Moose Hunting in The Outback of British Columbia Canada.

Glen Beachy Editor of this site writes about his Moose hunting trip, September 2009.
Here in BC the province is divided into wildlife areas. To hunt in the northern area my son Craig applied for a draw for a party of four. He was successful and was issued two moose tags between four hunters. Craig along with his two sons Clint, Eli, and grandpa Glen all met in Smithers BC. Once we were loaded with camping gear, one quad, etc. We headed north out of Smithers. Two hours later as it was getting dark we set camp and were soon ready for the opening morning of the season.

Next morning before daylight were up and going expecting to bag a moose before the day was over. It never happened. We hunted hard, Thursday-Friday-Saturday, even Sunday, nothing. Not even catching sight of a moose of any kind.

Monday morning I was up before daylight changing my clothes. The night before I laid my glasses on my suitcase and the next morning I couldn't find them. I spent 20 minutes looking for them. After awhile Clint spotted them on the floor in the shadow of a block of wood. They fell off in the dark when I moved the suitcase to get out my clothes.
We grabbed our hunting gear and were off. Craig and I drove across the river to different water shed. This took us to the west end of the mountains where on most days we could spot Mt. Goats. At 7:35 we drove in on a deactivated logging road where we stopped to spot Goats. We glassed the mountain for 4 or 5 minutes when I looked down the road which ended at the timber about 300 yards from where we had stopped. I was dumb founded and could hardly believe my eyes! Here came a Bull Moose strolling along the road right toward us.

It goes without saying that we never talk above a whisper when out of the truck. No slamming truck doors etc. Instantly realty set in and I whispered "Craig". He knew something was up by the tone of my voice. I pointed down the road at the Moose. We quickly went into action and working behind the open truck doors we quickly loaded 3 shells each into our guns. When certain conditions require quick shooting only one bullet is loaded. Loaded guns are not allowed in the truck. We knew we had time for three shells this time. Now we have the big guy in our sights. Craig on one side of the truck I on the other side. Both doors are open. Craig whispers let him keep coming. In a few seconds the moose stopped and looked at us. It was 121 meters by the range finder. We both shot at the same time, as we had decided to do. The Moose never knew what hit him.

One of the pictures I took while Craig was driving the truck through the ditches that were dug across the road during the deactivation. After we took more pictures. Craig radioed Clint and Eli and they were there within 30 minutes with Clint's truck and Eli's quad. Eli's quad is equipped with an electric winch front and back. He drove the quad through the ditch and up to the top of bank. Where he anchored the front winch to a tree and pulled the moose up the bank with the back winch. Craig backed his truck into the ditch below the moose which is now on the bank above the truck. The winch line is backed off and unhooked, the moose is then manhandled into the back of Craig's pickup truck. (we had to cut the moose in half it was to big to handle in one piece)

Back to camp. Clint and Eli skidded in poles with Eli's quad. Before long we have an 18 ft. long meat pole erected with a tripod on each end for support. Once the moose was hanging Eli and Clint went off hunting. Craig and I did the skinning. Craig skinned out the cape for a shoulder mount.

When all is said and done, losing my glasses, stopping where we did, moose walking out of the timber at that moment, we saw it in time, is this all by chance?? As Craig and I stood there looking at this magnificent creature which God created, I said "it makes me feel bad" Craig said "I know what you mean" It was a humbling experience like I had never felt with any other animals I have taken.

Next day Craig and I took the meat into Smithers to the meat cutter. It weighed in at 880 lbs. It must have been 1300 lbs on the hoof. After buying a few odds and ends Craig headed back out to camp in time for the evening hunt. I stayed behind in Smithers to look after the meat etc.

