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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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Blueberries, Week 19 in Healy
July 23, blueberries are coming out strong. We have a few wild blueberries in sight of the house, and loads of them less than a mile away. C doesn’t like eating them, but was kind enough to pick. What a lovely hour, spending time outdoors with my favorite person, hearing birds chirping, seeing views above…
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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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Teklanika Campground and the Tek Pass
If you have read many of my posts, you know I like the Denali National Park transit bus system. During the summer I usually ride the free bus to Savage River once a week. To go further into the Park via the East Fork Transit Bus, it costs about $35 for the day (plus an…
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Wildlife Count, 3 Nights at Teklanika Campground
On our drive to Teklanika Campground we saw 11 Ptarmigan dust bathing and getting digestive gravel for their crops. Mom and Dad work together raising the 9 chicks. It was the start of a wonderful 4-day/3-night experience. For the Denali Big Five seen during our 3 night stay: around 50 Dall sheep sitings, 16 Caribou,…
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Caribou, Moose, and Dall Sheep
My parents and I took at least 7 transit bus rides during our 3 nights at Teklanika Campground (love the Tek Pass). We saw all of the Denali Big Five, including lots of caribou, lots of Dall sheep, and one moose. I was thrilled to see so many caribou and see some caribou females and…
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Grizzlies, Cubs, and Tracks
While taking the East Fork Transit Buses from Teklanika Campground, my parents and I saw 5 or 6 grizzly bears. We had gone hiking at Tattlers Creek our second day, not knowing what we would see there 2 days later. In retrospect the bear prints on the side of the road were a clue! We…
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Wolf
While C continued working an 18 day stretch, my parents and I spent 3 nights at Teklanika Campground in Denali National Park. We saw all of the big 5! While I hope to write a couple posts on our Teklanika stay, I will start with the wolf on our last day. With only 90ish wolves…
Me & C
Roaming: Shenandoah River to the Alaska Range
Me & C 