Crisp Morning

Cooler and noticeably windier conditions mark the transition into winter here at my work place.  As I cam on duty this morning I captured the temperature - cold enough to freeze water and rendered all the more crisp by a strong, gusting wind.

My Commute & some miscellany

I work at a remote industrial facility located just above Minto Flats in the westernmost part of the White Mountains.  It's about 55 miles from Fairbanks, which means my bi-monthly commute is roughly 75.  It's really a nice drive most times, unless the weather is foul. 

Tuesday morning's drive was pretty exceptional, as I was on the road during sunrise.  Traffic wasn't bad at all, but there are a lot of hunters camped along the haul road.  Most are well out of the way but a few of those brain scientists and rocket surgeons can't resist setting up their camps in such a way as to block off pipeline access roads, trailheads and other places that might afford someone else a bit of access to the woods.  I can understand their desire for a bit of privacy, as there are a LOT of people wanting to take advantage of moose hunting season. 

Sunday evening I took my rifle and four-wheeler out to 'look around in the woods' for a couple of hours.  In the course of only 3 hours I encountered at least 10 people all with the same idea.  The woods are a lot more crowded than they were just a couple of years ago.  From September 5th through 20th, you can hardly throw a rock without hitting one.  Not much can be done about it, though.  Not everyone can afford a float plane, a river boat, or other expensive toys to access more remote areas.  That doesn't make it any less of a vexation, though.

But, back to my drive to work.  As I approached Wickersham Dome I was treated to a view of the full moon sinking toward the horizon as the sun was rising from the other direction.  It's almost exactly the opposite of the "moonrise at sunset" photo I posted a few days ago.  I stopped at the pullout for the Wickersham Dome trailhead (where only four hunter's vehicles were parked), and captured this image to share with you.

Moonset at Sunrise

I'm working day shift, 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM.  Day shift always seems to be very busy around here, leaving little free time to dedicate to my own interests.  That means I'm not likely to be posting a whole lot on the blog until I get off duty in a couple of weeks.  Of course one never knows what may happen in the meantime, but for now it's time for me to get back to do some stuff on behalf of my employer.  I'll see you next as soon as I can. 

1/2-way Point

Monday night, which almost marks the half-way point of this two-week tour of duty at work.  Things on the job are pretty much normal.  The stuff that is usually good is till good, and the stuff that is usually messed up beyond all hope remains pretty much hopeless. 

I sometimes feel like I am trying to cram two different lives into a single life-time and it is not always an easy juggling act.  When I'm here at work I have little freedom to pursue my own interests and limited contact with my 'outside' life and lifestyle.  The nature of my job requires me to maintain a 'professional distance' from my co-workers, just in case I'm ever in a position where I need to either treat their medical issues or address security threats.  Most of my contact with the world outside the work site is via the Internet, but the company filters out anything that could be considered offensive to anyone on the planet, anything from popular file sharing sites, social networking sites, photo sharing sites or pretty much anything else that might be classified as fun. 

To use my own computer I have to rely on the world's slowest dial-up connection, which is almost as limiting and frustrating as the Company's stinking content filters.  FaceBook takes forever to download, and sometimes requires reloading to work properly, and of course large media files are completely unworkable.  I am able to maintain good awareness of current events, though. 

Perhaps the most important current event affecting Interior Alaska is a decision by the U.S. Post Office to NOT close 25 small, rural post offices that serve communities that are not accessible via our State's limited road system.  That's very good news to me, as I have some friends who live in the bush with no access to telephone or electronic communications.  About the only way I have to communicate with them is the old-fashioned way, via snail mail. 

The last couple of days were very wet.  So wet that Sunday was the second wettest day of the year thus far.  That was newsworthy enough to make today's issue of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.  Actually, here at work the weather started breaking up a bit Sunday evening, resulting in an interesting verticle prism effect just south of my work place.  I was able to capture an image of it that you may enjoy. 




Partial rainbow south of my workplace.

 Just a few days ago, a camper on the Granite Tors trail, about 20 miles from my house, was rudely awakened when a black bear dragged him from his tent.  He was not badly injured, but I image he and bear were both pretty startled. 

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Outdoors editor Tim Mowry lives just a couple of miles down the road from me.  I always enjoy running into him at the post office or the Lodge and his work is usually pretty well considered and well written.  In an article in the Sunday edition I think he may have been a little 'fast and loose' with  the facts, though. 

Tim wrote "Tom Paragi is an Alaska enigma. He’s a hardcore greenie who also happens to be a hardcore hunter and trapper.  “He kind of shakes up the old paradigm that you’re one or the other,” friend Dave Payer, an ecologist for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, said.  Paragi is just as passionate about saving the planet as he is filling his freezer."

