F-Troop Est. 1968

Regrouping after we learn the bad news.

Polecat interrogates the intruders

The View from Liz II

The View from Liz

RIT’s crosses the cable

Drying everything out

Drying Out

Everybody loves FYB!

Trailhugger made it to Deer Camp!

Friday

Three members (all in good standing) assemble to hunt the beast that has been tearing up the hills. Probie earns his required FAMHC – “CHU’s” (Continuing Hunting Units) to maintain status in this elite club. Polecat arrives but declares he has “other duties” to attend to, and swears he’ll hunt next Friday.

The trio heads to the areas hunted last week, which is occupied by the mighty mule. More scrapes and rubs were seen, with a repeat of “ring around the swamp” hunts being done. At 3:30 it was decided that a last push through the Knolls would be done, so all set out from the drive on Marsh to the Knolls.

At 4:30 an single shot was heard a mile away – from the area just vacated by the crew.

Saturday

A strong crew now consisting of almost 17, (two show up a little later in the day) gets their marching orders and disperses to the mountain lair inhabited by the beast in question. The entire mountain is covered and crawled about end to end by the crew – even the red squirrels quivered and hid in fear by the presence of this camo covered compilation.

More and more scrapes and rubs are observed, the beast can’t possibly get away now unless it sprouts wings! All performs their assignments perfectly, and are somewhat befuddled by the absence of any mules. At the end of the mountain, the elusive “Icicle Al” was caught once again in the midst of the drive. Al has some bad news for the crew – it appears that another gang of four slipped in the night before and bagged a seven pointer – right in the spot that the FAMHC left at 3:30 on Friday. Yes, it certainly did sprout wings and was sent to its creator it appears. Robba was not pleased, and cuts cross country in a rage. His state of mind can only be depicted here:

All performs one more drive before heading back to camp, some mules were seen – but who really cares at this point.

Sunday

A drive through the Meadows is set. There shouldn’t be any interlopers there, and most likely no mules as well either. Polecat takes his rangers through the snow topped hills and drive towards the watches down below. Lindy see two mules on the way up. Polecat inspects the buckcart that has never been used in the way-back and finds it half eaten by a bear! The bear did however leave a calling card – half a bandoleer of 30.06 rounds, from Toucher’s encounter of last year…..

“Hey Digger! Let’s carry this back to camp!”

You can have your F’ing mattress back Lindy!

Friday

The first sanctioned FAMHC event was held, with Robba, Digger and Leaddog (all in good standing) in attendance. Polecat once again had a gas delivery and a surveyor to deal with, so he couldn’t join the real men on this first event. The three amigos disperse to the woods in an effort to find mules. Several “ring around the swamps” drives were performed with some sign seen. After a few drives, mules were actually encountered, but the type of mule was not verified. One mule decides to make it self’s presence known by blowing tunes just out of sight of all three FAMHC members (in good standing). Another is heard in the Knolls by Leaddog, but not seen. Toucher arrives just in time late in the day to be included in the hunt to maintain status, but decides that the beer is more alluring the deer. This may lead to more council to determine his status in the “club” at some point!

Saturday

A good crew is present, and the hunt is set. Drivers are dispersed to Camp Creek, with watchers at the other end as usual. Leaddog goes out left through Beaver Valley and up and over Liz and down to the 10 point watch. The main drive was performed with no results. All meet as planned, with running track going right through the 10 point watch, where no one was present. The crew is sent to Marsh to do drive two. On the way for drive two, a very nice rub is observed – that wasn’t present there the day before. Digger finds more rubs up top, and very impressive ones at that! The drive ends as planned, and all return to camp empty handed.

Sunday

As usual, since all sign was seen at a particular spot over the last two days – the crew is directed to hunt elsewhere. Why this happens, we’ll never know. The usual No-name to the Painted Marker drive is performed, with absolutely nothing seen, except for the next mountain which will be assaulted on part two. Leaddog and Steven stalks a stealth hiker on the way in on the trail, but was not seen. We do however, know the brand of boots said hiker had on! Rumor has it that Polecat may have seen some mules, no bucks however.

Next Friday – a good turnout for the FAMHC is set.

Mmmmm Hotdogs!

Leaddog Grillin’

Saturday

Once again a crew of 12 assembles at the happy hunting grounds to “pick up where we left off” from last year. The day turns out dry, with a threat of rain, according to “triple lying doppler radar” which is to begin promptly at 5:00. The woods were perfectly damp from the previous days rains, which led to perfect hunting conditions, which led the crew to perfectly hunt where there were no mules. The first hunt of the year resulted in a nice 8 to 10 mile walk in the backcountry for the crew, which is usually done in the following weeks. A baseline has been set, so every hunt hereafter will be similar or shorter – but probably not!

