Tok-Gateway to Alaska!

On Mother’s day, our family got together and we made what is becoming our traditional Mother’s day trip to Tok (sounds like Poke) Alaska. We like to eat at a restaurant called Fast Eddy's, (owned by the Young family) that has some of the best food in Alaska’s interior. Course we have to travel over 100 miles to get there. But it is so worth the trip, beautiful scenery all the way.

A scenic view of the Tanana River, going to Tok, on the Alaska Highway


Picture by K. Fields

The roads are clear of ice and snow, and our speed limits have just been raised a few years ago to 65 miles per hour, so it really doesn’t take that long to get there. And it makes a nice change of scenery. The Rivers are flowing freely now, even with huge layers of Ice on the edges.

The beautiful half frozen Tanana River, with a snowy mountain backdrop

Picture by K. Fields

Along the road pullouts there are very nicely done, and very informational historical signs posted to tell about the area you are at and what makes it special.

Very Nice Information Signs on the Alaska Highway rest areas on the way to Tok



Picture by K. Fields

Tok was actually named after a husky pup on August 15, 1942 when the U.S. Army’s Corp (the 97th engineers—an all black corps) were breaking trail north from Slana on what is now the Tok Cutoff. They were working their way to the point where they would intersect with and begin breaking trail southeast on what would become the Alaska Highway. Their job consisted of not only building the road, but naming points along the way. The young pup, named Tok, was their beloved mascot, and upon their arrival at where Tok now is, it was unanimously decided to name the junction after the pup. Excerpt from local author and historian, Donna Blasor-Bernhardt in “Tok, The Real Story” (1996).

Artistic Information sign at one of the rest stops on the way to Tok

Picture by K. Fields

Tok is not a highly populated place, approx 1400 people live there. Which has always surprised me as it is the first city you come to after crossing the Canada/Alaska border which is 93 miles from Tok. In fact it hardly looks like a city at all:

Middle of Tok, view on the right, with beautiful mountain range backdrop

Picture by K. Fields

Middle of Tok, view to the left, expansive beautiful skies!

Picture by K. Fields

I love traveling to Tok, I do it maybe twice a year, and it always is a worthwhile trip. The beauty that is around every corner during the trip, somehow seems to refresh my spirit.

CU

Cache It Away!

One thing that is pretty common in the rural areas of Alaska is the food cache, usually a small building on long log legs, so that it is high up in the air, with a wooden ladder that can be leaned up against the cache to climb up into it…

Alaska Food Cache

Picture By K. Fields

It’s original use is for food storage. Keeping food up away from living area (tent, cabin, etc) helped lessen the chance of invasion of wild animals forging for food. Bears, wolverine etc… A long wooden ladder usually lies on the ground next to it, when the cache isn’t being used.

Cache-tiny door, metal covered legs, peaked roof

Picture by K. Fields

The wooden food cache is capable of holding quite a bit of food; depending on the size, most are approximately 4ft. X 4ft X 4ft in size, with a peaked roof with 15 to 20 ft tall wooden legs. It usually had a small door as the only entry way into the cache. They are usually located within 100 feet of the owners living area.

Larger Food Cache, with thatched roof

Picture by K. Fields

They also have metal bands near the top around each leg so that squirrels cannot get into the cache. If they do get in, they will destroy everything in it, and then start storing their food caches of pine cones, garbage etc. for the winter.

Decorative Food Cache with guide wires

Picture by K. Fields

Some caches are use to store more then food, some have extra clothes, heavy coats and winter wear, and blankets and the supplies for first aid, dry matches and any extra medications, and so if the cabin should happen to burn down in the middle of winter, you have a chance of surviving with the things stored in the cache

CU

Manchester the Moose!

We had a visitor on our property. He has a broad, pendulous muzzle and is a hoofed mammal of the deer family, He is still very young! He was pulling the bark of the wild willow trees/bushes growing on our property. I decided to name him, Manchester.

Young Male Moose-Looking for more Willow branches to chew on

Picture by K. Fields

You can see the knobs on his head just above his eyes where his enormous palmate (shaped like an open palm or like a hand with the fingers extended) antlers will start growing soon. He must be around a year old. His mother is probably deeper in the trees. He is still young but dangerous, he is fun to watch but he will stomp you if you try to get close. His mother will try to kill you if she sees you anywhere around her baby, Mother moose are very protective of their babies, including their year old big babies.

