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Utqiagvik, Part 2 Polar Bears
We hoped we would see polar bears, but knew it was unlikely. They are occasionally seen near town, but if they get close are hazed aggressively to give them a healthy fear of town. By midnight before our flight out we had tried twice to get a ride to Point Barrow, learning that the road…
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Utqiagvik, Part 1
We walked on water. The Arctic Ocean is still frozen at the coast here at Utqiagvik (formerly Barrow) though this section thaws every summer. This community and area is unique and wonderful. The majority of the population is Inupiat with a deep tradition of whaling and of demanding their self-determination as a people and community.…
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Fox and Grizzlies, Week 13 in Healy
June 12 we saw this gorgeous fox on Stampede Road. Then on June 14 I watched a mother grizzly bear and her year old cub from the Park Road. Whenever they sat or stood up I enjoyed seeing them at a distance as they rolled around, interacted, and watched a raven. Mostly they laid down…
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Mind Stretching, Week 13 in Healy
As we begin our 13th week we were woken by a Gray Jay noisily attacking each of our windows. Living in a new environment keeps challenging my mind to let go of what seemed rational. Rivers go down when it is sunny and hot. Birds fly with their feet underneath them. It is dark at…
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Wildlife Babies III, Denali National Park
When I went back past the Park bus depot nearly 2 hours later no moose were visible. When C left work at 6:30, there were moose in the same general area.
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Dry Cabin Office, Week 12 in Healy
I am working for Shenandoah National Park 16 hours per week until they hire a new Recreational Fees Budget Analyst. Thanks to a cell phone booster & mobile hotspot on my phone I have been able to work remotely since we arrived in Healy. The lack of running water isn’t a big deal. The only…
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Adorable Porcupine, Week 12 in Healy
This adorable guy in Denali National Park had our vote for highlight of the day. Until we decided to drive out Stampede Road as well. Then this cooperative caribou with impressive antlers became the highlight of the day. It is early June and those antlers will keep growing for months! The scenery behind him is…
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Moose Crossing Lake
We had zero success fishing at Otto Lake this evening. We headed to the nearby lake in a cold drizzle. For the first few hours it stayed overcast and drizzled. We didn’t get a single bite. We saw lots of birds & 2 moose at a distance which was neat. Then the sun came out,…
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June Snow and Weather Summary
June 1 we woke up to a dusting of snow. Since mid-March the temperature has ranged from -24F to around 75F, though our max/min thermometer shows higher when it gets in the sun. Toward the end of the post I show max/min reading by month.
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Wildlife Babies II, Denali National Park
I saw tiny twin moose calves today! A first for this year. Today’s mother moose did NOT want her babies out in the open. So the above photo is from last year with a less cautious mother. This mom wanted a drink, but kept coming back whenever her calves tried to leave cover to follow…
Me & C
Roaming: Shenandoah River to the Alaska Range
Me & C 