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A Mother and her Children on the Bear River |
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By Jack Hicks - Logan, Utah - USA |
The Bear river runs down the middle of the Cache valley in northern Utah. It is an agricultural valley-wheat, hay and milkcows, and home to Utah State U at Logan, a few miles to the east.
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about 2 mi. from the dam
(click images for larger views) |
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About an
18 mi. stretch of river, between the wetlands at the south and Cutler damn (hydroelectric) to the north, is easily accessed by 4 launch ramps maintained by Pacific Corps, Utahs' primary utility co.
| Wil sings when rowing |
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Heather and Tom Gale are only a small hay field away from the river and about 2 mi. from the nearest ramp.
The dam is in a narrow gorge (great echos) a mi, or so long, that always has a stiff breeze The middle section is farmland, and the south begins the waterfowl management area.
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this is why we do it |
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Underwater (muddy underwater), Carp dominate. BIG carp.
Areas of the river are very shallow, and when you glide up on one lazing in the mud, the explosion can be sphincter tightening.
| Spawning season for carp-you could pick them out of the water |
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On and above the water is a truly amazing diversity of bird life. Grebes, ducks, geese, sand hill cranes, herons, egrets and great white pelicans share the area with many types of land birds that live in the reeds that dominate the shoreline.
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typical day--I guess Ruby's blowing her nose in a huge purple hankie |
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Muskrats are still trapped for their skins . Eagles, ospreys and a variety of hawks are always looking for lunch.
| Ospreys on a nesting platform, lousy housekeepers - there is a chick in
there. |
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It is a river made for rowing, with little current, and is rarely windy; tho it does occasionally blow a serious wind.
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Wil on stroke--mom's stbd oar a bit sloppy |
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Heather, Wil(6), Ruby(5) and I row here up to a couple of times a week, when we're not off to the big lakes.
Unfortunately, it freezes in the winter.
| Old rail bridge converted to walking trail |
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give you a nickel if you can identify it. (an Edsel-is that cosmic?) |
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| To be continued--"gumpa" weirdharold |
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More Articles by Jack Hicks:
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