Actually, most of the hunters and trappers I know have a similar attitude as Mr. Paragi.  Most of us are more interested in putting healthy, tasty meat in the freezer than hanging a useless dead animal head on the wall, and most of us are very much concerned about maintaining a healthy wild environment.  It's a nice 'fluffy' story, but I really didn't find anything particularly unusual about it at all. 

Meanwhile, here at the edge of the White Mountains the season continues to progress toward sure-enough autumn.  I'm seeing more and more yellow leaves in the trees, and now also lying on the ground.  It's enough to take a guy's mind away from fly fishing and aiming it more toward hunting.  Although I'll be out of state during the early part of our general moose hunting season, I'll have a few days available to look around in the woods before I have to return to work.  If that doesn't work out well for me, I also have a drawing permit for a November hunt in a more remote area.

I guess that covers the news of interest for now, and it is time for me to make my rounds.  Wishing you the best in all you do....

An Early Autumn?

Patches of golden leaves in birch trees near my workplace.  Is this an indicator of an early Autumn?

For weeks now I've been hearing friends and neighbors predict an early onset of autumn, and ultimately of winter.  "I'm already seeing color in the tree leaves.", one exclaimed.  "The fireweed is almost bloomed out.", proclaims another.  "It just feels like fall.", says a third. 

As I listen and nod I'm reminded of a word of advice once given me by an old sourdough, quite a few years ago.  "Only two kinds of people try to predict Alaskan weather," the grizzled old-timer proclaimed.  "Those are cheechakos and fools." 

The photo above, taken about 7:30 pm yesterday, shows that leaves really are starting to turn color.  It's not particularly early for that event, though.  Last year I noted leaves starting to turn on August 20th, On August 11th, 2008 I wrote that leaves were changing color, and in 2007 I wrote the first mention of the changing season also on August 11th. 

In today's issue of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Tim Lowry wrote that "The sandhill cranes are early and the Canada geese are right on time." in reference to migrating water fowl gathering at Creamer's Field wildlife refuge, in Fairbanks. 


So, I do agree that the earliest signs of autumn are evident, but I don't necessarily believe they are early.  As is usually the case when something involves Mom Nature, I think things are happening at exactly the time She thinks they need to happen, and it's not nice to mess with Mother Nature. 

A Bit of Weather

After enjoying clear skies and warm temperatures for so long, today's weather is a bit of a shock.  It was overcast when I came out to my workplace at 6:00 am, and it started snowing about mid-morning.  Now it is snowing sidewise and there are three or four inches on the ground.  That's great for those who are free to run dogs and play in the woods, but for me, stuck here at work, it is nothing more than something more to move with a shovel.

Apparently weather conditions are much worse in many areas of the State.  According to the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner high winds and heavy snow are wreaking havok over much of the State.  The storm that ripped through False Pass tore off roofs, collapsed sheds and sent an all-terrain vehicle tumbling down the street.  A village public safety officer estimated that the winds topped out at more than 100 mph Wednesday afternoon.  The medical clinic was one of the damaged buildings. The windows were blown out and the door bowed from the force of the wind sparking fears it would give. The door held, perhaps helped by an ambulance parked against it for support.

National Weather Service Satellite Image

In other news, my friend "Bloody" Bob Hunter called me about noon, and told me of an opportunity to get a permit for a special muzzleloader only moose hunt scheduled for November of this year.  The hunt area is located on the Middle Fork of the Chena River and extends over the hills to the Salcha River drainage.  The area is accessible only by trail, but it's not too far in and in November it would be a great place to hunt by dog sled.  Bob is also a historical reenactor and avid muzzleloader hunter, so I'll be applying for the permit and, should I be successful, Bob and I will probably plan to do this hunt together, using only 18th century technology.  This permit would permit us to hunt animals of either sex, lending itself to historically authentic conditions. 

Bloody Bob and I have done historically authentic hunts together in the past, and he's one of the best hunters and woodsmen I know.  I am greatly looking forward to an opportunity to get out into the woods with him again.

For now, I'm looking forward to getting off duty in a couple of hours, relaxing for a bit after supper, and then getting some well earned sleep.  What used to be my "place of employment" truly has turned into a workplace, and at times more of a workplace than anyone might bargain for.  If things are hectic now I should probably dread summer, when everyone and everything about this remote industrial facility becomes twice as busy. 

Swanny




 

Happy Solstice

I am a short-timer here at my place of employment.  Tuesday morning I'll be off like a shot, heading home for two weeks of well deserved R&R.  The forecast temperatures look pretty favorable for running sled dogs, ranging just a few degrees on either size of zero for the first week or so.  My friend Mike says we got about 4 inches of new snow on the ground while I've been here on the job.  I'm not sure it will be enough to make the trails safer, but I have every intention of checking it out at my earliest opportunity.

