EARTHQUAKE!!!

So, yesterday at 1:24 pm, I was in my room doing my workout. While doing pushups, I heard my door rattling, which isn't unusual when somebody walks by. But then I felt the ground shake, saw my laptop shake, and it just kept going. This was quite obviously an earthquake. It wasn't the first one I felt, but it was the first one one that was immediately obvious that it was an earthquake. Being so close in proximity, (only 13 miles away) it went on for a good 10-12 seconds. It was pretty awesome - though I don't think I need to feel one that's any bigger.

The yellow square is where it hit, in the Cook Inlet 13 miles southwest of Anchorage.

Into the Wild

So, at the beginning of the month, I went into Denali National Park on the Tundra Wilderness Tour. I knew it was the right time to go, as fall colors were in full bloom (yes, Fall in Alaska hits at the beginning of September and is very short lived, just a few weeks). The colors did not disappoint. The greens of the spruce trees contrasted very nicely against the yellow birch/aspen trees and the reds of the fireweed. Absolutely gorgeous.

The top of the ridge at Polychrome Pass is the park road, where we drive along. Not a place for those with a fear of heights.

The weather was just absolutely gorgeous, and it came in the middle of a bunch of rainy days (before and after going into the park), so I couldn't have gone in on a better day. In fact, the weather was so clear, we got to see Denali (Mt. McKinley). For those of you who don't know, Denali is the original name given to the mountain we know as Mt. McKinley. One of the problems with the mountain, is that it is so big that it creates it's own weather system, making it often quite cloudy around the mountain, so much so that you can't see it! It's actually the biggest mountain in the world - not the tallest, but the biggest. Mt. Everest, while 29,000 ft above sea level, has it's base start at 17,000 ft in elevation, up on the Tibetan Plateau. Denali's base starts at 1800 ft, with a height of 20,320 ft above sea level (6000 ft more mountain than Everest). So, seeing it in the summer time, especially in it's entirety is quite a treat. Here it is.

Denali, in all it's glory. I'm at Stony Pass, about 38 miles or so from the mountain.

Me and the mountain. I'm staring right into the sun, thus the squinting.

I was also rewarded with sightings of some wildlife - some grizzly bears, a wolf, lots of Dall sheep, and a particularly disturbed caribou who went nuts running down the park road.

Possibly the single most awesome shot I've ever taken!*

This caribou was running like something spooked him.

He came right down the road.

Ultimately, the trip had one huge drawback. 8 hours on a freaking school bus! I went in with my driver, who is about my size and build. Two guys with broad shoulders in a cramped, full school bus? Not fun!

I kid you not about the school bus.

My advice for you? Take one of the green shuttle busses, that go out to Eielson or wherever. THOSE busses are also school busses, but they let you get off and go hiking or whatever, and you just catch the next one in or out, your choice. Would be the more prudent way to go.

*Ok, I didn't actually take this live. It is a picture of a picture. Wouldn't it be awesome though?

A Wonderful Night

Last night I spent the night on tour in Talkeetna. It is getting dark enough this time of year that it was worth putting in a Northern Lights wake up call. Last night at about midnight, I got the call in my room. Me and two other tour directors raced outside, knowing the window of opportunity could last just minutes. I ran out barefoot in shorts and a t-shirt (it was about 40 degrees outside) to see it. It was a tremendously unimpressive display, largely due to the fact that there was too much light around us (the sky was dark enough, kind of). But it was a really awesome evening, in the sense that it was a full moon, the big dipper was perfectly visible, and the outline of Denali (Mt. McKinley) was visible in the distance with the Northern Lights dancing just above the mountain, however faintly. The two other tour directors and myself discussed whether it was worth running down the trail to get away from the lodge and the bright lights from the lobby, but also decided it was dark enough that we wouldn't see any bears if they were present. It was worth freezing my feet off for, I can say that. No pictures, as they were too faint to see anything, sorry.

A Tough Job Sometimes

Sometimes this job is just rough. This last week, I had picked up a tour that spent the morning at the largest public aquarium, then the afternoon on a cruise on the Resurrection Bay that included a free salmon bake lunch (with the option to buy a 1/2 lb of king crab for $8). Then spending the night at a lodge located in a secluded area off the Resurrection River.

The next day, I had to stay at a 4-star ski resort hotel after going to a wildlife conservation center that had bear, musk ox, moose, and other big game animals that were being rehabbed. Then spending the evening going on a hike through the Winner Creek trail (see last post). Really, really rough.

Ok, so the serious stuff. Wednesday afternoon I had some time free after taking care of guest luggage and prior to departing on the train to Anchorage. So, I went to the Talkeetna Roadhouse with another tour director. I had long decided that I would eat their full standard breakfast skillet, which consists of 8 scrambled eggs, 1 lb of potatoes, 4 strips of thick cut peppered bacon, and 2 thick slices of toast.

This is basically what it looks like, though I had eaten the first slice of toast before I thought to get a picture taken.

About 2/3 of the way through, I needed a break.

And...done! Except the last slice of toast. Couldn't get it down. You guys proud of me?

Fishing on the Kenai

Last Wednesday me and a buddy from work went fishing on the Lower Kenai River, down in a town called Soldotna. I bought a cheap fishing rod and some tackle at Sportsman's warehouse. I caught two sockeyes (red salmon), pretty decent size. I wasn't able to take pictures, as the section of the river wasn't conducive to taking any. So, here are some pics from online to give you an idea of what it looks like.

The Kenai River.

And about what it looked like on the river when fishing. Yes, lots of people. It was hard to find a spot, but it was nice since when you yelled "fish on!" there was always somebody nearby with a net to help out.

Hiking Days

Sorry it's been a while since I've posted. I've been busy. I'm nearing the end of a 24 day stretch where I've had 1 day off.

I've been trying to stay in shape on the road this season, so I've started taking up hiking when I get the chance. Two hikes I've done in the last few weeks were Sugarloaf Mountain in Denali, and Winner Creek Trail in Girdwood. The Sugarloaf trail I did with my friend Andy, a fellow tour director. It was a day after it rained in Denali, so the trail was a bit tricky, and the trail was pretty steep, but it was a great hike - it gave us some great views of the Nenana River Canyon.

The Winner Creek Trail was in Girdwood, and passed through rainforest, over creeks, bridges, and even a gorge with a handtram to get across.

The hand tram going across the gorge.

It had a nice drop into the river below.

On the train to Seward

Friday (June 11) I got to take the train from Anchorage down to Seward - easily the most beautiful rail leg of the Alaska Railroad. Check out the pictures I took.

Potter Marsh, just south of where I live.

We saw Dall Sheep in the Chugach Mountain Range! The little lambs were very active, jumping from rock to rock on their way up.

The Turnagain Arm, with the Kenai Mountains just behind it.

More of the Turnagain Arm.

The view from the back of the train. Up in the Chugach Mountains, there was still plenty of snow.

And coming out of the mountains into Chugach State Forest.

Crossing over a bridge over Kenai Lake.

A great view of Kenai Lake.

One of many tunnels we went through.

A great overlook of Resurrection Bay in Seward.

Having finished off the day yesterday, I went 11 days in a row without a day off. Today, I get my first one since I started the season, and I go again tomorrow. By the time it hits the 18th of the month, today will still have been my only day off. More to be posted.