Denali National Park

To close out my second Alaskan adventure, I decided to go up to Denali National park for the weekend. The mountain itself, Denali/Mt. McKinley, unfortunately was mostly covered up by mountains and I could not see the peak. This, apparently, is normal as the mountain is big enough to create its own weather and it shows itself only about 20% of the time. However, I was close enough to feel its enormous presence and the park that surrounds it is exceedingly beautiful. I did a number of hikes while there, including going up Mt. Healy, and an easier one along Savage Creek. The last morning while I was there, before I headed back to Anchorage, I saw a little demonstration by the sled-dogs who work there during the winter and relax during the summer. That was pretty neat. It was a great way to finish up my trip in Alaska. Having finished my contract and work responsibilities I headed home to California, where I now await my next great adventure.

A few more Photos

these are from Mt. Pillar, a nice little hike right next to the observer bunkhouse. I have done this hike 4 times since I have been here. These photos are from a sunset a couple weeks back.

Fort Abercombie

These pictures are from a week or so ago when I went down to Fort Abercrombie, a national park and old WWII fort. The military part of it is pretty small, a couple of cannons and bunkers are all that remain, but there was some interesting facts written on little signs. The fighting never reached Kodiak, but there was a battle in Dutch Harbor and a few other far reaching Aluteutian islands. We won these battles, pretty overwhelmingly it seems. Besides intersting war memorabilia, Fort Abercrombie is beautiful with nice hiking trails and camping areas. With binoculars we were able to see grey whales far off in the distance. Of course I had to take the real love signature cannon pic that I invented in China, it's still to good to ever pass up. Besides that, work is work. I'm about halfway done with my contract here.

another day, another dollar

I've been adjusting to working here in Kodiak. The job's alright. I'm on call 24-7 so sometimes I dont get much sleep but in general, it's not too much work. The weather has been up and down. I like Kodiak though, hopefully I get to stay here for another month or 2 and make some major cashish. 

Back in Kodiak

So I havent had much time to stop and catch my breath since I started working but here's a little recap. I had a 4 day briefing in Seattle, and I hung out there a couple days more, and then a few more in Anchorage. I started my contract by going to Dutch Harbor to work on a pollock trawling boat, the Viking. I was kind of a strange trip, I went directly from airport to the boat, and after 1 6 day trip directly back to the airport. So I really didn't get to see Dutch Harbor or the Island Unalaska much at all. Just around the airport and the docks. It seemed fairly distinct from other parts of Alaska (or the world) I have seen. Beautiful white mountains, but oddly no trees. Maybe I'll go back someday and explore more. The trip itself sucked. The boat was nice and the crew was great, but seas were rough and I had a rude awaking with seasickness. The Bering Sea is a rough place and it's really, really horrible being seasick for long periods of time. But I survived only to go almost directly onto another boat in Kodiak. From Dutch, I went to Anchorage was there for about 6-7 hours to sleep before I had to catch a flight to Kodiak and get directly onto another boat. I went on a 4 day trip with that boat, Vanguard, and got back today. Unfortunately it was the same story: nice boat, rough seas, puking. Every boat has a unique way of rolling with the waves so changing boats on these short trips is tough. I'm not sure why this contract I have been getting seasick much worse than last time when it wasnt much of a problem, but whatever I will get better and stronger. I got a nice assignment for the time being working seaside at plants/canneries here in Kodiak, meaning I wont have to go out to Sea for awhile, (hopefully a long awhile) and I will basically live in here in Kodiak and work a semi-normal job. It should be really good, and I will have more time to explore Kodiak, which I like a lot. The weather is getting better and things are looking up.

Goodbye Dutch, Hello Kodiak

okay they're keeping me on the move here, i went on one trip to sea in Dutch Harbor. 6 days, went directly from boat to plane, spent the night in Anchorage, now I am flying back to Kodiak.

some photos

these are of anchorage. Im going to Dutch Harbor tomorrow.

Anchorage

So I've been back in Anchorage for a few days, just waiting to find out where I'll go next. It's a lot warmer this time around (though still way way way colder than California) and the days are long which is kind of nice for someone like me who operates on a later schedule. There's still snow everywhere, but at least the sidewalks aren't iced over and I can walk without falling all the time. It snowed yesterday while I was going on a long walk, and it was beautiful. Nonetheless, I don't like waiting when I should be working. I'm ready to move on. To pass the time I have been reading Anne Karenina by Tolstoy and watching the HBO show "the Wire" and I've been loving both. I wish I had more exciting stories to tell, but nothing much is happening right now until i get onto a boat. 

If I don't get shipped out tomorrow I'm gonna try to hunt around town for a roaming moose and get a picture (from a safe distance).

Back in the Emerald City

I've been here for 5 days now, I finished briefing and am all ready and waiting to be shipped out and up to Alaska. It is weird being back, everything feels very familiar which is nice. I'm pretty used to the routine of going to classes and living in a bunkhouse here in Seattle. It has been mostly rainy here, though it was sunny on Wednesday. I've been having fun hanging out with new friends, but I'm ready to start working. I still don't know where in Alaska I will be working, but I'm open for whatever. Here's a pretty picture I took of Lake Washington.

3 months at home / Back to Alaska

Today a new adventure begins, well not completely new, Im going back to Alaska to work and explore some more. 

Since I got back from Chile, I have been living at home. The Central Coast is a wonderful place. I played music a lot, went on a lot of hikes, went camping in Big Sur, went fishing, applied to a bunch of jobs, interviewed for a few more, got offered one and turned it down, but in the end it makes most sense for me, financially, to go back to Alaska and work. I am excited about this, but my mindset is that it's a work trip, not a vacation, though hopefully I be able to have some fun too. The weather should be better this time, I'll know what I'm doing, and I am overall more optimistic that I'll have a great experience. I will try to continue to update this with pictures, and words as I go. See you in 3 months CA.