Warning signs, to make sure the trucks don't try to get up onto the block and get stuck.
The sign welcoming us to "Purgatory" does not bode well.
Training the rookies.
A nice view from the block.
This is actually east of Kamloops. I believe that's forest fire damage, not pine beetle.
The "Big Box" truck, parked on a block.
Andrea on the quad.
Caulk boot experiment. We're testing ceramic caulks, which are more expensive, but which are supposed to stay sharp much longer than steel caulks. My set of boots has the two types intermixed.
Here's another set of boots being used in the caulk experiment. This one has one boot of all steel, and one boot of all ceramic caulks. We're testing the wear patterns on several pairs of boots.
Transferring trees from the 5-ton to one of the Big Box trucks.
Aaron.
Wilson.
Laurence.
Paddy.
Emilie's first day on the block.
Laurence.
Sarah, bagging up.
Cleo.
Matt & Cam.
This road is brushed in too badly for my truck. I drove about twenty feet down it, then decided that I didn't want to pay about six thousand dollars for a new paint job.
Planters putting the last few bundles into a block at the end of the day/shift, while the foreman and checker watch.
Andrea, getting ready to move some boxes out to the planters.
Snow patches on a block. We had huge problems with snow this year.
First aid simulation.
Mike, planting on a block with some nice scenery.
Andrew, fueling up his Big Box.
Cutting shovels down to size. We had much better luck with BushPro shovels this year than with Workwizers, although we had to customize many of them.
More shovel cutting.
Several blocks of various ages, on the TCH east of Kamloops.
Some of Andrew's crew, with the red garbage trailer.
Filling up my truck. With twelve trucks in camp, we burn an astounding rate of fuel. This is about enough fuel to run half of my camp for a day. It's no wonder planters don't make much money anymore, since companies haven't always been increasing bid prices to keep up with fuel cost increases.
Bagging up on a snowy day.
Not the best of weather. But if the snow doesn't stick to the ground, we can keep working.
Haley.
Orrin.
Aaron & Kerry.
Erik.
Maddie.
Putting some courderoy into a mud hole so the quad doesn't get stuck.
Paddy, watching over the first aid emergency drill.
Another scenic block.
Jaya.
Not looking good for planting today.
Nope, this high elevation block has too much snow on it.
We're at a slightly lower elevation here, so the snow on the ground isn't so bad. We ended up planting for an hour and a half, but then it started snowing too hard and collecting on the ground.
Alcoholics of Catan.
Kerry.
The view coming into Kamloops from the north.
Julia.
Overlooking the east end of the tailings pond of the Highland Valley Copper Mine.
Mike.
Kini, Jim, and Mike at a safety meeting.
Paddy.
Nick.
Dave.
Antoine.
Andrea.
Another snowy block. We're not going to be able to plant this one for several more days.
Everyone bagging up at breakfast, before walking into their pieces.
Sarah.
Moving to a new section.
This tree would be considered to be at the proper depth in most parts of western Canada. However, you can see where the laterals join the stem, so it's probably a bit too shallow for the Kamloops area, which is very dry.
This tree would be considered to be too deep in most parts of western Canada, because the laterals are pinched and under the surface. However, in Kamloops, this is a perfect tree.
I liked the evening sunlight hitting camp.
A bear, checking out someone's truck.
A moose.
Connor.
A couple planters, early in the morning.
Andrew.
Kathryn.
My way is blocked by snow on the road.
Paddy.
Teaching the rookies.
Emilie.
Stephane. Check out the menu! Needless to say, we don't eat like this every night.
Steak, shrimp, olives, asparagus, baby tomatoes, scalloped potatoes with bacon, blue cheese, and more. Plus fresh baked bread and butter, and a side salad, which aren't in the photo. Stephane's cooking can put any restaurant to shame.