Category: Life in Alaska
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Packing Begins, Week 26 in Healy
We arrived in Healy on March 17 and plan on leaving September 21, just shy of 27 weeks living in a tiny dry cabin in Alaska. We did bring more than we needed. Both of us have too many clothes and plan to take the surplus back to VA. Some of the gear can go…
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Perky Pikas
I worked hard to see my first pika back in July. The two this week were much more cooperative! I was even able to quietly run get C who was looking for sheep, come back, and watch one who was still busily harvesting and eating vegetation. These little rabbit relatives are so cute as they…
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Termination Dust, Weather, Week 25 in Healy
Yesterday and today we had a dusting of snow at elevation. Summer is over! Low of 39 degrees and high of 58 (we hear Virginia is sweltering at 98). Saturday was a rare sunny day so we went into the park. Hard to believe we only have a few weeks left before we start the…
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Summer Washstation at our Dry Cabin
The lack of running water gets to be normal after awhile, just a bit inconvenient. I remember being frustrated trying to find practical steps on how to live without plumbing. The main tip is to use less water which with practice won’t be as hard as you think. But in the summer I can splurge…
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Wildfires, Week 21 in Healy
July 24 to 26 Alaska had thousands of ground lightening strikes which started many fires, including some just north of Healy (Anderson area) and around Fairbanks. C and his helicopter have been busy! Below are his photos showing what they did to protect some infrastructure one day. The windy conditions were lousy for a back…
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Pumpkin Berries and Ptarmigan Berries, Week 20 in Healy
Three more edible berries are ripe nearby. We have a lot of pumpkin berries (Geocaulon lividum) around the house. While they look gorgeous, edible does not equal tasty. The pumpkin berries can stay on the plant as yard decoration. Fortunately the Ptarmigan Berries (also known as alpine bearberries, black bearberries and many other names) are…
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Denali on a Clear Day, Week 18 in Healy
“That big, white mountain is Denali, this is my best view in 4 1/2 months!” While I wasn’t as verbal, I was impressed as well. This was my best view in just over 4 months, and probably my second best of all time. My lovely husband, who constantly checks the weather and visibility for his…
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WEIO
I met my parents in Fairbanks and we attended 3 days of the World Eskimo Indian Olympics. It was wonderful! I thoroughly enjoyed the variety of high kick events. So many impressive athletes doing the seemingly impossible. And we loved the way other contestants would offer tips to their competitors, with everyone appearing to genuinely…
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Surprise
These are the first baby moose that we have seen from the house. This mother is relatively small. I wonder if she is a two year old, though rather impressive to have twins if she is that young. In the Park later in the day I saw another moose, a caribou, 3 baby mew gulls,…
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Wildlife Babies IV, Week 17 in Healy
On the road near home we saw a Ptarmigan and 5 chicks. We think it was a Ptarmigan as the adult clearly had feathered feet. The mother was not happy to have chicks on both sides of the road. They would run or fly from one side to the other, but didn’t seem interested in…
Me & C 