Carlin Lake Association

Close Encounters of the Black Kind (from Duanne)

This past summer I gave in to the sincere pleadings of my bride to not climb trees every fall in an attempt (mostly futile) to waylay a wily whitetail buck, by purchasing a ground blind.  Basically, a 25 square foot, camouflage tent. I placed this blind on the township land near the east side of Carlin Lake. No longer did I have to worry about falling while climbing into a treestand and I settled in for the first time on October 21st feeling a new sense of security. Ann was right, I was getting too old to climb trees.

 

About an hour after a beautiful sunrise I heard the crunching of leaves behind the new blind in an area where I can't see. Thoughts of early success and a new trophy on the wall passed through my mind. They were fleeting.  Seconds after hearing the leaves crunching I heard the snuffling sound a beagle makes while trailing a rabbit. My first thought was that it might be one of the family of coyotes that had earlier appeared on my trail camera photos. That thought was erased (as were just about all thoughts) when the head of a fully grown black bear appeared in the window of my new blind scarcely three feet from my face!  He sniffed a couple times and ran off, stopping once to look back to see what smelled so bad.

I have hunted with archery equipment for more than 50 years, including 14 years in the bear country of the Northwoods and have never even seen a bear while hunting (my preferred occurrence). I learned two valuable lessons from this encounter; 1) never take a shower before hunting, Stinky is better; 2) question the motives when your wife suggests purchasing something that is "safer."

 

What a difference a day makes

 

Thanks to Joyce for these two contrasting views out the Stockers' picture windows!

 

I love this photo, of bare trees revealing the clouds reflected in the lake.

 

 

 

 

And, I love this photo, showing how the same trees look now on Saturday morning!   

 

Both are beautiful, and both make me glad to be at Carlin Lake now at the end of October.

(Thanks for sharing, Joyce!)

Getting back to normal

 

We know that spring and summer 2017 often felt pretty rainy.   Now, Carl Watras supplies this top graph of Carlin water levels since 2008, picturing the water level in the lake below and above the arbitrary "zero" level in the center.  (You should be able to click to enlarge the graph.)

Carl notes that 2014 showed a big increase in water level, which then settled till this summer of 2017.    He comments that the level drops a bit each fall, because of evaporation before ice sets in. 

The second graph is included just to show that Carlin Lake is not unique.  Carl says,  "Most of our small seepage lakes show this same pattern, even Lake Michigan-Huron, so it's a regional phenomenon driven by climate variables (precipitation and evaporation.) "

Thanks very much, Carl, for the information.   It's great to see the lake getting closer to the high water marks we remember.

Another book club trip is "in the books."

 

Ten members of the Carlin Lake book club were able to get away to enjoy our annual road trip.   At least, eight of us enjoyed the trip totally, although two members ended up spending the last two days in an unanticipated way!

This year, our Huckleberry Finn year, we traveled across the state to the Mississippi River and stayed in a beautiful hotel in downtown LaCrosse.    Thanks to thorough planning by Judy, Barbie and Ann, we ate delicious meals, slept in lovely rooms, appreciated luxurious transportation, and toured interesting sites.

 

Before this, I had never toured LaCrosse and learned about its history (led by an authentic "lady of the evening", i.e. the town's library director.)   I had never visited the Castle on Cass, had never been to Villa Louis in Prairie du Chien, or toured the historically-authentic Hixon House.

 

 

Our weather wasn't perfect and the best fall colors hadn't yet developed, but our boat trip through a lock on the Mississippi River was interesting, and we were never rained out from any activity.  

I know I intend to return to the cheese store in Rudolph WI.

(Two photos below are of Villa Louis---the expansive front porch and the functional kitchen.)

 

Annual job, all done

 

Everyone is stashing furniture and docks away, preparing for the winter on these beautiful, late-fall days.   And, the guys that take care of the Carlin Lake boat landing for us all are no exception.

Yesterday, Danny, Jim, Richard, Bill, and John got the pier at the boat landing out of the water and stacked on shore till spring.    A loon watching from the lake called in approval.  