Picture of the same moose through a screened window

Picture by K. Fields

This “little” guy must weigh around 400 1bs and stand a little over 5 feet, so he has some growing left to do... He is still a little thin from the long winter and has shed his baby fur coat, and now new thicker, darker, heavier fur will replace it.

I was curious on what the name moose means so I looked it up and according to the Online Etymology Dictionary. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/moose. The name “is derived, from an Algonquian language, probably Narragansett moos (cf. Abenaki mus, Penobscot muns), said by early sources to be from moosu "he strips off," in reference to the animals' stripping bark for food.” Which is exactly what they do, strip the bark off the willows for food.

Picture of Male Moose with clearer view of the Antler bumps above his eyes

Picture by K. Fields

As you can see by the picture it is still pretty brown around here, not much spring foliage yet. The moose survive on eating the green buds, grass, leaves, and bark off the trees. (Oh! And my garden when it is ready to harvest!) Hard to believe something that big can survive off those few things and grow even bigger, and stay strong and healthy…Hmmm, maybe I need to take a closer look at his diet; I could stand to lose a few pounds.

Moose caught sight of me taking his picture!

Picture by K. Fields

CU

Alaska Tree Tumors!

We have a natural, growth phenomena on our trees in Alaska. They are called burls, and they are woody growths on the trunks of our Spruce, Birch, and a few other types of trees. You can find them easily in the wooded areas, which is just about all of Alaska. Some people refer to them as tumors.

Small Spruce Tree with Burls growing

Picture by K. Fields

A burl is a deformed growth that are mostly found on the trunks of the trees, sometimes the branches. It can be caused by an injury, which happens often to the trees in the area where I live, because they grow so closely together that their branches damage each other during high winds.

And the wildlife can also damage some trees. Other reasons could be an infection in the tree under the bark, insect infestation, fungus or it could just be where a branch has never matured.

Black Spruce with burls all the way up the trunk Picture by K. Fields

Burls can be anywhere in size from the size of the knuckle on one of your fingers, up to hundreds of pounds, and some could be as large as 4 ft. I have a friend who removed one from a tree that was 6 ft tall and about 4 ft round. It was huge…

Then they sliced the burl up and dried it out, then sanded it till smooth and covered it with wood sealer and lots of coats of varnish, and used them for table tops. They are stunningly beautiful…

Sliced Spruce Burl Table Top with Peeled Aspen Burl legs Picture by K. Fields

The burls do not seem to have any effect on the growth of the trees, they grow normally and live a long time, unless the burl has grown so big that the weight can cause the tree to break or die.

But since we seem to have a plethora of them where I live, they are used for all sorts of things, banisters on staircases, mailbox poles, decorative pillars on porches, and deck fencing. The wood is prized because of the unique shapes and ring patterns of swirls and twirls.

Duck made from willow branches for the wings, and Aspen Burls for the body

Picture by Steve Fields

But some of them are just too old and rotted out to use for anything useful, but that doesn’t stop Alaskans from having a little fun with them.

Baby Moose made with Spruce Burls and wobbly aspen tree with burls Picture by Steve Fields

Hermit Crab made with Spruce Burls and Aspen Burl branches Picture by Steve Fields

Brown Bear made with Spruce BurlsPicture by Steve Fields

Caribou made with Spruce Burls and Aspen burl legs with real Caribou Antlers Picture by Steve Fields

Mosquito made with Willow branches for wings, and spruce burl body, and legs and Aspen Burl stinger

Picture by Steve Fields

This burl mosquito has been claimed to be a real close size of the Alaska mosquito. :)

Thanks for reading!

CU

Pinching Pennies for fuel!

Right now, here in Alaska, gasoline prices have soared! Just as our tourist season starts (which many Alaskans depend on the tourist's buying power to make a living) our already highly priced gasoline has reached new levels...

I find it strange that they never seem to lower but a few pennies after being hiked up 30-40-60-80 cents.. Then they just continually add 5-10-15 cents over a couple of months period...

Gas prices where I live range from $4.25 to $4.50 a gallon...That may seem high to some but in the villages in this state, gasoline prices have soared to over 6 bucks a gallon. Our heating fuel costs are $4.65 a gallon...

Totally unreal for a place that's pumping billions of gallons of oil out of the ground and refining it right here! Soon many will have to leave the state because they cannot afford to live here...