Assuming the timer on Blogger works properly, this post should appear at exactly 8:47 am,  the exact time of the December solstice, known as the winter solstice here in North America.  In the northern hemisphere the December solstice marks the longest night (shortest day) of the year.  Being so close to the arctic circle, we will have only 3 hours and 43 minutes of possible direct sunlight.  From this moment on, however, we can honestly declare that the days are getting longer, and summer is on the way.

Because I'm on the job during night shift, I should be sound asleep at the appointed hour and minute, but I'll celebrate the solstice and symbolic changing of seasons in my own quiet way tonight,  sending my prayers of gratitude and expressing my hopes and dreams for the coming year to the Creator.  I hope that you will celebrate the day in your own way, and that the lengthening days to come bring unlimited blessings into your life.  Should your own celebration include meditation or prayer, please remember to ask a blessing for those out on the trail, far from hearth and home.

Sunrise During the Golden Season

Although the equinox marks the "official" start of fall, we are enjoying the most beautiful part of autumn here in Alaska's interior. The photo above depicts this morning's brilliant sunrise, and the photo below shows there really is gold in them thar hills.



The nights are growing longer by 7 minutes each day and according to the forecast we can expect some cooler temperatures later this week.

We are now in the middle of the general moose hunting season and of course I'm stuck at my place of employment, making it unlikely that I'll be able to put any lean, healthy moose meat in my own freezer. There are a lot of folks out in the woods, though. Apparently there has been a healthy success rate thus far.

Meanwhile, at my place of employment everything is "routine", just the way we like it.

Transistions

Back in the days when I was a kid Labor Day marked the unofficial end of summer. It was certainly the end of summer vacation as, traditionally, school always started the next day. This thought was weighing on my mind through much of the day, as it happens to be the last day of my R&R. Tomorrow morning I’ll be returning to my place of employment.

Yesterday’s tasks were almost all domestic in nature. I like to leave a tidy house so I don’t return from work just to face a major mess. I’m actually pretty good about keeping things at least reasonably organized around the house though you might not agree if you saw my dining table. It is the center of my lifestyle, the place where I park my computer, pay my bills, eat my chow, and fiddle with stuff. Consequently it tends to collect clutter right up through the last day of the R&R, when it get’s cleared down to its wooden surface.

By evening the only thing remaining on the table was the computer, which will be packed up for the trip to my job site later this morning, after I’ve checked my Emails, read the on-line edition of the Fairbanks Daily News Miner, and scanned my favorite forums for new posts while I drink my morning pot of coffee. That may be the only ‘ritual’ in my lifestyle that I can consistently enjoy both at home and at my place of employment.

During early fall, when others seem to be winding down after a summer filled with activities or finishing up summer projects I am actually gearing up for the mushing season. Yeah, I know many of the summertime posts have mentioned tasks that must be done ahead of the cold season. It seems there really are only two seasons in the Interior of Alaska – Winter and Getting Ready for Winter. I’m already putting together my “Must Do” list for next R&R and it’s looking pretty full.

For example, both of my rigs need service prior to the cold season. Oil, lube and filter changes and probably new wiper blades all the way around. The truck needs a new set of studded snow tires – and that’s going to be an expensive albeit predicted “hit” in the wallet. It is a necessary hit as the truck will see more use as we (the team) travel to different trails and new places to explore.

All of my dogsleds need a bit of maintenance here and there. Some of it is stuff I probably should have done sooner, but just couldn’t find the time or motivation. My snow machine, an old but reliable Skidoo Tundra, needs a couple of parts and I’d rather do that during a cool day in autumn than a cold morning when I need to be breaking out or grooming a trail instead of dinking with the damned machine.

All of my mushing gear will need a thorough inspection so I know which items need to be replaced, and which will be good for a full season. Gang lings (called “mainlines” by Lower-48 mushers) need to be in perfect condition. If they fail the entire team can break free and go running off down the trail. Obviously that would NOT be a good thing.

I’ll be ordering some of my winter clothing replacements while at my place of employment. I find that each winter I wear out one or two pairs of silk long johns, several pairs of silk stocking liners and at least 6 pairs of silk glove liners. Two woolen shirts and two pair of woolen trousers are also needed each year to replace the oldest in my wardrobe, which by now are worn beyond repair. My outerwear is all in good condition so I don’t have to worry about replacing my insulated bib coveralls or my Wiggy’s parka. That’s a relief because the best gear also comes with a big price tag. When one spends as much time outdoors during Alaska’s winter as I it isn’t enough to buy the best you can afford – you really must afford the best you can buy.

All of things on my “Must Do” list must be done in between training the dogs. Though a few of us have started training already, nearly every serious musher in Two Rivers will be out on the trails, running dogs with four-wheelers or other wheeled rigs. Dogs can only do what we’ve trained them to do, and wheels give us the opportunity to get an early start.

