Alaska in the fall

Ten days in confined spaces is the ultimate test of a friendship. Between contracts, and waiting for the school year to begin, I jumped in a friend's car with Cheryl and beelined it up to Alaska. Stealing a tarp on the way from a friend's relatives (mostly accidental) we made it as far as the Kenai Peninsula and while raining its guts out, we were able to appreciate our three non-rain days.    

I even slept on a picnic table in the Yukon on a rare clear night and let the stars be my blankie. Other highlights include being RIGHTTHERE when a humpback popped up beside the boat, and seeing a glacier calve. Whoa. Throw in some g-bears snacking on various stages of dying salmon, hilarious locals that ensured our pints weren't empty for long and stunning, dramatic scenery and we were two happy, if occasionally/consistently soggy, Canadians.

 

 

 

 

 

   

  

   

 

 

Sheep lately

Famed for their eating, CFI utilizes sheep in drainages we aren't permitted to use herbicide.

Sheep and their gigantic guard hounds

The Janelle Bear in her native habitat

A block post sheep

Spruce where?

Mimulus guttatus

Herbicide scenic flight

One major perk and massive downside of silviculture is the occasional helicopter flying. Two weeks ago, torrential rains washed out a handful of our roads as rising waters swept through Chetwynd, British Columbia flooding basements and making rivers out of roads. Lack of truck access takes us to the sky as trees, planters and gear are flown in all in the name of reforestation.

In addition to a planting heli-show, it's quicker and infinitely more efficient to hire a machine and check on blocks either herbicided last year or slated to be nuked this year. After a buggy and muggy morning with one of Nata's checkers, my boss picked me up for a scenic, if churning stomach afternoon flight.

Setting down to give our tummies a break, this was our view

Lifting off again

Sukunka area

Andy, a true, rare and unfortunately soon retiring gem

Between Tumbler Ridge and Chetwynd

Cow Moose Saturday

Snow?!? What?!?

View of Bullmose from the back

My hiking mateys

Cow Moose summit

Looking out

The express route down

Marten?

Us

Valley between Bull and Cow Moose

Money in the Stank

Walking home at 6 am after a girlfriend's birthday House Crawl has its advantages

Leaf out close up

I climbed that hill to see what I could see - and because I had to

Just after the Highrise bridge

Hmmm, paycheque

Petasites palmatus

Windfall

Itsa bear!

(Un)packing bombs

As I call another place home, bear bangers are exchanged for quick-dry towels. Silk sleepsheets are traded for fresh caulks. Passports are temporarily put away as I search for my hidden PAL and supporting firearms paperwork. Duct tape stays out year round. Boreal plants and identifying books remember what sun is. Guide books to warmer places are stashed until needed again in seven months time.

Here's the inevitable mess of moving, packing and unpacking - however and where ever temporarily.

(Uni 2010 to Sharklab 2010)

(Orion tries on my sleepsheet prior to Scotland)

(Summer 2010 to U.K. 2010)

(London flat to Cambodia 2010)

(Chetwynd summer home 2011)