The Eagle Trail Out Of The Coyote Snow Park 2019

Dale Matson

Click Photographs To Enlarge

Garmin Map of our (Northern) Route

Snow is very important to Eskimos and that is why they have about 50 words to describe snow. Since I only speak English, I would say that we broke trail through more than a foot of snow that was two days old. One might expect powder but there had been a warm day after the snowfall before we got there so there was a 3” crust that made for less than ideal travel.

Here is a 2015 article I posted of the trip to the overlook of Shaver Lake and the Portal Fore-bay above it. https://midsierramusing.blogspot.com/2015/11/coyote-ski-2015.html

Sharon and I had hoped for fresh powder and took our skis. Mike rented snow shoes and because of the crust, had a better go of it. He is younger and broke trail for us much of the way. We went about 3 miles round trip.

I had a lightweight nylon tarp and we laid it down for a snack break after Mike packed a spot with his snowshoes. The sun broke through the trees and it was quite comfortable.

I used my Garmin Fenix 5X Plus watch for the first time on this route and discovered my oxygen blood level to be about 96% at about 7,000’. The Garmin map is a $100.00 24K (West) downloaded to my watch from Garmin “Basecamp”. The resident maps in my watch don’t provide enough detail. The trail to the north is the Eagle Trail out of Coyote. The trail to the South is out of the Tamarack Snow Park where snow machines are allowed. I created a Jpeg of the map with a screen-grab. My version of Basecamp does not allow you to print out the map download from the watch.

Mike, with good balance did not use trekking poles. I was disappointed in a pair I bought from MSR because the two lower shafts turned. This meant that the semi-circle baskets turned and I didn’t always have good purchase on the climbs. I am awaiting a follow-up response from MSR.

We were glad we didn’t bring the dogs who would not have been able to climb though the deep new snow. Maybe we will get to the overlook on our next attempt. This has been a normal Sierra Nevada snow season thus far. My fingers are crossed for the rest of the season.

The drive time from Fresno was longer than the snowshoe/ski time but it was about 2.5 hours of enjoyable exercise and companionship. I’m thankful that I can still do this.

 Shaver Lake With Beautiful Sky

 Sharon Got A Jump Start

 Mike Waving To The Camera

Bald Eagle Hunting For Breakfast

Dale Matson

The focus of my eagle photography has changed over the years. I initially tried for a close perch photo with no branches obscuring the bird. The next goal was to get a good bird in flight (BIF) photo. After that, I wanted to get a good eagle fight photo (usually over a salmon). This year, during our Chilkot River trip to Alaska, I was able to get the best of all those previous efforts.

Now, my quest is to get a good capture photo. So far this year, I have an interesting but small and partially hidden example of my quest. I have been stationing myself at areas I know where groups of Coots hang out. They are a slow bird and eagles have a good chance of catching one for breakfast. https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/american-coot

They cluster together in groups in coves and swim along the shoreline, occasionally walking around on dry land. Their travel seems to me to be random with one coot leading the group. I still have not determined if eagles like to go after them on land or in the water. It is a different type of hunt. I am focusing on their food source not on searching out eagles. Thus, in the early morning, I park where the coots are, not where I can see an eagle.

Yesterday I was able to film a juvenile eagle circling a group of coots hidden from me by a finger of land between us. So, the video is not close to the eagle and the coots are hidden. It is a start however. I guarantee, that the eagles often unseen by me even with 10 power binoculars are around and have lots of coots in view from high perches along the lakeshore. Patience. Patience. Patience.

    

I posted a new video yesterday of a mature bald eagle capturing a coot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWDhgfuUZk0&t=233s

Reflecting On The Sports Watch and Wilderness Navigation

Dale Matson

Back in the day, I wore an Altitude/Barometer/Compass (ABC) watch by Suunto. This was a dependable backwoods companion. I eventually gave it to my younger son. The plastic case was partially melted by 100% Deet overspray. At that time the basic GPS device was available but there were no internal maps so a paper map was essential.

Later, I backpacked with an individual who used only an ABC watch and a Topo map exclusively even when off trail. He was confident and skilled (I am not). At that time, I had added the Garmin 60csx (which is still a great GPS but no longer supported by Garmin). It utilized a detailed 24K memory chip for my area (CA). Where I had an advantage over my friend was the ability to determine how far we were to the next water source or point of interest indicated on a paper map. It also provided, based on average speed, time estimates to destinations.

As I traveled more by myself off trail hiking and backpacking, I felt the need to add a Satellite Phone for possible emergencies. Global Star worked until their satellites began to fail. I then went to Iridium. I began to think more about backup in terms of navigation if my GPS malfunctioned or the batteries died. Suunto came out with the GPS watch which provided exact GPS locations, heart rate and track back/find back features. In a sense, I had a 2^nd GPS device without the maps. The subsequent Ambits (2 and 3) added performance features for fitness training. I keep a daily eye on my “steps” count.

One nagging problem was a need for a chest strap for heart rate data to ensure I kept my HR at a reasonable limit. Previously, I used one for training for marathons, Triathlons and ultra-marathons but not on hikes and backpacking. This became important after a diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). This is where Garmin set the standard with wrist-based heart rate data which no longer required a chest strap. I recently bought a used Garmin Fenix 3 HR and hope it will be accurate enough. If so, it will be much more convenient and include the same navigational options as the Ambit 3.

Another change is going to the Spot Gen 3 and selling my Satellite Phone. The annual minimum fee is now $700,00. I found my use did not justify this kind of money. As I think about it now, after my year is up with Spot (Globalstar), I will buy a Garmin inReach Explorer+ which combines a map GPS with two-way text communication (Iridium) for much less airtime cost than my Satellite phone and a smaller package.

The current Garmin Fenix 5 series watches all have map capabilities and would make a nicer package but I want to see if wrist HR technology will work for me. If so, I would probably get the Fenix 5X not a newer 5 plus watch.

What would I like to see in a future wilderness watch? I would like to see a “peak finder”, which is already available as a smart phone app. oxygen saturation level (already available in the 5 plus). I would also like to see a solar recharge feature instead of squeezing more battery life by sacrificing accuracy. I would love to have voice communication too, via satellite.

I am not that concerned about the social network, tunes, photos and connectivity with a smart phone. I am willing to accept the weight of my cameras and lenses. I want a stand-alone device that does not need connectivity with a smart phone for full functionality.

As I look back many years to my 50’s this is all quite a contrast to the basic trail running equipment of shorts, tee shirt, running shoes, hammer gel flask, water bottle and water purification pills.