Since I've been out of the woods for a few days I've been able to think of a few things I need done around here. I've been helping Tom and Karen around the house, but I think next time we get back I'll be renting out a place in town or camping at one of the sites. It just seems easier and I wouldn't feel bad about living with these guys even though they have been more than accomidating and have told me not to worry about it. Hope al is well stateside, and grats Slackers on IC. I'll get those pictures updated sometime when I can get a reliable connection.
~Steve
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Gulkana and more...
A few days into the trip. I'm loving it. I'm still wondering what to do on my off time, as there are so many options. The stand work is great. I'm outdoors, in nature, and getting paid to do it. This is the shit I've looked forward to for a while. Once I got through next term, I'll be set. This work is the shit I was born for.
In a Van...Down by the River....
Ok, we rolled down in a truck and camped, but it was by a river, specifically the Gulkana. Here's what I got...
5/17/2008
Headed down toward Glenallen to do some plots in the region. This is basically my first trip down the Alaskan "highway" system. The views were phenomenal from just about anywhere we turned. We stopped about 15 miles north of Delta Junction to stretch our legs and for me to get a good shot of the Alaskan Range above the Tanana Flood Plain. Push comes to shove, the starter in the truck burns out. We had to push start the old bugger and get her going (thank god it's a stick), and head to the NAPA in Delta Junction. We got the starter, headed out to the UAF Farm (UAF's Ag and Forestry research stations around the state) and Tom and I wrestled to get it changed before we could finish the trip down to Glenallen area and set up camp.
One thing that stuck out was the sheer amount of wildlife we saw on the trip down. Everything from moose to hares. I think the final tally was a cow moose, two caribou, three woodland bison, two porcupine and numerous hares all just along the road. Oh, and a grizzly cub (minor detail). The Bison were off the road just south of Black Rapids Glacier and it was fascinating to see them in the wild, free roaming.
It strikes me speechless how beautiful the scenery is around here. Be it the Alaska, Chugatch, or Wrangel-St. Elias there is always a mountain range in view. It gives a whole new perspective on the 46 high peaks in the park. Since Marcy is 1/4 the size of Denali (Mt. McKinley for those who don't know they changed the name back) its a bit of a different class up here. Until later,
~SPH
5/17/2008
Headed down toward Glenallen to do some plots in the region. This is basically my first trip down the Alaskan "highway" system. The views were phenomenal from just about anywhere we turned. We stopped about 15 miles north of Delta Junction to stretch our legs and for me to get a good shot of the Alaskan Range above the Tanana Flood Plain. Push comes to shove, the starter in the truck burns out. We had to push start the old bugger and get her going (thank god it's a stick), and head to the NAPA in Delta Junction. We got the starter, headed out to the UAF Farm (UAF's Ag and Forestry research stations around the state) and Tom and I wrestled to get it changed before we could finish the trip down to Glenallen area and set up camp.
One thing that stuck out was the sheer amount of wildlife we saw on the trip down. Everything from moose to hares. I think the final tally was a cow moose, two caribou, three woodland bison, two porcupine and numerous hares all just along the road. Oh, and a grizzly cub (minor detail). The Bison were off the road just south of Black Rapids Glacier and it was fascinating to see them in the wild, free roaming.
It strikes me speechless how beautiful the scenery is around here. Be it the Alaska, Chugatch, or Wrangel-St. Elias there is always a mountain range in view. It gives a whole new perspective on the 46 high peaks in the park. Since Marcy is 1/4 the size of Denali (Mt. McKinley for those who don't know they changed the name back) its a bit of a different class up here. Until later,
~SPH
Friday, May 16, 2008
It's not quite Deliverance
Sorry I haven't updated lately folks, its going to be about once a week, as I'm normally out of town Weds-Weds in the field. I'll try and make sure I hit up Barnes and Noble or some other place in order to keep y'all updated. I added a Webshots link to all of my photos and such.
So anyway, I'm three days into work and loving it. My feet are killing me, my hands are calloused again and the fresh air is downright amazing. Surveying these plots will be one of the highlights of my feeble life so far. The crew I'm working with seems like good people and Tom and his family have been amazing to me, allowing me to crash in their loft until after the first trip and still base from there after.
We're about to head out for the Glennallen region, which in itself will take us through the Alaska Range, into interior Alaska. The link is a googlemaps satellite image of the area. It's right on the edge of Wrangel-St. Elias National Park. All in all it will be a great trip and I'm looking forward to some diverse foliage and some great pictures.
So anyway, I'm three days into work and loving it. My feet are killing me, my hands are calloused again and the fresh air is downright amazing. Surveying these plots will be one of the highlights of my feeble life so far. The crew I'm working with seems like good people and Tom and his family have been amazing to me, allowing me to crash in their loft until after the first trip and still base from there after.
We're about to head out for the Glennallen region, which in itself will take us through the Alaska Range, into interior Alaska. The link is a googlemaps satellite image of the area. It's right on the edge of Wrangel-St. Elias National Park. All in all it will be a great trip and I'm looking forward to some diverse foliage and some great pictures.
Fairbanks the city...
