Kuspuk Christmas

We decided to don our beaver hats, kuspuks, and boots and take some Christmas pictures in the yard. It has been clear and cold for weeks, with very little snow. Fiona stole the show in her colorful kuspuk, beaver hat, and authentic Athabaskan boots made from caribou calf and leather. Pretty cool.

The Addition

We finally broke down, planned an addition that suited our needs, and have begun construction. We are adding 1,000 square feet of space to our home. It will consist of 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a living room and stove / mudroom entry. The price of building has gone up considerably in Homer since we built our home 8 years ago, but we have a choice: move to a new location or add on. We made the right decision, and this will be a spectactular addendum to our current living situation.

Polar Bear

No matter where you think you are in the food chain, you're not where this sow is. Seeing polar bears in the wild is both exhilarating and scary. They are one of the ultimate predators, living in an unforgiving land.

Early Fall in Denali

 

Early fall in Denali can be the most beautiful season of all in the interior. We had clear sunny days, and clear crisp nights. Oh yah, and someone got eaten by a grizzly bear when we were there.

The Arctic Oven




Arctic Oven - An Alaskan Classic

 


Hi/Low draft tubes keep it dry inside





Simple things for simple folks. One of my Alaskan dreams has been fulfilled: I am the owner of an Arctic Oven. I have desired one of these tents for over a decade, and finally decided that the investment would pay off.  I purchased the tent in July, it was custom made in Fairbanks, and I picked it up in August. It is a renowned winter camping tent in Alaska, a favorite with mushers and guides alike. I decided to outift it with a small cast iron Scout stove rather than a sheetmetal stove because I wanted a more reliable heat source that didn't require constant feeding or risk the chance of "burning out" with holes over time. This small stove will probably blow me out in the shoulder seasons, but in winter it will be worth the extra price and weight.



A Cast Iron Stove for Heat





Puffing Smoke




The tent stands almost 7 feet tall at its highest peak indoors. There is plenty of room to move around and lots of vertical wall space to dry wet gear. Thats the greatest thing about the AO; you can still get out in inclement weather, and come back, warm up, and dry out.





One Gallon Water Heater on the Side

The water heater is a nice addition, and this particular model holds over 1 gallon. Its an easy way to provide a warm bird bath, hot drink, or some humidity to your tent. The tent also has a lantern hanger in it, which is a nice addition for adding light and heat to your tent. Just remember one thing: lanterns can create a carbon monoxide deficient atmosphere that can kill. Operate a lantern with sufficient ventilation, use a carbon monoxide detector in the tent, or don't use the accessory at all!

The Slope

It's been six months since I've been to the slope. People that I talk to, folks that have no concept of having spent years in the arctic, say it must be a relief. It's not. While I would be a liar to say that I can't wait to go back to the slope, it beats the hell out of working in Anchorage and being in an office. The slope offers opportunity; to get outdoors, to breathe fresh air, and to appreciate the wild that Alaska has to offer.

Six more months and I'll be back on solid ground. Point Thomson here I come.

Fiona The Explorer

Nothing like a Dora PFD to bring the Viking out in a little girl. Prince William Sound, May 2012.

The Beer Bench

I decided to dedicate one of next winter's firewood logs to something else: a home-made bench for the firepit. Not too shabby.....if I say so myself. I think the moose between the picnic tables approves.

Saint Patrick's Day

Saint Paddy's Day in Homer Alaska brought blue skies, lots of sunshine, and plenty of friends over to our yard for an early season party.
We had grilled hot dogs, salmon salad, halibut ceviche, and plenty of beer to wash it down.
The snow has hardened up nicely, so the kids had plenty of trails punched into the neighboring woods where they went looking for bunny holes.

My friend Jarl is a trapper in Alaska's interior, and I acquired a beaver pelt from him that I had turned into hats for myself and my family. They are beyond warm and fashionable, too.

The Climber

There's certainly lots of snow for us to enjoy in Alaska this winter, and now is the time to do so. The light is returning, the crust is hardening, and the worst of winter is certainly over. I took advantage of this weather to don snowshoes and pack down some trails into the woods next to our house. Though only a few hundred yards away, this patch of alders is completely inaccessible in summer. The grass reaches 10 feet tall, the route is all hummocks, and its a battle getting in there.
Fiona loved it in there, and my idea is to groom a trail into there this spring and keep it open all summer. A small seasonal rivulet works its way through there, and I thought I could make it her personal playground in the woods. I just hope the moose are willing to share, because this is their route in and off our property, and establishing a trail will certainly bring them into our yard with more regularity. I think it will create more sandhill crane traffic, too. We will soon have our own zoo, just not for petting.

The Great Snow

 I can only think of one winter, 1999 to be specific, that there has been this much snow on the lower Kenai Peninsula. The system that has hammered us this winter has been relentless; a combination of cold temperatures, high winds, and lots of snow.
We were lucky enough to be in Arizona for a few weeks, and I thought that the nastiness would only last a few weeks. I was wrong, this has lasted a few months.
There have been a few lulls in the action that have allowed us to go out, play, and enjoy this winter wonderland.
I guess this is what keeps the crowds away.