Alaska is known for taking care of it's own, but even with the yearly dividend it's citizens receive, it's not enough to put a dent in the staggering cost of fuel... and other energy costs...and the prices skyrocketing on food and essentials because of said fuel prices...so my question is...will this get past the Legislature?

If you click on http://www.ktva.com/ci_9287302 it will direct you to an article written by Andrea Gusty, a CBS 11 News Reporter.
Titled: "Energy relief plan for Alaska
1.2 billion dollar plan stirs controversy"

The plan is basically reduce the energy cost impact on Alaskans. Which would be a hundred dollars a month on a Energy rebate cards.

More on the plan can be found here:
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/archive.php?id=1152&type=1

Here is an excerpt:
“The Energy Debit Card will go out to every qualifying Permanent Fund Dividend applicant. The benefit will be $100 per month per PFD recipient. The amount allocated for children’s benefits will accrue to the card of the sponsor on their PFD application. Money not used on the card one month will carry over to the next month. It is expected that the amount available to individuals through the card will be considered income by the IRS.

The temporary Energy Debit Card can be used for purchases from Alaska energy vendors, such as heating oil distributors, natural gas utilities, electric utilities, gas stations and other retail fueling stations.”

There have been some (environmentalists) who disagree with this short term plan of 1 year. Even to suggest that all Alaskans have to do, is turn out our lights when not in use…hmmm...this statement alone makes me wonder if the person who made that suggestion has ever lived in Alaska. Here are several reasons why that suggestion is quite worthless.

1. In Alaska there are a big percentage of people that live in areas where it is dark 5 months out of the year, and to suggest that we turn off lights is ludicrous...And during the summer months where the sun shines 22 hours out of the day we don't need lights.

2. Second, we don’t just rely on electricity for an only energy source. We also use fuel for heating. And to suggest we cut back on that...well... my question in return is how you cut back on heating fuel consumption at -40 outside.

3. We have long distance driving all over Alaska, things are not just a few miles apart, but 100’s, so cutting back on our gasoline consumption is something Alaskan people have learned how to do a long time ago, so they can afford to get from one place to another.

4. Bicycles, motorcycles, etc are useless on the interior of Alaska highways, 5 to 6 months a year, due to icy roads and extreme freezing temps.

I am not saying that environmentalists are bad, it's a good thing to have our planet's best interest at heart, or at least most of them do.

But they need to look at the whole picture before spouting off bright ideas to people who are living in the midst of higher prices on everything, (especially when compared to any place else in the United States) long distances to drive to get from point a to point b (with no population between point a and b) extreme weather conditions (-50’s in the winters and +90’s in the summer) and income variations, etc. etc. etc.

This energy impact plan is only a temporary fix…it will not solve the problem but it may help alleviate some of the impact until something else can be worked out.

CU

Beautiful Ice Mountains!

Someone sent these pictures to me, and they remind me so much of the Icebergs that we see calve off the glaciers here in Alaska. So I wanted to share them with you, and some interesting information I have on Icebergs.

Beautiful Dome Shaped Blue Streak Iceberg

Picture by Unknown

Iceberg means Ice Mountain! An Arctic iceberg usually calves (breaks off) from a glacier. These glaciers can be thousands of years old.
A floating iceberg can drift with the flow of the water about 0.7 kilometers per hour. But the shape and size of the iceberg can affect that as can the waves and winds.

Interesting Iceberg Shape Meanings:

Tabular; An iceberg that is shaped like flat sheet .

Dome; An Iceberg with a rounded top.

Pinnacle; An iceberg with one or more spires. A spire is a tapering conical or pyramidal structure.

Dry-Dock; An iceberg that has eroded to form a slot or channel

Wedge; An iceberg with a steep edge on one side and a slope on the opposite side

Blocky; An Iceberg with steep, vertical sides and a flat top, shaped like a block.

Icebergs in the Antarctic area sometimes have stripes, formed by
Layers of snow that react to different conditions.

Blue stripes are often created when a crevice in the ice sheet
Fills up with melt water and freezes so quickly that no bubbles form.

Beautiful Pinnacle Shaped Striped IcebergPicture by Unknown

When an iceberg falls into the sea, a layer of salty seawater can
Freeze to the underside. If this is rich in algae, it can form a
Green stripe.

