Wildersmith September 7

‘Tis the season for kick-offs: another school year, football, etc. For yours truly, it’s a kick-off time too. It was 10 years ago with this scribing that I started this trek of bringing folks the Trail scoop each week. As I begin year 11, I want to thank everyone for the kind words of encouragement as well as sharing some of their north woods happenings on occasion. 
 
More north woods romance blossomed for us wilderness folk last week as the unusual second full moon of August burst over the horizon to greet chapter nine of 2012. What a showing this lunar experience turned out to be for those in lake country!           
 
Raves have been heard from up and down the Trail in regard to this once in a blue moon showing. Skies were crystal clear, setting the stage for a grand arrival, which happened just before 1950 hours on day 31.
 
Fortunately the Smiths and a swell friend were out on the Gunflint ripples cruising when the celestial body first peeked above our eastern shore line. We watched intently as the faint heavenly creation grew quickly to a stunning full size. Yes, the rising movement was discernable!
 
Then if that moon magic wasn’t enough, a turn of the craft 180 degrees found Sol doing his daily disappearance act. With the usual pre-sundown haze of late, our daytime luminary was piercing the northwestern sky like a molten spear complete with a blinding hot iron bar reflecting off the lake. The setting scenario extended beyond our scope of imagination and was lending a bridging hand toward the lunar visitor from the east.
 
The ambiance of being in the midst of this astronomical rhapsody was exhilarating, totally beyond adequate description! Hope all you readers and listeners got to share a moment of this enchantment.
 
A secondhand report came to me about two area fishermen that happened upon a gathering of loons while angling on North Lake. Not too unusual except that they counted 13 in the grouping. While counting, I am told that the bakers’ dozen broke out in a yodeling interlude. This choral call of the wild had to be something special, probably not often presented where humans could hear. There’s nothing like being in the right place at the right time!
 
Being in the right place at the right time recently meant another unusual natural experience for a couple living up on Gull Lake. The scene was set in the lake not far from their shore when two huge snapping turtles surfaced in a frenzy of thrashing water. The observation of the aquatic activity went on for some time before it became evident that the hard-shelled critters were not fighting, but more likely in some sort of amorous ritual.
 
They were tumbling over and over while hugging in a belly-to-belly position only interrupted for brief moments of heads above water to gasp a snort of air. Trying to find out whether this was just a late summer fling, or if it was a normal time for beginning the reproductive cycle, I turned to north woods naturalist, Chel Anderson.
 
I would have guessed that this natural occurrence might happen after coming out of hibernation in the spring, but Chel’s research found that snapping turtles can mate anytime from May thru the summer. So this surely could have been the beginning of this terrapin couple’s extending the reproductive cycle, more than just a summer romance.  
 
As golden birch leaves begin trickling ground-ward, autumn is picking up a little more momentum. Area roadsides are gathering the fallen tokens and with the breeze of passing vehicles, I see them blown into rows like soldiers lined up for inspection.       
The crimson of sugar maples sprinkled through the coniferous forest is in an accelerating mode and should be in full regalia in not too many more days. With the help of some morning frost, continuing warm afternoons and maybe some rain, foliage will be spectacular.
 
More signs of advancing times are being noted in a decline of hummingbird activity at area sweet stops, along with the bombing of rooftops as squirrels harvest cone provisions from the white pine treetops.
 
Thinking about critter survival, during the winter months a gal down the road shares of watching a major excavation by a chipmunk. I’m told that this one was trying to bury an entire ear of corn. Guess it was quite a digging exercise for the greedy striped rodent.
 
Lastly, the territory has taken on a sudden stillness with the passing of summer’s final fling. The Labor Day weekend was bustling as I have not seen in recent years but all has become quiet on the northern front. Now begins the time of waiting, waiting for arrival of the “northern express!”
 
Keep on hangin’ on, and savor the sensations of autumn!

Airdate: September 7, 2012