Early Morning Start

Up before dawn, I got the coffee brewing — every good morning starts with a strong cup of java. The quads were unloaded and ready for the day’s run. A quick breakfast of classic Frosted Flakes and an apple turnover hit the spot before we geared up.

The morning was absolutely beautiful — crisp and just below freezing, the kind of air that wakes you right up. After topping up our coffee and strapping down the last of the gear, we set off down the road toward the first numbered trail, heading east into the hills.

It was still a little dark, so we stopped briefly for a chat before pushing on down the trail. Reaching the top of the hill, we paused for an in-depth scan of the swamp below. The view was incredible, but there wasn’t any movement — no sign of moose yet.

Matthew decided he wanted to hike down into the swamp for a closer look. We planned his route and set a time for him to check back in. While he trekked off, I stayed up top, keeping watch over the valley below.

Five hours later, Matthew returned grinning from ear to ear — he’d found a massive moose shed! He couldn’t have been prouder. We knew we were in moose country; they just weren’t showing themselves today.

We took a short ride back to camp for lunch and a few well-earned afternoon drinks. Supper was double bacon cheeseburgers cooked over the open fire — simple, smoky, and absolutely delicious. A couple more drinks by the fire, then off to bed early; with the time change, Sunday would be coming sooner than we’d like.