Brown, black and yellow lines are caused by sediment, picked up
when the ice sheet grinds downhill towards the sea.

Beautiful Tabular Shaped Striped Iceberg Picture by Unknown

Icebergs are very dangerous to boats, and ships, I am sure everyone has seen the movie Titanic… It depends on the size and shape and location on how much problems a iceberg can be, for instance, any icebergs in known shipping lands, because of the large mass, they can cause extreme damage to ships.

Even though most of them can be detected on the ship’s radars, the smaller (growlers or bergy bits) ones can cause the most damage and are harder for the radar to detect and get around in time even if they are the size of small vessels. Also, radar has a hard time detecting the icebergs that are smooth. Like the sheet (tabular) iceberg or the smaller smooth Dome shaped icebergs.

Beautiful Blue Striped Pinnacle IcebergPicture by Unknown

It can be very difficult to tell the size of the iceberg by looking at what is floating above water. Usually the iceberg bigger side is under the water, actually only one-tenth of the iceberg is above the water. Which is where the saying “tip of the iceberg” comes in, usually meaning that the visible trouble is only a small manifestation of a bigger problem.

Computer generated Picture of how an Iceberg really looks under the water

When we go to see the Portage Glacier here in Alaska, there's always Icebergs floating in the water you can touch them, but you are warned not to climb on them, because an Iceberg could turn upside down unexpectedly, and you could get caught and drown. Professional Iceberg walkers are called Iceberggers.

CU

Shake, Rattle and Roll!

Earth quake statistics for Alaska, I knew that we had a lot of earthquakes here, because I have an email service that sends me notices of any earthquake 4.5 and over that occur all over the world. And Alaska is listed daily, most don’t affect us in the interior of Alaska, and half the time we don’t even feel the ones that are big enough to cause a stir. So I was amazed at the statistic chart on this web page:

http://seagrant.uaf.edu/features/earthquake/facts1.html

Road sunk in from 2002 7.9 Earthquake
Picture by Steve Fields

Here is some of what they listed:
Each year about 5,000 to 6,000 earthquakes shake the state of Alaska. That's an average of more than 13 each day!
Alaska has 11 percent of the world's earthquakes
Alaska has 52 percent of all the earthquakes in the United States.
Three of the six largest earthquakes in the world were in Alaska.
Seven of the ten largest earthquakes in the United States were in Alaska.

7.9 2002 Alaska Earthquake ground level changes

Picture by Unknown

7.9 ground shifting Earthquake broke the road in half

Picture by Steve Fields

Whew! I thought it seemed we always were having Earthquakes, the one I do remember very clearly was just a few years ago, it measured 7.9, was felt around the continent. It was one of the strongest ever recorded in the United States. This earthquake was so strong I couldn’t stand on my feet, or even attempt to walk, the whole building rocked back and forth; the ground was actually grinding and groaning so loud we were shouting to each other in the same room in order to be heard.

Huge crack in the Highway from 7.9 2002 Alaska Earthquake Picture by Steve Fields

I praise God that no-one died, there was only one injury (broken leg) from something falling on someone during the quake. There was a lot of property damage, and some houses in the surrounding villages were knocked off their pilings, and had to be lifted up and damage repaired. There were huge cracks in the highways where we live, you couldn’t drive on or around them the ground shifted higher in some places and sank in others.

Huge Crack and Hole in the Highway from 7.9 Alaska Earthquake, 2002 Picture by Unknown

One thing about rural Alaska, the structures here are solidly built, mostly with wood which seems more flexible during ground movement. There wasn’t much heavy duty structure damages, just minimal things like things falling over, knocked off shelves, some windows shattered and some ground damage of short cracks here and there. Some of the supports that hold up the Alaska Oil Pipeline were damaged and had to be repaired, but even the pipe held up beautifully.

Road Damage from the ground shifting of 7.9 Alaska Earthquake.2002

Picture by Steve Fields

It seemed during this quake, that it lasted forever. I had to hold onto a door frame near a wall to keep from falling, and the sound was deafening, after it was done, it got so quiet it was unreal. Now and then you could hear a child cough, and the air was full of dust, from dirt floating in the air from the massive movement of the ground. As we were hanging on to the doors, we were looking out a window watching parked cars that looked like they were galloping from the movement of the ground.

