Timber!

This was the view across the creek from our Sylvan Lake campsite.  You will notice one precariously leaning tree.  Well, when we arrived, there was another that would have challenged the Leaning Tower of Pisa for the greatest amount of tilt.

After our fishing (aka dead fish) experience, I wasn't ready to give up.  We saw several small trout in the creek, so Zoe and I began round two by dangling a hook (with PowerBait on it) in the creek.  It became clear after twenty minutes that the fish simply weren't interested.  Clearly, the fluorescent purple bait didn't look or smell that appetizing to the fish.  Don't they like worms??  Ah, the lightbulb went off and Zoe & I began a quest to find us some worms.

We crossed the creek and climbed up the bank so that we were standing on the trail that runs parallel to the creek.  Our plan was to look under some rocks or logs to see if we could score a few worms.

As we stood on the trail a huge gust of wind came roaring through the trees.  Then we heard "Crrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaakkkkkkk."  The 80' leaning pine tree began to move and the ground underneath it did too!  Next came the CRASH! as it busted through the other trees and it's dead branches exploded on the ground.

I had pulled Zoe close to me as we stood about 10' away.  She was shaking and her jaw was dropped.  Thankfully we were never in danger as the tree fell away from us.



At this point, I assumed God was really wanting us to catch a fish.  How else can you explain the earth opening up at the precise moment you are beginning a search for worms?  There were plenty for the taking!





Later that night, Tanya & I foraged some firewood from the tree and walked off the length to determine the 80' number.  The last 15' of the tree snapped off when it hit another tree.



I'm sad to report that the trout didn't care for the worms either.