Rain, Rain, Rain, Sun!

Up until Thursday, I think it rained for about 2 weeks straight. Rivers flooded, the only road and rail between here and Anchorage washed out, and phones killed. A week ago I tried to ATV to a sound station but the last creek I needed to cross ("Last Chance Creek" is actually it's name) was too high to drive through.

When the rain let up this week I headed back out to give it another go. The day was beautiful, the mountain was out, and I made it to the sound station. The first two pictures above I took on that trip. The big dome-shaped mountain is Denali, 20320 feet tall, and still 26 miles away. This is from the end of the park road, about 2000 feet elevation, and is the closest you can get without hiking or flying. It was an exciting day.

The other 3 photos were taken yesterday on my flight to check on the rest of the stations. My last flight with George before the contract is up and he heads back to Ketchican. We had a little fun and checked out a glacial lake with icebergs and an old helicopter crash site from back in the 1950's. The little orange plane crashed in the lake and when the military tried to lift it out with the helicopter, it crashed too. Oops... And also one of me (who will most definitely be getting a haircut the next time I go to the city) posing with the ship in my bright new nomex that makes me look like a forest fire fighter who has never worked a day in his life.

My roommate left for school yesterday so I have the place all to myself now, but it's possible someone else could get moved in.

I'm in the office today beefing up my resume for the big job application. Then I'll go play outside because it's another nice day out there, maybe a bike ride...

Hope everything is well with everyone!

Bye

Polly Wonder

Awwwww, cute like a teddy bear.

A few photos for you from last weekend.

I was tasked to install a battery and solar panel for the jet fuel pump at Kantishna airstrip. Kantishna is the town at the end of the long and winding park road, which is great because I had never been all the way out the road before. Me and a fellow C-camper drove out Friday evening and stayed at the only available accommodations: Polly Wonder cabin. The little A-frame was about a mile up an ATV road called skyline drive, which up until last week was closed due to a dispute between a private property owner and the park. So we were the first to stay there all summer and were afraid there would be some kind of infestation or something. But all was good.

There were blueberries growing all over the place so I picked a few bags of them. I think I will try my hand at a pie. Mmmmmmmm.

On the drive out we got to view a bear with 3 cubs from about 50 feet. I took the picture from the truck.

Thursday I plan to drive back out and ATV up Skyline Drive to a sound station that is at the end of it. I need to replace the microphone that a bear had munched on the last time I was there. Should be a fun time.

That's all for now. Talk to you later.

Fire Breathing Neighbor?

It turns out the C-Camp is all about theme parties... Friday night at the "circus" party I found out that my neighbor could blow fire, and at the "pirate" party a few weeks ago, George the helicopter pilot made a very convincing eye patch out of beef jerky. I can only imagine what the planned craisin-eating-contest at the "craisin" party will bring. I guess you do what you can to stay insane...

I think that it would be pretty easy to hunt Caribou. Apparently their eyesight is so bad that if you put your hands above your head as you are walking toward them, they think you have antlers and will let you get really close. So the close up caribou photos are getting to be a bit commonplace.

Last weekends Anderson Bluegrass Festival was a good time. I spent most of a night playing along with the Clark County boys and I am learning a lot on my new mandolin.

The job announcement for the continuance of my current position was announced on Wednesday. If I get it, it will keep me here for 2 years with an option to extend to 4 years. I should know around mid September if I'm in or not.

It's starting to get pretty dark at night. I saw some stars last night for the first time since i arrived.

If anyone can think of a better way to test an electric fence, I'm open to suggestions...

Hope everyone in doing well. Bye!