It was a pretty strange feeling to have the ground under you so out of control. And the aftershocks were about every hour or so for a long time and that kept people nervous, but eventually they stopped or got so small we didn’t notice them anymore.

Alaska has been really blessed with minimal casualties and injuries with some of the largest Earthquakes recorded in the United States!

Here is some information on this website on what to do during an earthquake, the only thing I can say is stay calm, screaming hysterically and running around in circles, does not do anything but frighten others. You need to keep a clear head just in case someone may need your help! You can have a nervous breakdown later when everyone is safe!

http://www.ceri.memphis.edu/aware/survival.html

CU

Whole Lotta’ Shakin’ Going on!

Alaska is one place known for having Earthquakes, there is almost one daily somewhere on this massive land mass State.

Property's were completely destroyed by ground shifting.

Picture by Unknown!

Whenever there is a shaker anywhere on this earth, the famous earthquake in 1964 is brought up. It was registered as 9.2 and there were massive extensive damages that occurred.

Mudslides caused by the Earthquake caused extensive damagePicture by Unknown

Plus, the further damage by the tsunamis that were created by it. It was the second largest earth quake in the world. Yet only 15 people died from the actual earthquake itself, this does not count those caught in tsunamis which I believe was 125.

Ground levels changed, some sunk, some rose higher!

Picture by Unknown

Ground levels were permanently changed

Picture by Unknown

Even today there are still signs of damage and changes left by this major quake!

Schools were ripped apart by ground level changes

Picture by Unknown

It just happened to be a holiday...Good Friday when the earthquake hit, or there would have been many more casualties and injuries, as all the schools in Anchorage were destroyed or badly damaged

Deep cravasses were formed along the ground!Picture by Unknown

Another reason for so few deaths is because of the lower population at the time. And the buildings were made of wood! More flexible!

Here is some information on this website on what to do during an earthquake, the only thing I can say is stay calm; screaming hysterically and running in circles does not do anything but frighten others. You need to keep a clear head just in case someone needs your help!

http://www.ceri.memphis.edu/aware/survival.html

More to come on Earthquakes in Alaska!

CU

Log Cabins Galore!

Alaska definably is a State that is big on living in Log Cabins. We have lots of older privately owned Cabins from 80-90 years or more... ago..Funny thing about logs, you can readjust them, re chink them, and put on a new roof and wa-la home! They are also very warm and cozy inside.
I took a few photos of some of the cabins near where I live to give you an idea of what I am talking about. There will be more photos coming!

Beautiful Newer Model Log Cabin

Picture by K. Fields

We have some newer Log Cabins being built all over the place here. They are so beautiful they can take your breath away when you see them!
They have all the modern conveniences like electricity, phones, satellite dish hookups, septic, well water, fuel boiler for heating, etc.

Beautiful Modern and Popular Style Log Cabin
Picture by K. Fields

We also have the Log Cabins that have been here since I can remember and that has been over 20 years! They are well taken care of and are still just as sturdy and beautiful as when they were first built!

Older Model Log Cabin that has been well loved!

Picture by K. Fields

Many Log House owner agree that the logs used in their homes are just as warm as conventional built house with lumber and drywall/insulation. The hold the warmth better in the winter, and they stay cooler in the summer. Which can be a big savings on heating and cooling bills..

Older Model Log Cabin: Well loved!

Picture by K. Fields

Another interesting fact that I have been told is that Log Cabins are better in fires, who’da thought? I automatically figured the dry wooden logs would go up like a lit match! But the reason they say this is because the logs are slow burning, which gives time to the occupants to get everyone out and safe and to put out the fire!

Beautiful Older Model Log Cabin that has been handed down from generation to generation!

Picture by K. Fields

We also have some log cabins that have been sitting empty for a while waiting for new owners or tenants! Another reason why Log Cabins are so popular is because they fit so well into the scenic beauty of Alaska, they are picturesque in appearance, that blends in to the surrounding natural beauty, and they also have a rustic look that fits so well with the people that choose to make their homes in Alaska.

Older Model Log Cabin, waiting for new owner!

Picture by K. Fields

Another Plus in building your own log cabin is you can build it the way you want it. Large or small, upstairs or one story, with or without a full basement. Your only limitations are your own imagination on what you want

Cool looking older model Log Cabin waiting! Picture by K. Fields

Empty Log cabins which just break my heart seeing them sit there all lonely and empty!
A Log Cabin being made of logs usually from local trees, fit in with the environment, can be considered a renewable natural resource and it seems to last forever when well cared for.