Craig is having a mount made from this moose. He has wanted one for long time but never got one in the trophy class. I like the idea since I had a part in it. In fact we took the cape and anthers to Phil Giesbrecht a professional taxidermist in Cranbrook. Phil is married to my granddaughter Laurel. It is a "Wall Hanger"!
A few days later Craig shot a large black wolf in the same area. That is a story in its self.
An interesting twist, 35 years ago when Craig was 14 years old we were hunting moose together and we bagged a huge Bull Moose the first for both of us. History did repeat itself as father and son once again bagged a moose while hunting together. This time a trophy class animal. The above picture is Craig, Clint, Eli & Grandpa Beachy

A DAY HIKE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

TRAGEDY CHEATED!
A DAY HIKE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
A Real Life Story By Jeanette Beachy Saffarek

My grown son Grant was home for a week, so I took a day off with him. I thought it would be nice to go for a hike. Grant asked his friend Aaron if he would like to come along, he said sure, so I asked Aaron's mom Judy to come. Judy is my hiking friend. Aaron had just come home from Calgary recently too. So we thought we would have a mother/son hiking day.
We decided to go up a mountain that we had hiked several times before, but never in the spring, or in snow. It was a beautiful sunny day, the snow trail was hard – packed and away we went. As we climbed higher we came to an area where there was an old mining road cut into the side of the hill. The road was about eight feet wide, then a drop into a ravine. The snow had filled in the road cut in the side of the hill, so it was all one big snow covered slope. Grant was in the lead and had walked out about 15 ft. ahead, and said, “this is getting sketchy” (sketchy is his latest word for dicey, or iffy). So we stood and discussed, should we go a different way etc.
I decided we should cut up hill a bit, Aaron went to make a move, and poof away he went down the hill. He had fallen and took off, just as if he was on a toboggan. I was calling on the name of Jesus, and his mom was praying too, but very calm (normally she screams at the drop of a hat), Aaron would hit small trees, then break through, and off he would go again. It was awful to watch! He finally reached another road near the bottom, but he still went up the side of the bank, then back down before he finally stopped. If he had not been somewhat slowed by the trees I think he would have had too much momentum and would have been off again down the other side of the bank. He got up and said he was OK. So we were greatly relieved! Grant decides to go down and help him. We figured he had gone about 300 – 400 feet.

I decided to go back to where Judy was, I had just walked out there, I turned
(I think), the next thing I knew I was down and headed down the mountain too! I knew was going to be OK even as I took off praying. I broke thru the first set of trees, then hit the 2nd set which was much bigger and stopped. I had gone about fifty feet. As I was there Judy's dog went sailing down the mountain. The same place where Aaron had gone down.
The dog was standing perfectly still, and flying down the hill. He was OK.
Grant very carefully gathered our scattered snowshoes, which we lost off our packs. Grant had to talk me off the hill. He would bang his heel into the snow 4 or 5 times to make an indent the size of 2 X 2 inches and only about ½ inch deep. That was the only foothold we could have. To sit down was the worse, you wouldn't have survived.

Anyhow, this old lady has learned a hard lesson, and thank God I lived without injury to tell about it.
Aaron skinned his hands and arms up pretty bad, as he wasn't wearing gloves. The snow was so hard it took the skin off (like road rash). Now I know how people kill themselves in the wilderness, and they will say, “they were an experienced outdoor person”. I was experienced in a very limited area, but not in those conditions,

Jeanette lives in Smithers BC where her and husband Kurt raised their family. Jeanette works in the lab at the local hospital when she is not out hiking.

Will History Repeat Itself?

First written and posted Friday, May 06, 2005 by the editor of this site. Due to the turmoil in the world I thought it would be worthwhile to rerun it.
Does History have To Repeat Itself? Or Can We Change It? The collapse of nations and empires has held an interest for me all the way back to my teenage years. I remember talking to dad about the civilizations that have disappeared from the earth. Like the Egyptians, the Romans, the Greeks, Babylonians, to name a few. My question at that time was how long could we expect the US to last when other nations have failed to survive. Over the years I have read different opinions why the different civilizations failed. Some of these writers were right with at least part of their reasons. I was looking for a simple condensed three point statement why the powerful nations failed. Little did I think when talking to my dad all those years ago that I would live to see the day when America (Canada Included) would meet all the requirements for failure, as shown to us by past civilizations. Two words describe the reason for the downfall of once powerful nations.
>>"MORAL CORRUPTION"<<
Moral corruption is a monster with many heads and any nations that allow this monster to mature will become its victim. History does not have to show that North America followed the same road as the other nations in the past did. Abraham asked the Lord (Gen. 18:16-33) if He would spare Sodom if there were ten righteous people. God said He would spare the city even for ten righteous people. "God does hear the prayers of a righteous man". "Our destiny can be chosen".

