New Year's Eve

This New Year's Eve Fireworks exhibition was another great one. Temperatures in the upper 20's made watching them outside enjoyable for all.

It Begins


Red Rose


A Shot in the Dark


The Grand Finale


View of Lake Clark Bible Church from Hardenburg Bay

Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses

I would venture to guess that if you were asked to name 10 activities you have done at 20 below zero Fahrenheit, horseback riding probably wouldn't be on the list. This often overlooked sub-zero activity is actually quite enjoyable if you wear the proper attire. After our Christmas dinner at my older brother's house near Fox, Alaska, we ventured out into the dark (around 4:oo pm in Fairbanks) and all got to enjoy feeding and riding the horses until we could no longer feel our toes and fingers. Afterward we enjoyed warming up beside the fireplace and snacking on Christmas goodies, including cotton candy.

Bran and my older brother


Me


Sissy ready for her turn


There's a new sheriff in town


My youngest going for a ride

Back Back Train

During the Christmas Holidays, our family spent a couple of days with family in Fairbanks, Alaska. Along the side of the road was an unusual piece of machinery, a LeTourneau "Tundra Train" or VC-22 Snow-Freighter. One of only a few overland trains produced, this strange train was built to haul equipment and machinery offering support for DEW line logistics operations in the arctic regions of Alaska.
In typical LeTourneau fashion, each of its wheels (including the trailers) was powered by its own electric motor. The electric motors received their power from a large diesel powered generator. With it's six cars, it could haul 150 tons, cross rivers up to 4 feet (1.2 m) deep, cut through snow drifts and operate at temperatures as low as -68 degrees F.

"Tundra Train"


Notice the "LET" logo


Sunset over the Train at around 1:00 PM


Some archive films of the unit in action
Part I


Part II

Merry Christmas

Hope you have a Merry Christmas!

Dark Side of the Moon

Here are a few pictures of the Lunar Eclipse from the night of Dec 20 as seen from our back deck here in Alaska.










Blood Moon

Men who Stare at ......

A few weeks ago, some friends and I ventured over to Kodiak Island for a chance of a lifetime, a combination Blacktailed Deer and Mountain Goat hunt. I have always heard that hunting Mountain Goat is a pretty hard hunt, and I would still agree. We selected what looked to be a promising location from the boat, and we were then dropped off on the beach, where we spotted several goats at the top of a peak. The terrain was steep, climbing 2,700 vertical feet in a little over two hours was difficult, especially given the thick underbrush we had to fight every step of the way. The crisp frozen air bit at our lungs as we progressed up beyond the snow line in pursuit of the goats. Our insulated coats, hats, and gloves quickly only became necessary to keep from becoming chilled when we would stop to rest as we continued to climb in just t-shirts or light jackets. Upon reaching the top of the peak we were climbing, we looked up and could see six or more goats looking down from the upper peaks some distance away. Somewhat discouraged that these might indeed be the very goats we had seen from down below, we continued to cross our peak on the chance that some goats were still at our level. Luckily we came across several goats making for the same high peaks and were able to take them. The hike down started out easily enough, but the afternoon sun had warmed the surface of the rocks and moss enough that our previously firm and stable route up the mountain now became slick and unpredictable, coupled with the extra weight of two goats in our packs we had to take our time to carefully pick our way down the mountain without injury. We managed to make it safely back down, the whole ordeal lasted only 7 hours from beach to mountain and back.

The next day we recuperated with a day of fishing, and then followed with two days of deer hunting. One afternoon while waiting for our boat to pick us up, we were entertained by watching water spouts (the equivalent of a miniature tornado or dust devil on the water). Between the four of us we left with two goats, seven deer, and a couple geese. One more thing to scratch off the bucket list.


Boats in Old Harbor, Alaska on Kodiak Island


Waiting for the illusive Sitka Black tailed Deer


Waterspouts


Halfway Up


Me and My Goat


Downward


Leaving

The Dark Side of Indoor Track Meets

This time of year as the mercury begins to plummet, and the daylight starts to diminish, it becomes a challenge to find more activities indoors after the day is gone.
After finishing carving pumpkins for our porch, we had some fun drawing with light! The kids enjoyed taking turns and enjoyed seeing the end result.

Family of Jack 'O Lanterns


My attempt


First Attempt


Ghost in the Darkness

Near Life Experience

The highlight of guiding with the float-plane this summer was being able to bring my son along with me on a trip to Twin Lakes to see and explore the famed cabin of Dick Proeneke. Dick built his cabin almost entirely with materials from the surrounding landscape, and built purely by hand. The weather was perfect and the fall colors were awesome.

Hillside above Twin Lakes


Some of the hand tools used


The Cabin


Cache or Credit?


Father & Son


Coleson's shot


Cozy

The Boys are Back

For my Birthday, a friend and I took our boys out for a camping/hunting trip. We were unable to camp at our first location due to someone's camp already there, so we found a spot that would still be fun for the boys, even if it would be a little light on game. We saw three Brown Bears (out of season), and were pretty close to one of them. The boys enjoyed jumping off some of the larger rocks into the tundra, hiking around, and of course snacking when we would stop to rest or glass the hills. They discovered that the tops of the smaller hills were"good spots for bones" and they would carry around what they had found and collected.

Our Camp


On the Lake


Blueberries


A View Up the Valley


A Good Spot for Bones


Looking for Game


A Bear Checking us out


Totally Tweaked Boneless Mutated Air (TTBMA)


Cannon Ball!


Three Amigos

Slow Down Sister

My oldest daughter has always shown the most interest in doing the things her papa does, from taking a nap to flying an airplane.
On our last trip back home from Palmer she got to sit in the copilot seat. She was excited to be able to control the airplane, the only trouble was she was sitting a little low to be able to see over the instrument panel. I used my hand as a "flight director" so she would know when to turn, climb, or descend. Using this "technique" she was able to navigate us through the mountains of Lake Clark Pass. We also would take turns pointing out any and all waterfalls we would see along the way.

My Little Copilot


"Flight Director" working with the "Autopilot"

A Guide to Marine Life

With the acquisition of my float rating, I have the opportunity to guide for the lodge with the float-plane. This can mean flying down to Katmai or Funnel Creek to do bear viewing, or just "lake hopping" in search of some good fishing and beautiful scenery.

Bears at Katmai


Anticipation


Lucky


Leftovers


Glad to not be on the menu


Fan Creek on Lake Kontrashibuna


Fishing at Fan Creek


The Creek's View


Fishing at Kijik Lake