Old Log Cabin giving historical ambiance to the area

Picture by K. Fields

Because a Log Cabin is made from wood, it is less damaging environmentally speaking, and it can be lower in cost for the materials, you can if you are ambitious cut down your own trees, peel off the bark and let dry, and build your own , at no cost to you, except for your time and effort.

Really Cute! Really Small Log Cabin! Picture by K. Fields

Even the dogs have Log Cabins houses

Heavy Duty weather worn sliced log Dog House

CU

Beware of Ice!

This time of the year is so wonderful; it is nice to feel the warm sun on your skin after a long dark winter. Everyone is out and about enjoying the beautiful weather, the temps are in the comfy 40’s and 50’s, t-shirt weather to most of us, who have acclimated to -20’s and -30’s. The days are longer, it is still bright as day outside at 10:30 at night, and a dusk light till around 12:00 p. m.

We still have to remember to be careful as the weather is nicer, but the temps still drop down below freezing at night or when we get a cloud covering the sun for any time length of over 10 minutes…temps drop quickly, and if you are not dressed properly you will be exposed to the cold and can get hypothermia (An abnormally low body temperature, often caused by prolonged exposure to cold.) which can be deadly!

So it is best if you are dressed in T-Shirt, that you carry a medium weight jacket with you wherever you go in case you need it, the same with extra pants if you are in shorts. Clean dry socks and even extra shoes if you can..

Because even if you are driving somewhere, if your car should break down or you have an accident, things cool off really quickly and everything is really wet and muddy, so if you have to walk anywhere it is best to be prepared.

Also, the snow has melted in most places and things are flooding here and there, but will really be dangerous this next month as the mountain areas start melting and the water drains into the rivers, overflowing in some areas. So we must be aware of flash flooding if we are around any rivers, including fishing.

In addition, most of the lakes are still frozen, it is a sad thing we hear year after year, that someone has gone through the ice on a snow machine, four-wheeler or vehicle, because the ice is soft, and you can’t always tell how soft until too late.

In Alaska it is common to use the ice covered lakes as roadways to reach places you normally would have to boat, or fly to, in summer weather and this time of the year is most dangerous, because the ice still looks safe on the top looking down, but may be weakened from the warmer water underneath, causing a weak spot on the ice which can not hold weight.

Beautiful Frozen lake, Black spots on the lake are from ice fisherman's campfires

Picture by K. Fields

One good rule of thumb to help you to know that it is dangerous is the ice pulls away from the shoreline. Now I know most of you are thinking…well…duh! But when you live here, you tend to get lax on these issues, and take chances.

When ice pulls away from the shoreline, it is a good idea to stay off the ice!

Picture by K. Fields

Another way to tell if the ice is weakened, is if you feet or vehicle leave slushy marks on the top of the ice. This time of the year, that is a sure sign the ice is melting quickly so you should be wise and stay off.

Slushy tracks left on the ice is a sure sign of quickly melting ice…Beware!

Picture by K. Fields

People have lost countless snow machines, vehicles, ATVs, Ice houses-(usually a wooden shack sitting out on the frozen lake, used for sitting inside while fishing from holes drilled through the ice, they even build little campfires on the ice, it is an amazing sight) and sometimes precious lives.

People have fallen through the ice this time of year, and can’t get back out, because they can’t find the hole they fell into, or the ice keeps breaking off as they try and climb out, and they end up with hypothermia and their limbs won’t move anymore and they just sink, and can’t be found until the ice melts, or possibly never, if this happens in a river with water moving underneath dragging them away.

I know this sounds morbid, but this is what happens every year, so I cannot stress enough how important it is to be very cautious on the frozen lakes and streams right now.

CU

Side note:

Right after I finished with this blog I got a phone call from a friend of mine, she is Eskimo and her family lives in Point Hope, they go Whaling this time of year, they use the Whale meat and blubber to survive the winters where they are located. So they are permitted to hunt a certain amount of Whale each year, it is a celebration if they get even one! ( and before all you Whale lovers out there start ranting, you should know that this is just about all they have plus arctic hare, and berries in the summer to survive on all winter. They do not have grocery stores and shopping malls, it is their way of life, their culture and nothing gets wasted...)They harvested a Whale, and many natives were helping to cut it up and prepare for storage, when the ice they were on broke away from the shoreline, and now they and the harvested Whale are drifting out to sea on a sheet of ice. There are rescuers on boats from shore to help, and a helicopter will also be required. This rarely happens where they live, everything is still frozen.