Larry and Brad Beachy, Abaco Bahamas

Conch!
These Queen conch are fully mature by the example of their
well formed lip or curl. You can only harvest Conch that have a
fully formed lip or roll. Some books say it takes 5 to seven years
for the Queen conch to form. I think we have excellent conditions for
growth and formation.
You gather them in shallow water to water as deep as 40 to 50 feet.
You find them usually where there is a sand bar, on the edge, and
many times around objects on the bottom that gives them some
protections. Ferns are what we look for. You snorkel on the surface
with mask and fins. When you see the horns sticking up through the
sand you surface dive and pull them out of the sand. They are heavy
enough that only two can be carried to swim back to the boat. A good
boat driver will keep a safe distance of his divers and use a long
handle net for them to drop their conch into, saving a long swim back
to the boat with a load.
You must know what you are doing to remove them from the shell.
Count two rings on the nose end and cut a groove in the shell, insert
a knife and cut the muscle loose from the shell, grasp the operculum
and pull out the muscle. This must be skinned and all the
apenditures removed. The nice triangles of white tough muscle must
be cubed very small and put into conch salad with sour orange,
onions, peppers, celery. We pound them very thin with a meat hammer
and make sweat sour conch over rice with pineapple. I like to take
them and run them through my fine hand grinder into a mushy conch-
burger. I mix flour, spice, and tomato and drop them in a fry daddy
until they surface. I make a dip out of mayo and catsup. Dip and eat--
Wow. Thanks Larry for sharing with us!

Lela Beachy on Shoofly Pies

Lela said her mother baked hundreds of Shoofly Pies to sell. With that kind of background Lela must know what she is talking about. Even if she said "I wouldn't walk across the street for a Shoofly Pie." Below is a letter I received from Lela that I will share with you. Thanks Lela for sharing your knowledge about this pie.

Hi Glen,
I reduced a recipe for your size to make it like a cake. Let me know how you like it. It is o.k. to say you don't like it if you don't. This is a good with coffee, and the golden barrel molasses makes a better flavor. It is milder.

Small Recipe
1/2 cup Molasses- golden barrel
1/2 teasp. soda
Pour 2/3 hot water over this and stir
In bowl mix:
2/3 cups brown sugar
1 beaten egg
1/3 teas. vanilla
scant 1/4 teas. salt
Add to the molasses mixture.
Set aside

Crumbs:
1 1/3 cup flour
1/3 teas. soda
1/4 teas. cream of tarter
1/4 cup lard
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 teas. cinnamon
scant 1/8 teas.salt

Rub until it is blended into crumbs.
Mix 1/2 cup of the crumbs into the
liquid mixture and pour liquid into
a cake pan, 8X8 or similar size.
Spread crumbs on top and bake at 350 till done, probably 25 min. (325 if you use glass or granite pans. I use foil on the outside of glass or granite, and it bakes really nice and does not get so brown, and then you can bake at 350.

Following is the recipe for four 8" pies.

Wet Bottom Shoo Fly Pie
1 1/2 cup Molasses- (Golden Barrel)
1 1/2 teas soda
Pour 2 hot water over this and stir.
In bowl mix:
2 cups brown sugar
3 beaten eggs
1 teas. vanilla
1/2 teas. salt.
Add to molasses mixture. Set aside.

Crumbs:
4 cups bread flour
1 teas. soda
3/4 teas. cream of tarter
3/4 cup lard
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teas. cinnamon
1/2 teas. salt
Makes enough for four 8" pies.

Good Bible Search Site

Here is a site that is just too good not to share with the rest of you people out there in the world wide web. Click here for my favorite page for quick look up.

Lookup a word or passage in the Bible

Kyle Beachy >>"The Slide"<<

Hello, everyone...

I'm writing with a simple announcement which let's just go ahead and get it out there: my debut novel, The Slide, is now, as of this very morning, available on store shelves across the country. This is terribly exciting for me, and I cannot possibly stress how important these first few days of sales are. It's a numbers game, this one, and quite literally every sale makes a big diffference.