No mules were encountered, it appears that no one had informed the mules it was time to play. Rubs and scrapes were observed, so they did leave a calling card to bait the crew for next time. Steven finds remnants of a camp up in Beaver Valley, where and why it was located at this spot is still to be determined. The rain did indeed fall, a little later than predicted but still close to the set time. A feast of mule steaks was consumed in fine fashion, with beer of course to wash it all down.

Sunday

Waking up to the rain from the previous day, the now aching crew is slow to disperse to the wilds. A “shorter” hunt is planned due to the rain, and all head out to perform several shorter drives which led to some actually seeing mules! Robba sees the smallest deer ever without spots, which upon seeing Robba started to shake, cry and wail for it’s mommy like a liberal that just got lost off the trial.

Lake effect rains were encountered throughout the day, which kept the crew somewhat in proximity to camp. The last drive sends one lone mule right between Robba and Leaddog, which of course was never heard of or seen. A good crew will be on staff this coming Friday for the first FAMHC sanctioned adventure!

Where does one start?

A gang of 15 assembles to perform various work duties, drink beer and eat fine camp fare.

Three of the 15 almost didn’t make it back in time for Saturday’s dinner of Chicken and Ribs.

Five trailmen heads to the hills, Polecat, Toucher, and Chip (Team 1) heads of in one direction while Leaddog and Digger (Team 2) heads in the opposite direction in hopes to meet with Team 1, which would have been some distant five miles away. A nice walk up the hill by Team 2 results in several required hydration stops, where the filter pump is deployed, water bottles filled, GPS’s fired up checked and rechecked, compasses compared and knives donned as required.

Meanwhile in the depths of the primeval forest Team 1 decides to go “Indian”. Leaving all aforementioned gear that Team 2 deployed left at camp or home, Team 1 soon finds itself in a “predicament”. As Team 2 reaches the point of no return, (well hydrated and location known) a radio call was made to verify Team 1’s progress, or as we would soon find out – lack thereof.

It appears that in an effort to impress the crew of Team 1, Polecat’s navigation skills were put into play, or in fact they decided to play with Polecat. Overshooting the objective by one valley and a hill, they were at a place where they shouldn’t have been. Lucky enough to even find THAT point of interest, they soon decided to find the original route or target, which they did. BUT – in an effort to work their wayout they once again got themselves lost….

To sum it up – here’s some of the radio exchange:

Leaddog – “Polecat, where are you?”
Polecat – “Well…it’s a long story” (sound of hiss and scratchy transmission)
Leaddog – “Where shall we meet?”
Polecat – “I don’t know – because I don’t know where I am!” (which was followed by several expletives)
Leaddog – “Stay there – we’ll come hoot you out”
Polecat – “Do you have your pump? We’re -beeping- dehydrated, and -beeping- lost!”
Leaddog – “he he he – don’t panic, sit still and don’t be afraid – we’ll come save you!”
Polecat – “beepety beep beep you beep beep………”

So now Team 2 has to reverse direction, climb back UP the mountain and cut the old trial in an effort to rescue Team 1. After two miles of clearing, Team 2 is finally at the proper waypoint, obviously due to the proper use of technology which was of course brought along, and finds Team 1 hunkered down only 120 feet from said well know waypoint.

It must be mentioned that Team 2 heard a noise that sounded like a flock of woodpeckers pecking on a tree, but it was determined it was the sound of several knocking knees from Team 1.

Lessons learned

Bring your stuff!

Afterthoughts

We’ve all been there at one time or another, the conditions present at the time (leaves still on the trees) will prevent using views to navigate. But there is no excuse for not being prepared!

Upon the return and subsequent ribbing by the rest of the gang, Team 1 realizes that the bigwoods will eat you up in a heart beat. Several cords of wood was cut, split, and stacked by the remaining gang .

Two Rangers earn the newly created “Rescue Ranger Badge”

On 8/30/2014 Two rangers and one R.I.T executed a Brook Trout strike on a very specific section of a very specific stream somewhere in our Happy Hunting grounds. Despite their best efforts the three could not shake the F-Troop Trout Fishing curse. It seems no matter where we go we just can’t seem to find them. The mission was not a total loss we did come across some great fishing holes when conditions are right. Also we have pics of a nice little waterfall. So here is the trivia question of the day, where is pictured waterfall located? Polecat you are not eligible on account of you have insider information!
Good Luck!

-Over
Digger