Cutting Wood Is Good For The Body And The Psyche
I enjoy cutting and splitting wood. It provides a worthwhile way to work off frustrations and satisfaction in knowing that my oil bill will be reduced. Getting my wood supply in for the winter also provides exercise that I need.
I am reminded of what Aldo Leopold had to say in A Sand County Almanac.
Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team Founder Recounts How It All Started
The PVSART is a volunteer organization formed in 2005 to assist with searches for lost or missing persons and with carry outs. It provides support to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, which by statute has controlling authority for all woodlands search and rescue services in the state of New Hampshire. The PVSART responds only to requests from NH Fish & Game or other public safety agencies. The primary response area for the team is Grafton County and the western side of the White Mountains. They also respond north to Canada south to lakes region.
A Unique Bridge Erected In Tucker Mountain Town Forest
John and Adam went to China last year to study how the bridges were built and to meet with many of the bridge builders and those who build and maintain them. That trip gave them the desire to build a similar style bridge for Tucker Mountain.
They put on a program at West Newbury Hall last winter about their trip and the many beautiful bridges they saw, many of which are very large. I and all those in attendance were amazed at the beauty of the bridges they showed photos of and how intricate they were.
Putting Collars On Snowshoe Hare
I have been involved in tagging black bears and putting radio collars on moose but never have I done either on little snowshoe hare. That changed when I was able to join two researchers working on the Nulhegan Basin Division of the Conte National Refuge.
I met up with Brittany McGill from UNH who had been working on the project all summer and Jeremy Fuller a University of Wyoming research assistant who had just arrived in Vermont the day before. We agreed to rendezvou on the Four Mile Road several miles into the refuge in Lewis.
Archery Deer Season Expanded In Parts Of Vermont Including Newport, St. Johnsbury And Waterford
Vermont’s new deer hunting regulation includes 16 additional days of archery hunting beginning September 15 to help manage deer in eight designated areas.
High deer numbers in these areas are damaging property and native vegetation. Most are developed areas where deer cannot be effectively managed with firearms.
Work Continues To Improve Fish Passage On Conte Refuge
Road maintenance has been ongoing on the 40 miles of roads in the refuge and this season they have been graded and countless small culverts have been replaced as well as the two large ones I visited.
You may remember that last year I wrote about a bridge replacement on the refuge and the work continues to provide safe access to the Conte for the many who visit each year.
Wild Ammonoosuc River Dam Removed
Since 2014 the CRC has overseen the removal of 26 dams, upgraded six large culverts and restored 431 miles of river habitat to improve fish passage and flood resilience. I have visited and written about several of those sites.
The Wild Ammonoosuc dam was originally built to supply water to Woodsville. It has not been used in years since Woodsville upgraded its water system.
Becky has worked on many dam removals for CRC, but this one is different. She said, “This is the first I have taken from grant writing to design to construction and implementation.”
Vermont Fish And Wildlife Working To Bring Bear Population Into Sync With Habitat
It was once unusual to see a bear but now they seem to be everywhere. People regularly compare stories of bears on their property or encountered in places bears should not be.
Vermont’s black bear population is estimated at 7,500 to 8,900 bears based on 2025 data, the most recent available, according to the Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife. This marks the fifth consecutive year that the bear population estimate is above the state’s objective of 3,500 to 5,500 bears.
Explore The Conte National Wildlife Refuge’s Nulhegan Basin And Pondicherry Divisions
I interviewed Wildlife Refuge Manager Steve Agius for my program on WYKR and for this column. I have known Steve since he first took over as manager and have appreciated his dedication to the refuge and to providing public access. The Wheelock resident is a research biologist by training who has worked in many parts of the U.S. and even in Antartica during his career.
Kula Yoga Fest
I learned a lot about yoga from watching various sessions and talking with instructors and participants who came from all over the U.S.
I was especially interested in the Stand Up Paddleboard Yoga class which was offered several times during the weekend. The session I watched was taught by Jana Olen of Sup Yo Adventures.
Vermont Huts & Trails And Velomont
Mountain bike enthusiasts have been working for years on the trail that when finished, will knit together existing trail networks, connect 27 communities, and include 30 new huts and five downtown hostels for overnight stays.
New trail construction is now ramping up after years spent on permits, plans and public input.
Riding The Rails In Lincoln
Last week I had a most enjoyable ten mile round-trip on an old logging railroad dating back to 1848. We boarded at the Hobo Railroad in Lincoln and headed south along the same route Linda and I have enjoyed aboard the dinner train.
A Visit To The SIG SAUER Academy
The SIG SAUER Experience Center is a 40,000 square foot facility located on the campus of the SIG SAUER Academy. It features the SIG SAUER flagship retail showroom, state-of-the-art indoor shooting ranges and an interactive museum depicting the history of SIG SAUER. I found the museum of great interest and spent a lot of time there.
The Civilian Conservation Corps Did Much For The Region
I have long had an interest in the CCC, especially the many projects it undertook in Vermont and New Hampshire. A few years ago I went to Plymouth to the Museum of the White Mountains to hear Dave Govatski speak about the camps in NH. Impressed, I vowed to interview him in the future. Much intervened but last month it finally happened when he appeared on my show on WYKR.
Pig Riding
For a little perspective, remember the 50s was a time when cowboys reigned and the movies made them our heroes. Think Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and the Lone Ranger.
We worked out a plan whereby one of us got up in a tree while the other herded the pigs underneath so the one in the tree could jump on board.
Bretton Woods Canopy Tour Provides A Memorable Experience
In my travels around the U.S. and its territories to work, I always try to find time to experience a zip line or take a white water rafting trip, two activities I greatly enjoy. Thus I have experienced a wide variety of zip lines and rafted many white water rivers.
Riding The Rails
It was a new experience for Linda and me but one I would do again. We were in the village off Silver Lake, New Hampshire riding on a two seat pedal-powered track vehicle called a railbike.
Vermont Coverts Woodlands For Wildlife
In 1983, the Ruffed Grouse Society received a grant to look at ways of reaching the millions of private forest landowners throughout the United States with wildlife management information.
New Hampshire Fish And Game’s Mark Beauchesne Highlights Department Activities
Just listening to him talk, you quickly realize he is an enthusiastic hunter and angler who spends much of his free time pursuing those activities. Bird hunting being one of his favorite sports.
Beauchesne started at Fish and Game as a volunteer 28 years ago and soon became a full time employee holding many different jobs over the years. He is currently Programs Manager in the Public Information and Education Division.
Remembering Route 66
I was not enamored of Los Angeles and after a short time, returned home to Vermont with Bob Poutre also via Route 66. Bob had moved to California with his wife Betty a year or two before and was moving back to Vermont.