Here is the other part of the announcement: the book is crazy affordable. To reach more readers, The Dial Press decided to publish my book as a paperback original, which means it costs about half the price of a hardback. Plus the cover design by Anders Nilsen is beautiful, and I'm honored, and basically the whole thing makes me shiver with joy.

Here are a few early reviews, and www.kylebeachy.com for more things, a video trailer, various interviews, and others.

"Kyle Beachy has a knack for fantastic little nuggets of observation…Like his protagonist, the first-time author is brimming with potential." — Entertainment Weekly.

"The theme is American Home, that place that lesser writers sentimentalize and satirize. Beachy writes with bracing melancholy in a voice that is all his own, and his St. Louis, like Cheever's Westchester, is populated with isolated, self-aware characters, each of whom is new to us. Potter Mays is great company."
--Jincy Willett, author of The Writing Class and Jenny and the Jaws of Life

"Suspenseful, erotic, funny, and terribly sad, THE SLIDE presents the long, hot 22nd summer of Potter Mays, the most ethical sexual deviant this side of Portnoy--or Hamlet."
-- James McManus, New York Times bestselling author of Positively Fifth Street

"Refreshingly sincere."
-- Joe Meno, author of The Great Perhaps

"Kyle Beachy has written a knockout first novel. Part love letter to the American Midwest, part ghost story, and part heartbreaking tale of one young man's struggle to find forgiveness as well as himself, this is a book that you won't want to miss."
-- Cristina Henriquez, author of Come Together, Fall Apart

Thank you for your time, and thank you for your support.

Best,
kyle beachy

Trent Beachy

UP DATE ON TRENT: Trent has been released to live in an apartment on
the hospital campus in Denver. I asked if he could get along by
himself? He said he does pretty good. Cathy is there to lend a hand
also. He will be coming home the 24 of January and by that time they
will have given him all of his therapy exercises and directions for
exercises. They are treating the muscle tissue with electro shocks to
keep the nerve fibers firing and stimulating growth of the nerves and
muscles. This will increase the number of neurons firing . His Right
arm from the wrist up is now almost 100%. The last tree fingers on
his right hand are functioning pretty well but the thumb and
forefinger still lack gripping strength. The left arm is not
responding except to the electric shock. He spends most of the time
from 8:00 to 4:00 in therapy. Now that the rest of his body is in
the healing stage he discovered some injury to his ribs also. I
questioned Trent about his neck about flexibility and he replied
things are going well and he has good movement. So I felt this was a
good positive report. His phone number is 574-536-7806 and I am sure
he would be glad to hear from you. Gramp

Beachy Echoes: Trent Beachy, Injured Firefighter

Beachy Echoes: Trent Beachy, Injured Firefighter

Trent Beachy, Firefighter

Trent Beachy
Golden Firefighter Trent Beachy is back in Colorado after breaking
his neck during a trip to the Midwest over Thanksgiving weekend.
Beachy and two other people were injured when his pick up truck
veered off the highway in Iowa and rolled multiple times before
coming to rest on its roof.

Beachy had to be extricated from the vehicle and was hospitalized in
Omaha, Nebraska for two weeks where he underwent surgery to fuse
three broken vertebrae in his neck. The two passengers, Golden
Firefighter Bruce Peters and Beachy's girlfriend, were treated and
released with minor injuries.

Last week, Beachy was transferred to Craig Hospital in Englewood,
Colorado to begin his rehabilitation. Craig is nationally known as a
leading treatment center for spinal cord injuries. Doctors are still
evaluating his injuries, so no timetable has been set for his
recovery. Initial estimates indicated it could take up to a year for
Beachy to make a full recovery.

While Beachy has movement in all of his extremities, he still suffers
from some weakness in his arms.

Numerous members of the Golden Fire Department have taken time to
visit Beachy. Several people, including Chief John Bales and Chaplain
Kevin Kirby, traveled to Nebraska to visit him before and after his
surgery.

The volunteer membership took up a collection and purchased a new
iPod which they filled with music and movies from their own
collections to keep him entertained while he is in the hospital.

Throughout this experience, Beachy has remained positive and is
working hard towards a full recovery. He has developed a new
appreciation for life and his family at the Golden Fire Department.