Denali

Denali, "The Great One," as seen from Parks Highway in Willow yesterday. Cars were stopped all along the highway, so we had lots of company snapping away. Pretty awesome sight, huh?

Flower Power

After spending weeks calling this "The Pretty Mystery Flower" last year, it seems almost wrong to identify it here as a Trollis, but that's the official name. I think it'll always be that pretty yellow flower to me. This one is growing in the yard, the first flowers to bloom so far, both last year and this year.... well, if you don't count dandelions.

Moose Encounters

You just never know what you'll see as you're driving down the roads in Alaska. This one, its photo taken thru the dirty windshield, was browsing along the roadside about five minutes from my house. It's shedding big time, I'd say!

Alaska on Maps

“Alaska was originally a large place located way the hell up past Canada, but this proved to be highly inconvenient for mapmakers, who in 1873 voted to make it smaller and put it in a little box next to Hawaii right off the coast of California, which is where it is today.”

Dave Barry

Think about it....

“Not everything that can be counted counts; and not everything that counts can be counted.”

Albert Einstein

Photo: Kenai Lake, June '05

Puppies!!!!

Plettner Puppies....

Look at those faces! How anyone could ever be in a bad mood around puppies is beyond me. Got to cuddle these (and more) at Iditarod musher Lynda Plettner's kennel this morning. What a great start to "my" month!

More photos, via link below http://sunhusky.com/2006/June/6-1

Signs it's really Spring

Feathered Friends....

Hazy has been entertaining herself playing bird dog lately, tho' her prey doesn't seem to be taking her too seriously, I'd say. This one even had time to pose for my camera.

It's an Upsidedown World....

Do not adjust your browser. The photo is right side up. It's the lamp that's contrary to the rest of the world.

Snapped this while tagging along to look at a piece of property for a friend today. The propery was, to be kind, lacking, but got a real chuckle from this decorating touch. I think we all need a lighting fixture like this, don't you? What a pure touch of eclectic Alaska. Quite practical in a way. Think of the space savings!

Mystic Mountain

I was chuckling over this shot earlier, thinking that if I wrote fantasy, I'd conjure up a story about a magical, mystical mountain that appeared once every, oh, 100 years, shrouded by clouds and wonderful, mysterious happenings. Shades of Brigadoon, Alaska style.

Live Life to the Fullest

Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand and melting like a snowflake. Use it before it is too late. -- Marie Beyon Ray

Salem and Jeff

Left is Iditarod 2006 Champion Jeff King with lead dog Salem, winner of the Golden Harness Award. Cheri Hollenback captured this adorable moment between the two of 'em at the Finishers Banquet in Nome. This one photo says more about the canine-human bond than I could say in a thousand words. I've been to Jeff's kennel and seen the wonderful bond he has with all his dogs, but this is clearly something special.

April Fools!!!!

Mother Nature decided to play a last minute April Fools joke and dumped three inches of snow on us last night. Although the snow quickly began to melt away in the morning sunshine, some icy remnants remained. This one reminded me of an icy Gordian Knot. Just one of those intriguing little surprises Mother Nature tosses at us to keep us on our toes, each beautiful in its own unique way.

Between the Earth and Sky

"In the mythic tradition, the Mountain is the bond between Earth and Sky. Its solitary summit reaches the sphere of eternity, and its base spreads out in manifold foothills into the world of mortals. It is the way by which man can raise himself to the divine and by which the divine can reveal itself to man." ~ Rene Daumal

Iditarod Dreams Come to Life: Restart 2006

Iditarod Dreams Come to Life: Restart 2006

Time after time, handlers lead the dogs to the starting line. You can see some leaning back against the leads they’ve been handed to assist them in getting the Iditarod teams to the line. Other jog beside the teams, knowing the futility of trying to hold back a Nome bound team. Fans line the barrier fencing, cheering on favorites, perhaps wondering what it would be like to change places with those leading the teams, perhaps even ride the runners someday. Officials are busy making sure everything comes off without a hitch, while volunteers line the chute and, in fact, have already left for positions out along the trail. Iditarod 2006 has begun, this time for real.

