Swiss Cheese

Spring is finally here on the shores of Kachemak Bay and Cook Inlet, it appears. Winter was relatively mild here in the "banana belt" of Alaska, but there was a cold streak in early March followed by a severe blizzard that left kept planes from flying for 3 days. My home at sea level recieved about 2 1/2 feet of very wet snow in 24 hours followed by rain and then a HARD freeze followed by about 2 more feet of snow. By the time the second round of snow landed the first had melted, at least at 200 feet above sea level., but at elevation the snow never left.
So, into the swiss cheese I headed on my trusty snowmachine to harvest next winters firewood. The "cheese" is my buddy Jeff's dog trail through the forest to a seismograph line that leads anywhere. He is kind enough to let me use his access and cut spruce bark beetle killed trees for firewood. The snow at his place is 5 feet deep in the forest in places and firm enough that you can point your toe and go anywhere. There is a small concern of bogging down in soft snow or navigating into a tree well, but the access is pretty outstanding. I drop my trees, buck and limb them, and then trailer them back to my home where I stack them in preparation for splitting. It may only be April in Alaska, but next winter is just around the corner.

A Dead Wolf in Every Pot

I'm no bleeding heart liberal, but it just seems like the wolves and bears in Alaska--pretty much any predator that humans view as competition--are systematically removed from the equation under the assumed interests of hunters and outdoorsmen.
I have no problem with dead wolves, a few of my close friends trap wolves regularly and they are welcome to eat at my table and pursue their ventures.I draw the line at the loss of protection for wolves in Denali National Park. The recently removed buffer zone for the wolves in NE Denali only affects an area of about 125 square miles, but it affects the survival of an already stressed pack. There are approximately 70 wolves in Denali right now--the lowest number since the mid 1980's. These particular wolves are among the most viewed and studied WORLDWIDE. What do you say we do our best right now to help eradicate them? There will be no review of this new policy for 6 years. Way to go! Why don't they just launch the helicopters and get it over with?
I am equally disgusted by the people who feel that they should boycott tourism in Alaska because of this. Much of this policy is federal influence, or federal interests being played out on state lands.
Do you think this has anything to do with the recent killing of a woman in Chignik by wolves? What a coincidence.

Wolves Lose Again

I'm typically not one to raise a stink politically, but enough is enough.You know, I was personally quite bummed out this fall when Dr Gordon Haber perished in a small plane crash inside Denali Park observing wolves. It was something he had made a career out of, and those who knew him best said it was almost an obsession, leaving him apparently unable to meet some of lifes daily chores. Gordon studied the wolves of the Denali area for over 25 years, and had a love and respect for them that few will ever duplicate or understand. I tip my hat and my wine to you Gordon: I predicted ( in my household) that his death heralded the loss of protection for these majestic, intelligent animals....turns out I was right; that sure didn't take long. The Alaska Game Board just removed the buffer for protection of  wolves in the NE corner of the park, putting the wolves back in jeopardy. Its estimated that 4 trappers will benefit from this action, which could result in the loss of 22,000 wolf sightings for tourists who dare to invade our parkland every year. I'm not sure how many hunters will benefit from this, I'm sure that these far-flung packs are just devastating caribou and moose populations in the remote Lake Minchumina district.

The Fortymile pack near Tok is under attack as well. Lack of snow has made it difficult for aerial hunters to target the projected killing of 200 ( out of an estimated 300) wolves in the area. Thank god for helicopters! They finally figured out a way to track them without adequate snow cover. Awesome!! Smoke a pack a day!

It amazes me that I live in, love , and continue to tolerate this STATE OF REDNECKS.  May this wolf print that I photographed on the Upper Savage River in March be the last print ever seen by man. Run and hide, friends. Interested in Gordon's work?

http://www.alaskawolves.org/

On The Ice

That's what we call it: on the ice. Whether you are talking about ice roads, ice residents , or ice rides lots happens in the winter on the North Slope of Alaska.

  Ice roads are built across the tundra: snow and water are hauled in, dumped, and manicured into roads and pads to facilitate drilling and general access. In the spring, they disappear....though it is easy for the trained eye to detect where they were by the presence of later and hence greener grasses.

This little red fox is a personal friend of mine. When I miss my wife and daughter I pull up to him and we have a chat. He is an arctic gargoyle, wiating patiently for a handout, though he never gets one from me. My wilderness ethic will not allow it.

These are rollagons, and they are expressly for winter tundra travel. The wide tires disperse weight and minimize damage to the tundra. They are capable of pulling massive loads and are exploration workhorses.