Gerald Hickman's Blog, page 2
February 15, 2019
Fabulous Frozen February
I am aware that this has been a rough winter from the Great Southwest to Florida to Seattle and beyond. But I wish to explain about the title of this blog.
Our current residence is Cheney WA in eastern Washington State. The temperatures for the past 3 months have been tough to say the least
but since February first the snow and the cold have been a blow. In nearby Spokane residence have been threatening the snow plower operators for leaving a too deep snow berm across the ends of their driveways. Cheney seems to be able to keep our driveways clean with gates on the snow plowing equipment.
There is enough snow on the ground and on roofs to make us worry about what might happen if more wet snow arrives. My great bird dog SPOT is snowed in and does not wish to go
too far out in the back yard to do his duties.
And this is not even Seattle. They have been hit with snow and very cold conditions as well. My daughter lives in West Seattle in a 100 year old house. It is really cold in that house this winter.
In the past the mild conditions that are typical of the area year round seem to have made winter and cold temperatures not such a problem. But that house needs insulation.
What does this tell me about "Climate Change"?
Well, this winter does not feel like a warming Climate to me.
So, that is why it is Fabulous Frozen February to me !!!
Our current residence is Cheney WA in eastern Washington State. The temperatures for the past 3 months have been tough to say the least
but since February first the snow and the cold have been a blow. In nearby Spokane residence have been threatening the snow plower operators for leaving a too deep snow berm across the ends of their driveways. Cheney seems to be able to keep our driveways clean with gates on the snow plowing equipment.
There is enough snow on the ground and on roofs to make us worry about what might happen if more wet snow arrives. My great bird dog SPOT is snowed in and does not wish to go
too far out in the back yard to do his duties.
And this is not even Seattle. They have been hit with snow and very cold conditions as well. My daughter lives in West Seattle in a 100 year old house. It is really cold in that house this winter.
In the past the mild conditions that are typical of the area year round seem to have made winter and cold temperatures not such a problem. But that house needs insulation.
What does this tell me about "Climate Change"?
Well, this winter does not feel like a warming Climate to me.
So, that is why it is Fabulous Frozen February to me !!!
January 1, 2019
New Book out S00N
Dedication
Thanks are due to my lovely wife, Micky, for her support and encouragements with my writing efforts. She is the one that helps
by cleaning all the seeds out of socks after each day in the field.
Introduction
The Channeled Scablands are a geological feature of the pre-historic ice age flood arising with Lake Missoula and eroding the loess soil
depositions found in parts of current day Eastern Washington and the Northern parts of the State of Idaho.
The top soil erosion with deposition of soil and rocks, evidence of waves from the ancient lake, dry falls at several places in the Scablands
and channel depositions such as Normal Hill in Lewiston, Idaho are all geological evidence of the out pouring of tons and tons of water that
escaped Lake Missoula when the ice dam broke at the end of the last Ice Age.
This book is a rambling effort to point out stories and histories of the people and wildlife that find their homes in the Scablands of Eastern Washington.
And as always, Thanks to all my readers and friends who read this. Gerald Hickman
Thanks are due to my lovely wife, Micky, for her support and encouragements with my writing efforts. She is the one that helps
by cleaning all the seeds out of socks after each day in the field.
Introduction
The Channeled Scablands are a geological feature of the pre-historic ice age flood arising with Lake Missoula and eroding the loess soil
depositions found in parts of current day Eastern Washington and the Northern parts of the State of Idaho.
The top soil erosion with deposition of soil and rocks, evidence of waves from the ancient lake, dry falls at several places in the Scablands
and channel depositions such as Normal Hill in Lewiston, Idaho are all geological evidence of the out pouring of tons and tons of water that
escaped Lake Missoula when the ice dam broke at the end of the last Ice Age.
This book is a rambling effort to point out stories and histories of the people and wildlife that find their homes in the Scablands of Eastern Washington.