Many hands make light work, and the guys finished quickly, perhaps motivated by Jeanne's seasonal treat of sweet and sticky monkey bread.    

And, I believed that snapping these two pictures constituted enough work for me to enjoy the monkey bread, too---no one objected, at least.

 Thanks, Danny, Jim, Richard, Bill, John and Jeanne, for handling this seasonal responsibility for all of us!

 

Still plenty to see

 

The rain and wind over the weekend knocked many leaves to the ground, but this week's sunshine still creates beautiful colors.   The sights and smells make this a great time of year for walks in the woods.     I caught the sun hitting these trees as I walked down to mail a couple of letters this morning.

 

 

Four dates (that you already know)

 

1) Many Carlin neighbors will connect this Sunday evening at the Skyview for a pizza outing.   There will be time to chat at 5:00, and pizza will be served at 6:00 pm.    

Yes, we will remember to bring the correct denominations, Danny, to be able to pay you in cash.    Thanks very much for organizing this get-together!

 2)  Several members of the Carlin book club will be off Tuesday morning on a colorful and historic fall adventure over to the Mississippi River.  This group will meet at the Presque Isle Library about 8:30 for a 9:00 departure.     Thanks to Judy, Ann, and Barbie for their careful and detailed planning!

And, I'm guessing groups of men will be sharing some restaurant meals next week too--to be determined.

3) The fall meeting of the Carlin Lake Board of Directors will be held on Saturday, October 14th, at 8:30 am at the home of the Ruchs.   You have already received the agenda from Bob by email, and yes, you know that all members of the CLA are invited.    Note the adjustment of time and place---8:30 am at Bob and Judy's.     

For this meeting, please bring your beverage of choice.  Doughnuts will be available to provide some sugar energy to all!

4) Following the CLA meeting on October 14th, plan to head to Presque Isle for the dedication of the Veteran's Memorial at 11:00 am.   This will be a good time to honor all our veterans, many of whose names are found on the memorial.   Food and music will follow, in celebration of this outstanding community accomplishment.

 

 

Colorful

 
As Duanne wrote in his post about "Fall Colors" below, this has been a very unusual fall.    Following some days of travel, John and I came home to find that many trees were totally leaf-less, and conversely, many that were still green.   For days now, I have judged that it is just going to be a drab and brownish and boring fall.

But now, in a couple of days, the woods seem to be glowing.  I drove yesterday on Papoose Lake Road, Crab Lake Road, and of course, on Highway P, and the maples are beautiful.    There aren't as many reds as some years, but the golds and yellows just shine in the sun.   Suddenly, I'm very thankful for these fall colors.

If you are coming for the weekend from somewhere south, know that Friday night and Saturday are predicted to be really rainy, so perhaps these couple of days will be the height of our fall season.

(The photo is of the reliably-bright maple behind our house.)

A big thank-you to Duanne for filling in as blogger the last couple weeks as John and I have been away!   Although he was too modest to identify himself, many of you said that you recognized his careful sentences, his broad knowledge, and his dry wit.   I'm very glad to have your help, Duanne!

 

Lake Temps & Clarity

As of this past week it is officially fall and the colors are nearing peak. Carlin Lake is also undergoing its fall "turnover" as evidenced by the final DNR lake monitoring report. The monitoring is done state wide by literally thousands of volunteers in order to keep track of Wisconsin's 15,000+ lakes and what is occurring below the surface.

Lake turnover is probably best recognized with a simple temperature test. This past June the surface temperature was more than 15 degrees different between the top 3' and the bottom. Last week there was only 4 degrees difference between the top and the bottom at the 28 feet mark. As the air temps drop the surface water is cooled and sinks while the warmer water at the bottom of the lake rises creating a turnover that lasts until ice forms.

Just the facts? Carlin Lake's surface temperature was 67.8 degrees a week ago. A cool swim for those of you so inclined to indulge. Water clarity is very good at 23' compared to just 13' in June. Also tested are chlorophyll and phosphorus to complete the battery of DNR required measurements sent to a lab four times during the summer months.

Lake monitoring equipment.