With their game faces on, the mushers of Iditarod 2006 tend to give off an air of being surrounded by invisible shields at the restart. Saturday was for show; today it’s for real. As a result, their attention has turned to making sure every last detail is taken care of and nothing is left to chance. Most arrived in Willow hours ago and were directed to their parking area on the lake. Eager, early bird fans maneuver for a glimpse of favorites, but for the most part, leave mushers to their routines.

Hearing the sounds of a plane overhead, I have to ponder what all this must look like from the vantage point of an eagle. Perhaps like a sea of ants scurrying about, at first with no sense of order, than with order gradually emerging. For those on the ground, it’s certainly a rush of colors and sounds, with the barking of the dogs being the constant. For them, it’s a steady stream of quick snapshots, memories to file away.

For young Sarah, who’d already done a presentation for the teacher workshop, it was something she’ll never forget. When I spoke with her after the restart, she was already busy planning her next project, one on the “Women of the Iditarod.” Listening to her speak, one can’t help but wonder if one day her name will be added to the list.

Two friends, both volunteers, are headed to different checkpoints. This is their first experience as checkpoint volunteers. They’re both excited and, well, a bit nervous. One is headed to McGrath, a hub of race action, and knows it’ll be busy. He’s nervous, but wouldn’t give up this experience for the world. Iditarod badges strung around his neck, he’s ready for the next step, the flight out, even when I talk to him later that afternoon. This is the spirit of the race, the willingness to go where you’re needed and do what it takes, even when you’re not quite sure what you’re getting yourself into.

Lynda Plettner’s Idita-Rider is still gushing. She has had the time of her life and it’s easy to believe she’ll be back again next year. Idita-Riders are a unique bunch. They pay for the honor of riding in a musher’s sled at the start and many return to ride again and again. Claudia Nowak was back riding with Ed Stielstra this year, for instance, noting that this is simply one way for them to support their area mushers. Her husband rides in another musher’s sled. The Nowak’s have been more fortunate than most, calling the Stielstra’s friends and even going sailing with them (and Charlie and Robin Boulding), but it’s a relationship born of the Iditarod.

Rookie fan Mike Kaplan is also new to Alaska. Like me, he moved up from Florida and hasn’t looked back. This is his first Iditarod. These are his dog photos you see in this entry. As unlikely as it might seem, we’re far from the only former Floridians caught up in Idita-mania. Several Idita-Riders were from Florida and like Mike, they’re all over the place, enjoying the rush of their first Iditarod.

Of course, the Iditarod sparks dreams. Long after the restart, as I sit in the home of friends during their open house, I find myself talking to a handler friend. He’s hooked. That look is in his eyes. He’s decided, “I’m going for it.” Another Iditarod musher is born. The Iditarod Dream is alive and well.

Photos by Kaplen: Jeff King team, Gary Paulsen team, dogs of the Iditarod, and "Iditarod Dreamer" Keith Blaha, right, by Mary Dillingham.

I Love This Place!

With Iditarod mania building, I took the opportunity to sneak away from all things Iditarod and head over to Hatcher Pass with Mary Dillingham. Looking at this photo, you should be able to figure out why. The beauty of Alaska will never fail to amaze me.

Even better, the sounds of silence ruled, with only the wind, creaking of the ice and rustling of the tree limbs being heard. You could actually hear the water rippling over the ice and then heading back beneath the frozen surface of the Little Susitna River. Just a reminder of how tiny we all are in the grand scheme of things and of how Mother Nature speaks to us if only we take the time to slow down and listen.

Rumblings From the Earth

I knew when I moved to Alaska that volcanic activity was a possibility, but never quite expected to experience it so soon. As I type, Mt. Augustine, located more or less across Cook Inlet from Homer, has erupted several times over the last few days, at least four times today alone. Suddenly, I'm finding myself pondering the reality of ash fall and kicking myself that I didn't go buy a spare air filter for the car. I rationalize that by remembering, 'Hey, I can hibernate. I don't have to go out,' but it would have still been a smart move to have done that while I was in stockpile mode. I have done most of the other recommended pre-ash far activities, however, and am about as ready for the unknown as I can possibly be.

I'd characterize my current mood as wary, and tho' it'd be unfair to say I'm genuinely uneasy, I am uneasy in the sense that I'm facing something unknown to me. Hurricanes and tornadoes are known, volcanic rumblings and ash are totally alien to me. I'm afraid this is one Alaskan adventure I'd have been more than happy to have skipped. Ironically, still buried in a box somewhere is a pillbox full of ash from Mt. St. Helen's given to me by a friend after that eruption. Let's hope Mt. Augustine isn't that memorable.