Beauty in Break-Up!

Tho...I have already told my tales of woe during Spring Break-Up! There are really some beautiful sights, that you won’t see any other time of the year!

Piles of Thick Broken Ice Pieces along the River!

Picture by K. Fields

It is a wonder to see the ice cracked and broken laying in piles in the rivers! I am always amazed at how thick the ice is…yet it still breaks.

Edges of Thick Broken Ice along a Swift River

Picture by K. Fields

And to see the water flowing swiftly again through the broken ice, taken back it’s ground is actually quite breathtaking!

The Beauty of a Silt Grey Sparkling River with Newly Broken Ice.
Picture by K. Fields

And the sound of the water flowing so swiftly, moving over the ice and frozen natural debris is awesome, it has an exciting, rushing, exhilaration to it. Rather then the quiet barely moving river with no sound other then a trickle all winter.

Glacier Fed River taking back Ground! Picture by K. Fields

Plus, while out and about, when you get a view of the rivers from higher ground, it is so beautiful, seeing the sparkling river swiftly moving around the piles of broken ice, it’s color a pretty silver gray against the dirty white ice and dark color of the trees. I can’t describe the beauty well, enough, and pictures do not do it justice

Aeriel View of River, town, and dark trees Picture by Mike Kingston

It can be messy and dangerous but the beauty during "break-up" is amazing. The air is crisp and clean, we smell spring in the air, even while everything is still brown, without any new buds, we can actually feel the atmosphere changing…It makes us energetic, after a lazy, plodding winter, and we start thinking of new things to do, we even get excited about cleaning up the yard, or digging up an area for a garden, or even washing the car..

Because going outside most of the winter is usually uncomfortably cold, and we don’t wash our car, because the doors and windows and locks get water in them and freeze shut, and gives us troubles trying to open them. So most everything to do outside gets put on hold in the dead of winter. (Well, except for extreme sports, like skiing, snow machining, dogsleds, ice-fishing and hunting but that's a different story!).

Ahhhhhh, but Spring, longer days of light, melting ice and snow, warmer temps…It gives new life to the weary, and fills you with this unexplainable joy and excitement…that you only feel during this time of year!

CU

Break-Up Blues!

We have a fifth Season in Alaska!

Colors are Brown and white!

Picture by K. Fields

Alaskan’s “laughingly” or “*!#*!” refer to this season as "Break-Up".
It is the messiest time of the year! When the snow starts melting.

Everybody’s Cars and Trucks are the same color! Picture by K. Fields

There is thick soft mud every where you go! The Pot-Holes are huge…and the roads are washboard like and slippery!

Washboard road! Picture by K. Fields

The tires of heavier vehicles leave deep ruts that will stay that way when the roads dry up, making them hard to maneuver through!

Rutted Roads! Picture By K. Fields

You can’t avoid the puddles, because they fill the whole road! And can be very deep! You can end up stuck in the middle of one of these puddles! This is experience talking! I have had to remove my shoes, roll up my pant legs and wade through the water to get help to get my car out of the hole under the water on the road! I have to tell you, it wasn’t funny at the time, but when I think of how I looked then, it sends me into a fit of giggles.

What's lurking under that Puddle? Picture by K. Fields

There is flash flooding! Whole sections of roads can be completely washed away!

Beautiful House Flooded by River Course Change! Picture by K. Fields

The Very Large Meandering Rivers we in Alaska, can decide to change course in the Spring, leaving whole sections of forested areas, homes, and roads flooded.

Forest Area Flooded by Natural River Course Change

Picture by K. Fields

There are a lot of Alaskan’s that plan their vacations out of State this time of the year!
Extreme cold in the winter season (-55 F) can’t budge them, but the break-up blues season has them packing up and headed to anyplace but here!

My Cure for the Spring Break-Up Blues, I went and bought a tray of flowers to plant in my planters outside, the minute it is warm enough, hopefully in a couple of weeks... Yippee!!

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Bears Repeating!

