Forensic hiking in the snow on Vancouver island.

Hiked up the ridge today to check out the ice at  falls, Garry Oak slopes and the Golden Eagle. The Falls were a little disappointing but the icicles on the cliffs were kind of fun.

  From the falls I climbed straight up the bank through the Sword ferns to the railway tracks a hundred feet above.  Easy climbing today because the ground was still frozen so it didnt give away under foot as usual. On the way up through the Salal and Oregon Grape I noticed Elk scat littered the ground. Interesting, the Elk winter on this slope in some years. They forage on the Salal, Oregon Grape and the invasive Holy .

 I made it up to the open slopes and was hiking along the top of the opening when I disturbed a big bird. I realized it was the Golden Eagle as it swooped out from underneath a large Fir and landed a 100 feet from me in on a bow of a larger Fir tree. I stood still for a few moments to see what it was going to do. It didnt move.  a couple of Ravens called and flew out from deeper in the woods and landed near where the Eagle had been. Now I knew there was something there, a carcass of an Elk!..or a deer, or maybe just a rabbit.

 A yearling buck it was. Steller's Jays now scolded me from above. They too were enjoying the fresh meal that a presumed cougar had provided them.  A swept up pile of moss and deer fur next to the carcass was evident.
   I watched the Eagle in the tree for a few minutes, it then took flight and chased off a Bald Eagle that had come to close for its comfort. It then circled and drifted off to the north.

 
   I headed down now, off the open slope and down the very steep slope through the Salal and Oregon Grape into the Old Growth Firs and Hemlocks.

Elk droppings were quite prevalent around here as well. Once I dropped down to the fire access road below, it was easier going. No more following the deer trails through the 6 foot Salal. The road was covered in  an inch of snow and I could make out some tracks.  Looked to me like two adult Elk with a yearling following. At first they were walking slowly, distinct clear foot prints in the snow, then they started to appear to scuff the snow as they walked, possibly speeding up there gait.  I wondered if they just ahead of me or maybe something else spooked them. I started looking for more tracks, and there they were,  small cougar prints in the snow.

 Only about 3 inches across, I assume they were from quite a youngster, maybe looking to take down the yearling Elk. I followed the tracks for some time until they veered off into the thick salal stands under the old growth firs. I continued on my way back to the car, watching my back as I went.