And as always, Thanks to all my readers and friends who read this. Gerald Hickman
December 12, 2018
Wild Turkeys
Jerry Hickman
Just now ·
Greetings !!! I had a nice meeting with the Regional Director of National Wild Turkey Federation this am. His name is Richard Mann, contact infor: cell - 509-571-3322 and:rmann@nwtf.net.
Rich is hoping to reach out and contact anyone interested in Habitat work, public education about wildlife (especially turkeys), Conservation efforts of the National W Turkey Fed in Oregon and Washington. Rich is a great guy who just like me used to work for wildlife in Washington State. He is working with women hunters and youth hunters in for safe experiences in the woods in our area. If you have questions please call Rich.
Just now ·
Greetings !!! I had a nice meeting with the Regional Director of National Wild Turkey Federation this am. His name is Richard Mann, contact infor: cell - 509-571-3322 and:rmann@nwtf.net.
Rich is hoping to reach out and contact anyone interested in Habitat work, public education about wildlife (especially turkeys), Conservation efforts of the National W Turkey Fed in Oregon and Washington. Rich is a great guy who just like me used to work for wildlife in Washington State. He is working with women hunters and youth hunters in for safe experiences in the woods in our area. If you have questions please call Rich.
December 3, 2018
Dec the third
BLOG FOR GERALD HICKMAN — DECEMBER 3RD, 2018
HI, I really appreciate all you good folks who are reading my blogs! Thank you so much. It is December third and I just had a fun day in the Channeled Scablands, I drove the Palouse Scenic Byway from Cheney to Rosalia to Colfax to Pullman and then to Moscow, Idaho.
I observed many raptors on my road trip today. In the south, I found kestrels or sparrow hawks, still not too much snow to hide their favorite prey species such as voles, meadow mice and migratory song birds. When the snow comes in drifts and depth enough to cover the winter wheat from the winter cold, then all the raptors (redtailed and rough-legged hawks, kestrels, falcons, the the Northern Shrikes and even snowy Owls) will travel farther south to find habitat
where the prey is still seen without the snow banks and drifts. It is a leap frog type of thing, as
the birds go to the food where the snow and weather are easier to hunt.
At the same time, we humans are tied to our regular habitat at the misery of the Winter
Gods who hit the Channeled Scablands with ice, snow and winds. Our only hope is to occasionally travel to the south just as the migratory song birds and their predators do to find
areas still open with food, cover and a chance to store up enough foods to create fats and energy to move as the climate and local environment dictate.
This is a trip I like to make several times each season to monitor the predators and their prey each year. Today, I had a Wendy’s hamburger and coffee for my lunch. What a good day and a pleasant trip. Hope to have as much fun tomorrow !! God loves us all !
HI, I really appreciate all you good folks who are reading my blogs! Thank you so much. It is December third and I just had a fun day in the Channeled Scablands, I drove the Palouse Scenic Byway from Cheney to Rosalia to Colfax to Pullman and then to Moscow, Idaho.
I observed many raptors on my road trip today. In the south, I found kestrels or sparrow hawks, still not too much snow to hide their favorite prey species such as voles, meadow mice and migratory song birds. When the snow comes in drifts and depth enough to cover the winter wheat from the winter cold, then all the raptors (redtailed and rough-legged hawks, kestrels, falcons, the the Northern Shrikes and even snowy Owls) will travel farther south to find habitat
where the prey is still seen without the snow banks and drifts. It is a leap frog type of thing, as
the birds go to the food where the snow and weather are easier to hunt.
At the same time, we humans are tied to our regular habitat at the misery of the Winter
Gods who hit the Channeled Scablands with ice, snow and winds. Our only hope is to occasionally travel to the south just as the migratory song birds and their predators do to find
areas still open with food, cover and a chance to store up enough foods to create fats and energy to move as the climate and local environment dictate.