May 13, 2008
Well, push comes to shove I walked around Fairbanks today. Quaint little town, a lot of Inuit on the streets and such and its fairly spread out for foot traffic, but overall its nice. Ate lunch at a good Thai place and got a ton of info on what I can do during the off-times that I have. Basically wandered around the town getting a lay of the lands. UAF is a great campus, not too big, but houses quite a few people and the facilities are nice. We’re getting gear situated tomorrow and starting surveying some local plots on Thursday. Gonna be heading downstate starting on Saturday and will be out until Wednesday, so I won’t have much to write about then. Think I’ll try and find an internet café or something in Fairbanks so I can actually post this stuff, including the pictures I snagged on the plane.
Well, push comes to shove I walked around Fairbanks today. Quaint little town, a lot of Inuit on the streets and such and its fairly spread out for foot traffic, but overall its nice. Ate lunch at a good Thai place and got a ton of info on what I can do during the off-times that I have. Basically wandered around the town getting a lay of the lands. UAF is a great campus, not too big, but houses quite a few people and the facilities are nice. We’re getting gear situated tomorrow and starting surveying some local plots on Thursday. Gonna be heading downstate starting on Saturday and will be out until Wednesday, so I won’t have much to write about then. Think I’ll try and find an internet café or something in Fairbanks so I can actually post this stuff, including the pictures I snagged on the plane.
First Night
May 13, 2008
Got I to Alaska last night at around 8:00, flight was late, but damn it was a beautiful descent. I can’t imagine what some of the “real” mountains look like. In hindsight I completely mispacked based on spatial scale. I should have just brought my backpack and daypack like I was planning… but I expected the college to be in town, and walkable from wherever I was camped, and I could store my stuff there. However, such is not the case.
I’m staying at Tom’s house for the time being, until we hit the field. He seems like a great guy, as is his family, and they were more than accommodating and helpful. I must have looked like a deer in headlights when we were driving to his house. The rolling hills around Fairbanks remind me a lot of the southeast region of the ‘Dacks. The tree cover is mostly short black spruce, taller white spruce, Alaskan birch and the occasional poplar. Damn sunlight is odd to get used to. It was 10:30 when I crashed last night and still “early dusk” by our standards. Then I woke up at 6am to full sunlight. I’m glad I can sleep through anything.
Got I to Alaska last night at around 8:00, flight was late, but damn it was a beautiful descent. I can’t imagine what some of the “real” mountains look like. In hindsight I completely mispacked based on spatial scale. I should have just brought my backpack and daypack like I was planning… but I expected the college to be in town, and walkable from wherever I was camped, and I could store my stuff there. However, such is not the case.
I’m staying at Tom’s house for the time being, until we hit the field. He seems like a great guy, as is his family, and they were more than accommodating and helpful. I must have looked like a deer in headlights when we were driving to his house. The rolling hills around Fairbanks remind me a lot of the southeast region of the ‘Dacks. The tree cover is mostly short black spruce, taller white spruce, Alaskan birch and the occasional poplar. Damn sunlight is odd to get used to. It was 10:30 when I crashed last night and still “early dusk” by our standards. Then I woke up at 6am to full sunlight. I’m glad I can sleep through anything.
On the Plane?
May 12, 2008
Well, I’m on the plane from Minnesota to Alaska, and currently over the northern edge of the Manitoba wilderness. Some of the views out here are absolutely breathtaking. Looking out onto still frozen lakes and the rippling cloud cover above them is just surreal. Luckily I was able to get exposure out my window with the new camera (I love this thing). Anymore, more to come, here are the shots.
Monday, May 12, 2008
It Begins...
So here I am, sitting in Hancock International in Syracuse... Bored off my skull, people watching (Trust me, in Syracuse, you see some winners), and waiting for the connection to Detroit. Then, Minneapolis, and then the big 7 hour job to Fairbanks.
I can't tell if I'm excited as hell, nervous as hell, or all of the above. It's definitely going to be different, hiking the Alaskan Backcountry for three months, living out of a tent.
Once I get there I'm going to be in for a shock, both visually and culturally. I guess they're already up to 16 hours of daylight up there, and weather is about like early summer around home, so that won't be bad. Had to pay an extra fifty bucks to get all my gear up there, but you figure the main bag I threw everything in weighed about 15 pounds in itself, fully contained my pack should be around 35-40 which is about what I was shooting for, and my boots will be on my feet instead of packed. All in all its about the minimum I could throw in there for three months in a different world.
Also, for any of you wondering about the title of the blog, Preab San Ol is traditional Gaelic that roughly translates to "Another Round." Its an abbreviated form of "Chur preab san ol" or "Move the drink along." I figured it was fitting title for the next few months. Anyway, more to come soon...
I can't tell if I'm excited as hell, nervous as hell, or all of the above. It's definitely going to be different, hiking the Alaskan Backcountry for three months, living out of a tent.
Once I get there I'm going to be in for a shock, both visually and culturally. I guess they're already up to 16 hours of daylight up there, and weather is about like early summer around home, so that won't be bad. Had to pay an extra fifty bucks to get all my gear up there, but you figure the main bag I threw everything in weighed about 15 pounds in itself, fully contained my pack should be around 35-40 which is about what I was shooting for, and my boots will be on my feet instead of packed. All in all its about the minimum I could throw in there for three months in a different world.
Also, for any of you wondering about the title of the blog, Preab San Ol is traditional Gaelic that roughly translates to "Another Round." Its an abbreviated form of "Chur preab san ol" or "Move the drink along." I figured it was fitting title for the next few months. Anyway, more to come soon...
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