Update 2-25-06: False alarm, thank goodness. As I type, officials are saying Augustine appears to be cooling off and settling down. As noted above, this is one adventure I have no problem delaying.

Happy New Year!!!

One last sunset over Lake Lucille for 2005.

Goodbye, 2005, hello, 2006!!!

It's Beginning to Look...

Winter can't quite seem to make up its mind whether to visit and stick around. We had nearly 13" of snow not long ago. Then came the rains and winds. Good-bye snow. Now, a few more inches have made their way earthward and are helping at least give the appearance of a winter wonderland again.

The stark beauty of this place never gets old. I snapped this photo of Wasilla Lake about mid-afternoon, believe it or not, the moon hovering above the snow clad mountains. The string of lights is atop posts holding lights for nighttime skaters, I guess, and adds a nice touch as they reflect off the ice. It isn't unusual to see lone figures gliding about, hockey stick in hand, practicing their skills, or youngsters dreaming perhaps of Olympic gold trying spins and leaps as they dart about.

Somehow, the mountains always seem almost touchable. Distance, of course, is deceptive. It looks like you should be able to simply drive around the lake and be able to get an up-close and personal view of them. Far from that, of course. Just goes to show how genuinely huge they are. They're such a part of everyday life here in Alaska that I feel somehow cheated when I can't see them. Yes, there are days even these behemoths can't be seen as they play hide-and-seek behind the clouds or fog banks. Mother Nature sure has a bag of tricks.

How to Describe the Northern Lights?

My camera doesn't have the settings to take aurora photos but, oh, my, seeing them in person is just an incredible experience. Even the experience of waiting for them can be memorable. The skies here are nothing like they are in Florida, where everything seemed lost in the countless street lights. Here, you can go outside and look up and it's like layers and layers and layers of twinkling stars above you, brighter than you could ever imagine, with the planets visible at any given time sparkling brightly up there, too.

Then, you'll see a glow, usually green, that seems to be pulsing.

Next thing you know, the sky is filled with this just indescribable movement, pulsing, wave-like, I always relate it to the '60s light shows, sometimes filling the entire sky, other times in smaller displays. It'll reach down, then curl around, form an oval and pulse out from the center in endless motion, or sometimes be a pulsating, wavelike curtain of color across the sky. No matter who you believe in as a Higher Being, it's easy to believe this is just for them and we're simply lucky enough to see it.

The Best Laid Plans...

http://sunhusky.com/2005/October/10-22/
Well, let's see. Where to start this? I guess with the fact that when I left the house, I was headed down the hill to Ritz Camera, which is near Carrs.

Of course, good intentions get you nowhere or, in my case, a trifle off-target. As I went down the hill, I noted that the mountains were either missing totally as they hid behind the clouds or peeking thru the clouds in a few spots. Interesting, I thought.

Okay, it'll be no real surprise to you who know me to hear that since the camera was in the car, I decided to "drive around the block." Yeah, right. Around the block. Let's just say, that's one long block between here and Palmer, which is where I wound up. I do detours well, huh? Some of my most memorable experiences have been the result of doing nothing more than getting in the car and going wherever my whims took me. While I'll never be an adventurer, going off road to investigate what's around the next corner, I've found Alaska provides plenty of wonderful, often whimsical discoveries down the side roads just for those who dare look. I hope I never lose that urge to "look."

Colors are a bit off on some cos I was using it as an excuse to play with some settings on the camera and then PhotoShop when I got home but figured you'd enjoy a peek anyway. Not a bad view from McDonalds, huh? Seriously, the wonders of this place never fail to impress me. To think I can be sitting in my car at a McDonalds and see sights as incredible as this is just amazing.

I might note, Norma, that I was perfectly comfy when I left the house with Karen's fleece over a tee shirt but was putting on the coat that stays in the back seat of the car before I was done. Me thinks maybe it's time to toss the Neos in there, too, cos some of that cold may be heading this way, too, tho' you're welcome to keep your blizzard out there in Skwentna. I don't think I'll do blizzards well, not do I want to find out if I'm right or wrong. Hey, even I have my limits. There are a few adventures Alaska can keep for someone else.