This is a trip I like to make several times each season to monitor the predators and their prey each year. Today, I had a Wendy’s hamburger and coffee for my lunch. What a good day and a pleasant trip. Hope to have as much fun tomorrow !! God loves us all !
November 22, 2018
LOST
Here is a short story from the Scablands, a history of being lost in E. Washington in 1812 in the Palouse. This will be a chapter in my latest (New) book. My Years in the Scablands, due out in December 2018 or January 2019.
Ross Cox lost in the Palouse country
Shortly after the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery explored the south end of the Scablands in 1805/1806, Astor's Pacific Fur
Company sends an expedition to trade and collect furs in the Spokane Country in early 1812. The group travels up the Columbia from Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia River and explores north of that area along the Snake River toward what will become the Inland Empire.
The Astor expedition will build a trading post along the Spokane River and name it Spokane House. Earlier in the journey along
the route to what will become the trading post, Ross Cox a young scotsman is seperated from the group. Horses were purchased from the Nez Perce tribe and Ross had to share a horse with one of the members of the group. And he was leftwith no knife or gun and had to attempt to catch up with the traders and trappers. This all happened in August of 1812, and as Ross Cox wandered the Channeled Scablands he attempted to catch up to the party which had headed north to the Spokane Country.
There was lots of game to be had in the Scablands in those days, but Ross could not shoot or catch any. He lived on wild vegetation to stay alive such as dried choke cherries and
rose hips. Ross encountered coyotes (which he called wolves),rattlesnakes and a large bear, probably a grizzly that treed him overnight.
On the eve of August 20 he spent the night at a pretty lake which was probably known as Down's lake today. He found a trail left by horses and thus located an old campfire. Here he ate a moderate meal from left over bones at this campsite.
Later on the eve of August 30, Ross finds a good stream and sleeps here. This was probably on modern day Hangman Creek.
Next day he crosses the creek and meets up with two Native warriors who have heard of the lost white man. They take him to their camp on a big river, which was the Spokane River.
They tend to his wounds and feed him. The next day they take him to the trader/trapper's camp and his ordeal is over.
The party thought his survival of thirteen days in the wilderness was some kind of miracle.
The basic story of Ross Cox was found in Ivan Munk's book
Spokane County, The Way It Was, A Spokane Heritage Publication, and is from Cox, Ross. Adventures on the Columbia River, Including the Narrative of a Residence of Six
Years on the Western Side of the Rocky Mountains, New York,
J. & J. Harper 1832.
GERALD HICKMAN
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Ross Cox lost in the Palouse country
Shortly after the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery explored the south end of the Scablands in 1805/1806, Astor's Pacific Fur
Company sends an expedition to trade and collect furs in the Spokane Country in early 1812. The group travels up the Columbia from Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia River and explores north of that area along the Snake River toward what will become the Inland Empire.
The Astor expedition will build a trading post along the Spokane River and name it Spokane House. Earlier in the journey along
the route to what will become the trading post, Ross Cox a young scotsman is seperated from the group. Horses were purchased from the Nez Perce tribe and Ross had to share a horse with one of the members of the group. And he was leftwith no knife or gun and had to attempt to catch up with the traders and trappers. This all happened in August of 1812, and as Ross Cox wandered the Channeled Scablands he attempted to catch up to the party which had headed north to the Spokane Country.
There was lots of game to be had in the Scablands in those days, but Ross could not shoot or catch any. He lived on wild vegetation to stay alive such as dried choke cherries and
rose hips. Ross encountered coyotes (which he called wolves),rattlesnakes and a large bear, probably a grizzly that treed him overnight.
On the eve of August 20 he spent the night at a pretty lake which was probably known as Down's lake today. He found a trail left by horses and thus located an old campfire. Here he ate a moderate meal from left over bones at this campsite.
Later on the eve of August 30, Ross finds a good stream and sleeps here. This was probably on modern day Hangman Creek.
Next day he crosses the creek and meets up with two Native warriors who have heard of the lost white man. They take him to their camp on a big river, which was the Spokane River.
