Finally something to write about. My wife and I just got back from a 2 day trip east of Vanderbilt. We arrived at the cabin Thursday @ 1:00 am to clear on cold, -22 degrees. We began carrying supplies into the cabin after getting a fire going in the stove. Vicki was carrying things in when she stopped at the door, cocking her head, listening. I was inside and had begun to talk to her when I saw her keying in on something. After she came inside i asked her what she heard. One wood knock followed by a 2 second whistle. Closeby too. Later I went on a search for the grate for the stove. I walked a loop out back and was using a flashlight. Then a knock, sharp and loud, my guess, within 50 yards. I raised the flashlight, but it did not penetrate far into the night. A finished my hunt and found the grate. I did not stay outside very long as my face began to hurt from the cold. Next day we went looking for tracks. The road had been plowed that am, but I was sure we would see tracks in a snowbank somewhere, or out back where I heard it. Nothing. I did not have the cd with that has some vocals on it. Friday night i built a fire out in the snow and tried some wood knocking myself, but did not hear any replies. I tried. At least i know they are about, though it would seem to many that this is north of hot area around Mio.

First off -- good GOD, you went north in this weather??

And do you mean you were in Mio, or north of Mio?

Sounds interesting of a thing. Still to go camping in -22 degree weather is daring. Brr..

i sure hope the creatures there are in caves etc keep warm from the cold otherwise they realy brave lool. interesting new thread. thanks bill

We do this winter trip every year. My uncle's cabin is 8 miles east of Vanderbilt. We knew the forcast but by the time we thought of delaying the trip a week, Vicki said she couldnt change the date at work. We certainly didnt want to sit at home, so we went. 15 years ago we stopped there after a U.P. trip and stayed one night. Clear and cold, -30. But we were inside that night. It was -10 when we arrived that year, so this year it was twice as cold. Next year should be balmy with all the talk of global warming and such . We must have been good entertainment for the BF's to hang around and watch.

Hey finlander, I am 50% Finnish myself. Mom's family is from UP - Yoopers.

Keep up the good work and look forward to hearing more.

The neightbor is still plowing the driveway, but I told him I prolly wont be back up this winter. He was out at his barn at midnight and had a temp of -33. He is 3/4 mile from our cabin. I sent him the two latest reports on the BFRO from Michigan. I also wrote him asking if he has heard anything unusual during his time outdoors. I did not tell him what we heard last Wednesday. Will let you know what his response is. Kinda wish I was up there looking again. Cougar, black bear and maybe wild boar will keep me from sitting around the fire in the fall up there, at midnight. If we had arrived earlier as was our original plan, daylight hours, we wouldnt have heard those sounds.

I heard one other thing right after I got to the cabin that night though I didnt post it. I heard this sound that sounded like a shovel, on pavement, like somebody shoveling snow. But the sound was short, like 2 or 3 seconds. It came from the area near the road of the neighbor's driveway, though no lights were on in their trailer. And I saw no one out walking. Like I posted ealier, it was 1 am and -22 outside. He has a circular drive that is plowed. No need to shovel. I f it WAS the neighbor, he would have been aound the north side of the building. But this sound came from out front, just down the road from us. Makes me want to go back up there, now that the weather has warmed abit.