2010 - Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!
Here are a few pictures from our New Years Celebration in Alaska. The fireworks were being launched from the ice on the bay. It was quite the show. Something that was new for us was hearing the concussive blast echo off the surrounding mountains, it added a pretty spectacular audible element to the whole experience.

Happy New Year!





The Finale


Nothing but moonlight

Breaking Up is Hard to Do

After a brief stint of near-zero temperatures, and what can only be described as "a good start" of snow cover, we began to enjoy ice skating, sledding, and anxiously anticipating getting out the "snowmachines".
Recently our wintery outlook has changed with our weather taking a rather warm turn. Today the temperature hovered above 50 degrees for most of the day. This is just the latest and warmest day in a disappointing trend as we watch the snow and ice melt away, and our dreams of snow fun with it. This early break-up does, however, present some interesting landscapes and stunning visual imagery if you know where to look.

Nomadic Ice


Stranded "burg"


Top Shelf


Ice on the Beach


Fire & Ice

Monster

This afternoon was finally winding down. We had finished hanging the engine and rigging the skis on a newly rebuilt Stinson 108. I unfolded from the rear seats of the plane after returning from a rather chilly shakedown flight, and was met with the message that my buddy had shot a bear across the lake that is too big to move by himself. I quickly phoned Bran to meet me down by the bay with my hip boots and pack, grabbed the chainsaw winch and drove down to meet her. The boat ride across the lake drove the cold deeper with each spray of icy water across my face as the bow of the boat broke through wave after wave. As we approached the shoreline my thoughts of my personal misery dissipated as I saw my buddy standing on the beach with hands in the air in triumphant exuberance. We jumped in the inflatable jet boat and rocketed up river to the kill sight of his first Brown Bear.

The Bear "Kenny"


What Big Paws You Have