They tend to his wounds and feed him. The next day they take him to the trader/trapper's camp and his ordeal is over.
The party thought his survival of thirteen days in the wilderness was some kind of miracle.
The basic story of Ross Cox was found in Ivan Munk's book
Spokane County, The Way It Was, A Spokane Heritage Publication, and is from Cox, Ross. Adventures on the Columbia River, Including the Narrative of a Residence of Six
Years on the Western Side of the Rocky Mountains, New York,
J. & J. Harper 1832.
GERALD HICKMAN
Write a comment...
March 14, 2018
Review
Kindle Book: Beyond the Milky Way
This manuscript holds your interest and after the first chapters move quickly to a surprising ending. I received this book in a Goodreads give away as an e-book. I definitely agree with this author on many environmental crisis facing our planet and though the story is a work of fiction, I found many of the issues presented are very accurate and pending to the future of the Earth.
This author is an indie writer and publisher and I hail his accomplishments in this book. There are many typos, errors of sentence structure and even one proof-reading note to the author left in parenthesis in the text.
However, the story is thought provoking and interesting (as I said after the first few chapters) and the story move along well. I would like more character development, it seems that the characters are like the Shadows and only known for their immediate purpose. It gave me a feeling that any character could be dropped at anytime without affecting the stories' out come.
The book is written at a reading level that will appeal to younger readers (4th grade to adult) in my opinion. I congratulate the author for this effort. It is Number one in the Galaxy Series.
This manuscript holds your interest and after the first chapters move quickly to a surprising ending. I received this book in a Goodreads give away as an e-book. I definitely agree with this author on many environmental crisis facing our planet and though the story is a work of fiction, I found many of the issues presented are very accurate and pending to the future of the Earth.
This author is an indie writer and publisher and I hail his accomplishments in this book. There are many typos, errors of sentence structure and even one proof-reading note to the author left in parenthesis in the text.
However, the story is thought provoking and interesting (as I said after the first few chapters) and the story move along well. I would like more character development, it seems that the characters are like the Shadows and only known for their immediate purpose. It gave me a feeling that any character could be dropped at anytime without affecting the stories' out come.
The book is written at a reading level that will appeal to younger readers (4th grade to adult) in my opinion. I congratulate the author for this effort. It is Number one in the Galaxy Series.
January 7, 2018
Dragon Teeth by M. Chriton
This is a great book. A 5 Star for sure. I am a fan of dinosaur science (paleotology) and this book was a novel that informed, educated me and was very enjoyable reading.
This is a work of fiction that deals with Professors Cope and Marsh and their competition to find the most specimens of dinosaurs in the Western Territories of the USA in the 1870's and later.
The book has lots of Western Action with brief battles with Native Americans, outlaws, scoundrels and other interesting characters.
I would recommend this book as an entertainment with some greatly researched data on dinosaur hunting and collection in years gone by. The book is oriented to the scientific mind of the author and has a great bibliography at the end of the text.
This is a work of fiction that deals with Professors Cope and Marsh and their competition to find the most specimens of dinosaurs in the Western Territories of the USA in the 1870's and later.
The book has lots of Western Action with brief battles with Native Americans, outlaws, scoundrels and other interesting characters.
I would recommend this book as an entertainment with some greatly researched data on dinosaur hunting and collection in years gone by. The book is oriented to the scientific mind of the author and has a great bibliography at the end of the text.
December 28, 2017
2 reviews
Time to update my followers on the current state of affairs now that Christmas is past. The next book is coming along well. This is the one that covers the battles in the Inland Pacific Northwest from about 1850 until 1862. I am searching for historic photos to complement the text and I just found a great book about Bill Craig a trapper and trader who became the agent for the Nez Perce and most of the tribes that fought in the Yakima War of 1855. The book was recommended to me by Historian John Bielenberg and the title is: The Intermediary, William Craig among the Nez Perce by Lin Tull Cannell.
