Setting up a scene in her lesbian arctic adventure novel now in progress, Sweetwater's Run: In the Spirit of Nome's Great Race of Mercy, Sage Sweetwater is using her knowledge of casting animal tracks. Sage is employing the art of casting animal tracks, for her lesbian environmentalist bounty hunter character who is on the trail of tracking down a known outlaw poacher and illegal fur trapper.

Old-day human concepts helped change the course of the human race and I, Sage Sweetwater, as a popular lesbian author, will show how New Age human concepts can change the world as we know it today.  These are hard times for the world's people.  Many different cultures are struggling.  Through my novel Sweetwater's Run: In the Spirit of Nome's Great Race of Mercy, I will show how people helping each other can bring the world back together, and restore the people's faith in humanity.  Through this novel. Sage Sweetwater will start a world wide course for change in both the habitat of humans and animals.  As an older woman, I will share my knowledge and wisdom for a New Age concept for this generation and future generations.

Locate an area with a pond, stream or other water source where animals are likely to gather. Find a spot where the mud is soft but no too watery.

Select the track to be collected. Mix the plaster of Paris to the consistency of whipping cream and pour into the track impression. After the plaster has set, dig out the impression. Handle with extreme care. It takes several days for the plaster to set firmly and dry out. Once dry, the excess dirt may be brushed off. This is an impression of the foot that made the track.

To mix plaster: It is not only convenient, but wise, to carry the plaster in a double plastic bag. Use an extra plastic bag for mixing. Put into the bag the desired amount of plaster, add water and mix to the consistency of whipping cream by squeezing the plastic bag.

Use an eye dropper to syringe water from tracks before casting them. Small tracks, bird or small animal, should be poured an extra =" deep to give the casting extra strength. This can be done by placing a paper collar around the track.

Tracks in wet snow: sprinkle with dry plaster. Allow this to set. Fill the track gently with the plaster of Paris mixture.

Tracks in dry fluffy snow: spray the track with water. Allow this to freeze. Fill the track gently with the plaster of Paris mixture. It is important to pour gently in order to avoid deforming tracks in fine snow or dusty ground with the weight of the plaster.

Plaster mixed too thickly will not run into all of the contours of the track, hardens too quickly and the finished impression is weak and soft.

Plaster mixed too thinly runs into the track contours well but hardens too slowly. The finished impression is brittle and cracks easily.

When casting in below freezing temperatures the plaster will freeze a bit before hardening. When the casts are returned to a warm place they will then thaw and become wet to the touch again. Handle carefully and allow to cure in the normal way.

Once the impression of the foot is collected it is necessary to recast it to obtain a copy of the track. this can be done using the following method:

Grease cast with vaseline; place cast upside down within cardboard wall.

Seal cardboard wall to track with wax.

Fill track with plaster until level with sides.

Insert paper clip in wet plaster as a hanger.
when dry, remove cardboard wall and original casting.

Note the type of track, date and location, and collector's name on the back of each impression.

Sage Sweetwater, firebrand lesbian novelist