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While riding The Beast (my ATV) up Schweitzer Mountain about 5 miles from our rental home I saw a fairly large bear coming out of the woods. For fear of getting eaten and getting run over by the truck that was following me I kept going. However, on the way back down I was able to see the bear again and this time I caught a picture on my cell-phone camera. Anyone who has ever taken a picture with their cell phone knows that the quality stinks. However, using powerful computer software and a little creative license I was able to enhance the image to show a nice clear shot of the bear. Here is the original bear image with an inset that shows the bear in full detail.

Yes sir, this is the picture of a black blob (no really, it’s a bear) about 50 yards away. Inset shows detail.

Maybe this will become a whole new category of comments. Here’s an example of why we moved here. While walking in a local park, we found these two kids playing basketball. Compare the backdrop to where we grew up, and we can’t help but appreciate the area.

Yesterday while driving up a mountian road I observed a sign that you’d never find where we’re from. It warned us of bears in the area. It’s quite unnerving when they post signs that infer the you’re going to be eaten.

It was enough to make me want to turn back shortly after passing the sign. Like an idiot I didn’t think about the fact that any bear in the area is very likely hibernating.

As mentioned yesterday, the snow plows try to protect the end of your driveway from snow by reguiding the blade from burying the driveway. In Chicago, burying the driveway with a huge pile of snow was a sport for the plows.

Today, I saw something completely new to me. The street was being plowed by huge tractor. What was more amazing is that when it passed a driveway, a black shield drops down parallel to the road to prevent snow from being deposited on the driveway. In this picture you’ll see it with the guard down although it’s hard to distinguish from the regular blade. You can also see how small Gritz (my car) looks compared to this massive machine.

Protecting the end of my driveway with it’s shield down. Also, note that this tractor has chains on it! Hope that isn’t a foretelling of things to come.