Two of my new readers send this review of my books on 11/02/17, “ Dear Gerald, Your books are great! Your position as a park ranger with the National Park Service has served you well.
Medal of Honor brought home several views we never thought of about Custer’s Last Stand.
Good Times in Old Genesee was fun to read and brought back memories for Bill. He was raised on a farm near Altoona, PA from 1937 to the 1950’s. The picture on page 70 reminded him of his dog on the farm and we have a picture of the dog with Bill’s arm him.
Page 75 reminds us of his best friend, Wayne standing in front of the tree. Great photos and lots of them - the outhouse on the Ranch, hay wagons, washtubs and sleds.
Thanks for thinking of us and good luck with future writings.” Bill & Jane Dibert
Nice to hear from Bill and Jane.
Two of my new readers send this review of my books on 11/02/17, “ Dear Gerald, Your books are great! Your position as a park ranger with the National Park Service has served you well.
Medal of Honor brought home several views we never thought of about Custer’s Last Stand.
Good Times in Old Genesee was fun to read and brought back memories for Bill. He was raised on a farm near Altoona, PA from 1937 to the 1950’s. The picture on page 70 reminded him of his dog on the farm and we have a picture of the dog with Bill’s arm him.
Page 75 reminds us of his best friend, Wayne standing in front of the tree. Great photos and lots of them - the outhouse on the Ranch, hay wagons, washtubs and sleds.
Thanks for thinking of us and good luck with future writings.” Bill & Jane Dibert
Nice to hear from Bill and Jane.
March 7, 2017
Ready for Spring?
Winter is the time to get some trout gear ready for spring or late winter fishing. I have had fun of late trying to tie some new patterns and here are some thoughts for anyone new to fly fishing and tying. I have been making my own trout flies since I was in Junior high, in Clarkston, WA. This is good fishing country, you might say the Snake River Ran Through It. Many of my group got our start fishing the River for steelhead and bass and Asotin Creek for trout.
I think anyone would enjoy learning to tie up some flies as a craft if not to use them for fishing.
But it is not my aim to start teaching you how to tie flies. On the internet you can type in any trout fly by name and it will give you several webpages that will show better than I can describe how to tie any flies or make your own fishing gear. I wish I had had the net to help me learn because most of my skills were taken and learned from books, and outdoor magazines.
If you are a fly fisher, you can start this winter by taking out your fly boxes and removing any rusty hooks, flies that are overly well used and replace the ones that worked well last year for new home tied flies or order replacements from usual sources. It is always in the best interest of the angler to visit your local fly shop and buy some needed items and keep up on the local fishing scene.
I just went through my gear about a hundred times this last winter and among flies to be replaced, there is a double taper fly line that has seen better days. In this case I will spool the new line on the same reel and use the backing on the reel for another season or two.
Now, in early February I have only to wait for the ice to go out on the local winter lakes and get my fly fishing gear in action. And in my local area of Eastern Washington, the low land lakes that open on March first each year will be ready to fish. I have never figured out how to fly cast for ice fishing and though I have gone ice fishing in Oklahoma and Washington I have never been a big fan of thin ice.
It is the 6th of March and the ice is still not “out” or melted yet. I bet those trout are getting hungry under the ice.
But let’s return to the fishing part, if you don’t tie trout flies and don’t wish to start, then I have some suggestions for you. You can purchase new flies at your local fly shop and mine is Silver Bow Fly Shop in Spokane, Washington. I have had good service buying gear from Red’s Fly Shop near Ellensberg, Washington on the Yakima River and Worley Bugger Fly Shop in Ellensberg right at the end of the I-90 off ramp for town. The Spokane and Yakima Rivers are both blue ribbon trout waters as designated by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Early in the spring you want to buy wet flies like: Soft Hackles, Stone fly nymphs, smaller wet flies for imitating mayfly nymphs, leech and Wooly Worm patterns. All these types of wet flies are available from orvis.com, or Big Y fly company at info@fbigflyco.com or flyshack.com, because all have given me good service and help when asked. The last two online fly shops are large volume dealers and will give you especially good prices for their flies and other products. In May and June you may find insects hatching and you can invest in some dry flies when the trout are looking up (watching for hatching critters on the surface). Please look for my next book which will be about how to fish the wet fly for trout.
