Post by Ldsoldier on Nov 24, 2009 16:35:51 GMT -5
...is what I felt like today. I was pulling my beaver traps so I wouldn't have to worry about them over Thanksgiving break. I got all of them out of the water except for one. Now its been raining off and on for the last couple of weeks here in Raleigh, and the water level at Falls lake has been responding accordingly. Add in the fact that I only have knee boots at the moment (they do come all the way to my knees), and you can see how beaver trapping can get tricky quick.
This particular trap was set in a run in the middle of a creek that feeds the lake. The creek itself is not that large, but the addition of a beaver dam has deepened the water level by several inches. On the other side of this trap is a steep bank (not quite 90 degrees, it might only be 85) that goes up with little taper for a good 20 feet or more. My trap is anchored to a sapling on the side of this bank. I can wade up to the run, but the run itself is over my boots, so I can not get close enough to remove the cable from the tree.
I look around and see where the slope is not quite so steep (only 80-82 degrees) right next to the sapling. I decide to go around to the top of the hill and work my way down on the less steep part (bad plan at best, but its all I had). I walk over and climb the hill, and get to where I must begin my descent. All goes well for the first 6 inches. (remember, this is Raleigh, where red clay is the dominant soil).
Luckily I had the presence of mind to grab hold of the oak limb hanging over me (it was not quite as big around as my thumb). As I carefully worked my way down the bank, the clay decided it didn't want to hold up a 230lb person. I began sliding, and could do nothing more than to hang on to my precious limb (thank goodness it was green). I literally swung one way, then another. I was able to rest for a second when my feet caught again on the bank, but then I slid, and went soaring through the air again. Finally I was able to rest in water on the very edge next to the bank where it was not over my boots (within inches, but not over).
I should mention that by this time my trusty hatchet was laying in the water somewhere. I freed the trap cable from the tree and threw the trap over the creek onto the opposite bank where I could easily retrieve it later. I then focused on getting out of this mess.
-----------------------------137938295112032880928
09458445
Content-Disposition: form-data; name="nextaction"
post
This particular trap was set in a run in the middle of a creek that feeds the lake. The creek itself is not that large, but the addition of a beaver dam has deepened the water level by several inches. On the other side of this trap is a steep bank (not quite 90 degrees, it might only be 85) that goes up with little taper for a good 20 feet or more. My trap is anchored to a sapling on the side of this bank. I can wade up to the run, but the run itself is over my boots, so I can not get close enough to remove the cable from the tree.
I look around and see where the slope is not quite so steep (only 80-82 degrees) right next to the sapling. I decide to go around to the top of the hill and work my way down on the less steep part (bad plan at best, but its all I had). I walk over and climb the hill, and get to where I must begin my descent. All goes well for the first 6 inches. (remember, this is Raleigh, where red clay is the dominant soil).
Luckily I had the presence of mind to grab hold of the oak limb hanging over me (it was not quite as big around as my thumb). As I carefully worked my way down the bank, the clay decided it didn't want to hold up a 230lb person. I began sliding, and could do nothing more than to hang on to my precious limb (thank goodness it was green). I literally swung one way, then another. I was able to rest for a second when my feet caught again on the bank, but then I slid, and went soaring through the air again. Finally I was able to rest in water on the very edge next to the bank where it was not over my boots (within inches, but not over).
I should mention that by this time my trusty hatchet was laying in the water somewhere. I freed the trap cable from the tree and threw the trap over the creek onto the opposite bank where I could easily retrieve it later. I then focused on getting out of this mess.
-----------------------------137938295112032880928
09458445
Content-Disposition: form-data; name="nextaction"
post
Or, perhaps some water wings.