December 31, 2007
6 degrees F
I hope your New Year is full of happiness, laughter and joy.
Peace to All, wherever you are...
What is a Cylinder Stove?
December 30, 2007
-2 degrees F
This is the woodstove that i will be using during my trip. It will keep the Arctic Oven toasty warm. Christine, Jersey and i hauled out the wood for the trip in September. This was a key logistical component as it is against National Park Service policy to cut down trees in the Park.
What is an Arctic Oven?
December 30, 2007
-2 degrees F
This is the tent i will be staying in. It is an Arctic Oven 10 made by Alaska Tent and Tarp in Fairbanks, AK.
The framed tent without the fly.
Putting on the fly.
This gives you a good idea of the height of the tent, i can stand up inside!
Annual Audobon Christmas Bird Count
December 29, 2007
8 degrees F, The annual bird count has been a Denali tradition for the past 16 years. This year 18 different speices of birds were found. These included a total of: 27 Common Redpolls, 4 Hoary Redpolls, 1 Three-Toed Woodpecker, 22 White-winged Crossbills, 1 Dark-eyed Junco, 28 Pine Grosbeaks, 9 Black-capped Chickadees, 87 Boreal Chickadees, 26 Common Ravens, 44 Gray Jays, 45 Black-billed Magpies, 1 Ruffed Grouse, 2 Spruce Grouse, 1 Boreal Owl, 1 Northern Hawk-Owl, 2 Great-horned Owls, 1 Northern Goshawk, and 4 Willow Ptarmigan. Sonya Caven and Willie explored the Karma Ridge area from the Denali Education Center. One of their most exciting sightings was a flock of 16 Magpies.
8 degrees F, The annual bird count has been a Denali tradition for the past 16 years. This year 18 different speices of birds were found. These included a total of: 27 Common Redpolls, 4 Hoary Redpolls, 1 Three-Toed Woodpecker, 22 White-winged Crossbills, 1 Dark-eyed Junco, 28 Pine Grosbeaks, 9 Black-capped Chickadees, 87 Boreal Chickadees, 26 Common Ravens, 44 Gray Jays, 45 Black-billed Magpies, 1 Ruffed Grouse, 2 Spruce Grouse, 1 Boreal Owl, 1 Northern Hawk-Owl, 2 Great-horned Owls, 1 Northern Goshawk, and 4 Willow Ptarmigan. Sonya Caven and Willie explored the Karma Ridge area from the Denali Education Center. One of their most exciting sightings was a flock of 16 Magpies.
Seek the Balance
Each day we have the opportunity to find our common connections. Wilderness is one of them...
Christmas dinner
December 25, 2007*Christines amazing apple pie with crumb crust, served ala mode with vanilla ice cream
*Filet mignon stuffed with blue cheese and wrapped in bacon (health), mashed potatoes with gobs of butter (more health), apple pear chutney, cranberry orange sauce with Grand Marnier, stuffing (as in large)
*Large bacon wrapped shrimp with pineapple (scrumptious!)
Bulkin' up has definitely been part of the process of getting ready for the trip. It has been fun to actually gain weight in combination with plenty of exercise. This was the best Christmas feast ever, we are so thankful for the wonderful company, warm home, and the privilege of having bountiful food.
As you can imagine we were full the entire next day...
Skatin'
December 25, 2007i am a lousy skater but it was fun nonetheless. Anytime you get outside and work up a sweat is a good day. Great way to start off Christmas before our day and night eating explosion.
Shoveled pond
December 24, 2007
Christine and i were in Fairbanks for Christmas. i was heading out to the pond which is the turnaround spot where we ski from our Fairbanks cabin. When i got to the pond someone had cleared off a skating rink and left the grain scoop shovel. It had snowed a bunch since then with lots of snowmachine (snowmobile) tracks through it as well. i thought it would be a good workout to clear it off again, it was. The next day i knew we were going to ski so i would bring my skates and try it out just for fun...
Christine and i were in Fairbanks for Christmas. i was heading out to the pond which is the turnaround spot where we ski from our Fairbanks cabin. When i got to the pond someone had cleared off a skating rink and left the grain scoop shovel. It had snowed a bunch since then with lots of snowmachine (snowmobile) tracks through it as well. i thought it would be a good workout to clear it off again, it was. The next day i knew we were going to ski so i would bring my skates and try it out just for fun...
Skiin'
December 24, 2007
Fischer Ultra Air touring skis, Riva cable bindings, metal edges, loaned from Mike Speaks, thanks Speaks, you rock!
Ski boots
December 24, 2007Out for a ski to a pond near our Fairbanks cabin. These are the ski boots i'll be using. I think they are Fabianos but not sure. If anyone recognizes them please let me know. All i know is they are sturdy and fit well. I got them from a friend who was leaving the State years ago. I will be using overboots for the cold days.
Just heard from my Gear Guru Rick that he thinks these are Asolo boots, January 5, 2008.
The view looking North from the bridge over the Toklat River. This is the area that Sheldon hunted, explored and researched during 1907-08.This past summer Tom Walker, local historian, photographer and local legend, found the lost photos of Sheldon from his time in Denali 100 years ago. From these photos and the photos from the classic book, "Wilderness of Denali, Explorations of a Hunter Naturalist" by Sheldon, i hope to find and recreate the exact photos 100 years later.
Grant Pearson's cabin, circa 1927? This cabin was built during the time of Superintendent Harry Karstens. Karstens was the first Superintendent of Mt McKinley National Park after it was formed in 1917. Karstens traveled with Charles Sheldon during his Denali time in 1907-08 taking care of the dog team, packing out specimens and helping with cabin chores. Pearson asked Karstens if he could get some money to build this cabin near the Toklat. Karstens gave him $15 for supplies. When Pearson was finished he gave Karstens the change left over from the 15 bucks!
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