I think anyone would enjoy learning to tie up some flies as a craft if not to use them for fishing.
But it is not my aim to start teaching you how to tie flies. On the internet you can type in any trout fly by name and it will give you several webpages that will show better than I can describe how to tie any flies or make your own fishing gear. I wish I had had the net to help me learn because most of my skills were taken and learned from books, and outdoor magazines.
If you are a fly fisher, you can start this winter by taking out your fly boxes and removing any rusty hooks, flies that are overly well used and replace the ones that worked well last year for new home tied flies or order replacements from usual sources. It is always in the best interest of the angler to visit your local fly shop and buy some needed items and keep up on the local fishing scene.
I just went through my gear about a hundred times this last winter and among flies to be replaced, there is a double taper fly line that has seen better days. In this case I will spool the new line on the same reel and use the backing on the reel for another season or two.
Now, in early February I have only to wait for the ice to go out on the local winter lakes and get my fly fishing gear in action. And in my local area of Eastern Washington, the low land lakes that open on March first each year will be ready to fish. I have never figured out how to fly cast for ice fishing and though I have gone ice fishing in Oklahoma and Washington I have never been a big fan of thin ice.
It is the 6th of March and the ice is still not “out” or melted yet. I bet those trout are getting hungry under the ice.
But let’s return to the fishing part, if you don’t tie trout flies and don’t wish to start, then I have some suggestions for you. You can purchase new flies at your local fly shop and mine is Silver Bow Fly Shop in Spokane, Washington. I have had good service buying gear from Red’s Fly Shop near Ellensberg, Washington on the Yakima River and Worley Bugger Fly Shop in Ellensberg right at the end of the I-90 off ramp for town. The Spokane and Yakima Rivers are both blue ribbon trout waters as designated by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Early in the spring you want to buy wet flies like: Soft Hackles, Stone fly nymphs, smaller wet flies for imitating mayfly nymphs, leech and Wooly Worm patterns. All these types of wet flies are available from orvis.com, or Big Y fly company at info@fbigflyco.com or flyshack.com, because all have given me good service and help when asked. The last two online fly shops are large volume dealers and will give you especially good prices for their flies and other products. In May and June you may find insects hatching and you can invest in some dry flies when the trout are looking up (watching for hatching critters on the surface). Please look for my next book which will be about how to fish the wet fly for trout.
February 27, 2017
Glaciation
Snow came in early November and hasn't left yet. Shoveling and driving on icy roads is all part of this winter of 16'-17'.
A positive element for this winter is the hungry, hungry birds. Blocks of bird suet are being consumed daily in my yard.
Grain and smaller bird seed are disappearing as well. Woodpeckers and starlings are noisily consuming what they can find and entertaining us with their antics and as they perch all puffed up in the the down coats and vests so necessary to survive a northern snowy winter.
The pace of the winter seems very slow almost glacial in its course. Winter potholes are bad in the city. The weather forecasters say the same predictions daily.
Well, if we can't have spring at least give us sunshine on the snow!
A positive element for this winter is the hungry, hungry birds. Blocks of bird suet are being consumed daily in my yard.
Grain and smaller bird seed are disappearing as well. Woodpeckers and starlings are noisily consuming what they can find and entertaining us with their antics and as they perch all puffed up in the the down coats and vests so necessary to survive a northern snowy winter.
The pace of the winter seems very slow almost glacial in its course. Winter potholes are bad in the city. The weather forecasters say the same predictions daily.
Well, if we can't have spring at least give us sunshine on the snow!
