack got more food, a Christmas
Moose to revel on weekends to come.

During the
trip home, I suddenly see a wolf. It jumps down on the road ahead, look at me,
shouts something and then disappears into the forest again. I thought it
shouting something about Merry Christmas but I might just imagining, perhaps it
was instead something that, Dammit, there is that madman again … no, I choose
probably the Christmas message.

It’s
snowing profusely over our area today, wolf tracking’ll have to wait until
tomorrow. Appropriate to edit video matrealet from Spain instead. Availing a
little flexitime you can’t working evenly… 😉

//player.vimeo.com/video/114666299
//player.vimeo.com/video/114663117

//player.vimeo.com/video/114480053

Club Pilot Plus. The week was designed to derusting
and flights would be long and challenging but most of it blew and rained away.
Thanks to Russ and Ross became the week yet very enjoyable and entertaining. We
got at least a day’s flight with some down flights from El Bosque.
Other pilots
were also really inspiring to hang out with, and what revelers, last night out
I’ll never forget!