Well, finally we have the warmer weather, I can see the brown grass since most of the snow has melted. This brings to mind 2 things that we have to be cautious of when running around outside.

The first thing is the bears are out now, forging around for food, we have already heard of one bear mauling recently of a jogger and his dog, the dog got away, but the jogger didn’t and suffered severe bites on his body and head.

Bear taking a break from forging to look us over!

Picture by Stephen L. Fields

He will survive, and he admits he is very lucky, He said he didn’t see the momma bear with baby until too late, and he ran when he shouldn’t have.

They say not to run if you encounter a bear, but to get away as quickly as possible, now how do you do that…without running? They say that a bear can quickly catch up to someone running away.

Which is confirmed by this mauled man, he said the bear caught up with him, and this man is a daily jogger, and if he couldn’t get away, I am quite sure I wouldn’t be able either.

Course if I had a bear “encounter” I wouldn’t need to worry about running, because I am sure that I would just melt into a pile of poo, because I would be to scared to run.


You have to look carefully while hiking, this bear blends in very well.

Picture by Mike Kingston

I have seen a grizzly bear up close, and thankfully I was in a truck at the time, because he was taller then the hood of my truck, and he was on all four paws, running, he stopped in front of me and stared for a few seconds, and then he ran off into the woods.

I have to tell you as beautiful as he was, (I didn’t have my camera at the time either…darn) I am glad that I had the truck window glass between me and him, because he was running scared, dogs were chasing him, and he would have attacked me, without a doubt.

Anyways…The experience has convinced me into changing my ways, I do not walk alone anywhere anymore. Because this bear was so big, even a handgun would not have phased it. If I had a handgun that is.

This Bear doesn't look to happy to see anybody in his territory!

Picture by Mike Kingston

This time a year is one of the times, that we need to be especially cautious, because they are just up and about after hibernating all winter, and they are hungry, and there is not much food in the way of berries and stuff yet..

Also people need to remember the meat and other groceries they left sitting out on the back deck or porch, (because it will stay frozen outside all winter) before it starts defrosting and the odor will draw the bears.

So not only will you risk being attacked, but you will be fined a big big fine, because it is against the law to feed the bears, or leave food where they can get to it.

Mamma Black Bear with rare White Cub!

Picture by Unknown Artist!

All you need to do to be safe is to be cautious, aware, because sometimes they stick around for a while before they wonder off. This recent mauling, the man said he had seen the two bears earlier on his property.

We also have to be aware of coming between a momma bear and cub; it is one of the most dangerous places to be…

Most of the time the bears will head in the opposite direction of a human, but there are those other times, that we must always be aware of.

Here is a great site that tells you all about Alaska bears:

http://www.alaskabears.alaska.gov/


Oh, and the other thing we need to watch out for is much smaller….mosquitoes!

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Growth = Life!

I really admire the businesses we have here in our town. It is hard these days to run any business let alone deal with the extreme weather we have, the long distance travel for supplies, and/or the high cost of having supplies delivered.

Not to mention the lure of the big city 100 miles away, for the locals to go and spend the big bucks.

On My Way to the Big City in the Summertime

Picture By Stephen L. Fields

We do have some businesses that meet certain needs in our community, like groceries, gasoline, tourist shops etc, not only are they meeting the needs well here, they are also a big part of the community.

They get involved in community projects and are always donating to one thing or another, and giving up some of their business space to allow “fund raiser” tables to sell their wares.

We have some new businesses here now too, it is nice to see this community expanding, more population demands more products and services then before

There are many people who live here with the mindset that doesn’t want the growth, as it takes away the ambiance of solitary life.

Big City Views which can be beautiful

Picture by Unknown

Yet, others welcome the new-comers because they truly understand that new businesses are a sign of healthy town. The new businesses also offer new jobs in our once almost job depleted area

It is good to know that if we continue to grow and expand that our children will have a better chance of working and raising families here, and not be forced to move somewhere else, because of lack of work.

I welcome the new businesses and services that are now available, and actually can’t wait for more to come. Quite frankly, I dislike driving 100 miles one way to for a medical appointment, to get a certain item needed for repair work on the house, car etc.

There is lots of life in this small town, now more then there has been in a long time. Our schools are expanding and new teachers are being hired also, which means new things for our children to learn, that they may not have had before.

Morning sunlight touching the tops of trees

Picture by Stephen L. Fields

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