Moose hunting season opened yesterday in my area. Unfortunately I’ll be at work through the entire season, so my track record of never harvesting a moose remains intact. I’m hoping that several of my friends will be successful, as their donated butchering trim provides bones and good lean meat for my dogs. I grind a lot of that ‘scrap’ and form it into ¼ pound meatballs which I freeze and then toss into a bag in my freezer. When we’re out on longer runs those meatballs make excellent snacks for the dogs to help them maintain the energy needed to work. I’ve never yet seen a dog turn down a meatball or fishball snack.

As we break into the fall routine, I will be spending a lot more time on the stationary recumbent bicycle in the workout room at my place of employment. I have to be careful of my knees, so need to avoid the traditional treadmill as much as I can. Nonetheless I need strong legs to peddle or run (well, waddle) behind or beside the sled when the dogs need a helping hand. By cranking the resistance level up pretty high I can get a degree of strength training in addition to a good aerobic workout. That’s my theory, and I’m sticking to it. I probably should do much more strength training than I normally do, especially upper body work, but the thought of just humping iron for the sake of humping iron doesn’t wrap real well in my brain.

The summer has certainly had some highlights. I was able to expand the dog yard and make it much more comfortable for the dogs, with more usable space and convenience for me. Installing a second pen was a brilliant idea as that is now “home” to Lucky and her litter of wonderful puppies. I have enough tie-out and pen space to easily house my own team along with a bit of extra space for others that may need a temporary place to stay.

I had a great time at the Alaska State Rendezvous in July. I always enjoy escaping into the past for a few days, and I’m looking forward to escaping again to the Alaska Fall Rendezvous, the last weekend of my next R&R. That one will be in Mendeltna, a bit of a drive but always well worth doing.

My house is nearly as comfortable and snug as I can make it though the high price of heating oil and electricity remains a concern, and will probably be an on-going concern for some time to come. I still haven’t decided wether I will run the furnace in the shop this winter. I might not make that decision until the last moment. I still need to install a bit of weather stripping and cover the shop window with plastic before I make that decision.

That long, wet rainy spell we had in July through early August resulted in one of the cooler summers that I can remember. The blueberry crop sucked and the raspberries didn’t do particularly well, though I did enjoy a couple of meals on them. Tending to the puppies has certainly been a highlight of the season I’ll never forget. They are doing incredibly well. There isn’t a shy pup in the bunch.

Our early training runs have resulted in a surge of optimism for the upcoming season. The dogs seem to be running well, our leaders still remember left from right and brilliant old Torus still remembers what “easy” and “pick it up” mean. Rose and Nels have apparently gained some maturity that improves their potential as leaders, so I can look forward to rotating three different young dogs through the lead position this year, and spending a lot of time concentrating on their training. My goal is to have all three running as “finished” leaders by the end of this season because I don’t know if I can count on Torus being able to run. He might, and if so I’ll certainly let him, but he isn’t a young dog anymore.

Training Opportunities:

Parents are probably already well aware of the concept of “teachable moments”, circumstances that occur in daily life that provide an opportunity to teach their children about important things.

Sometimes dogs provide us ‘teachable moments’ as well. While training our sled dogs we look forward to those unexpected but inevitable encounters with other teams to help train our dogs to pass nicely, or distractions along the trail providing an opportunity to reinforce the ‘on by’, ‘leave it’ or other “pay attention and keep on running” cue.

When scooping feces from the yard, I use a large janitorial dust pan with a handle and a light weight ‘yard broom’ type rake, sized for children. These tools allow me to do the job without having to do a lot of bending.

While scooping the puppy pen this morning several of the puppies were absolutely fascinated with dust pan. I imagine the swaying, swinging motion as it moved at their head level most likely caught their attention, and they found it a fascinating toy to chase around the pen. I decided to take advantage of that fascination to teach them to follow a target stick.

A target stick is just a stick with a bit of contrasting color on the end. In use, the dog is first trained to “touch” the end of the stick. Then the dog can be trained to follow the end of the stick wherever it might lead. From there, the target stick can be used as a sort of conditioned lure to guide the dog through motions we might wish to train (such as left and right turns) or through a wide variety of behaviors. Target sticks are frequently used to train assistance dogs to operate light switches and many other tasks.

If I can ‘shape’ targeting behavior now, while the puppies are so young, I’ll have a huge advantage when training them to walk on a loose leash, to “line out” (pull the main line on a sled taught without actually dragging the sled), walk up the ramp to load into the dog truck, jump up on their houses for husbandry and handling and many other very useful behaviors.

To train these puppies to target, I took a dowel of suitable length and drilled a hole into the end in that I can load with cheese or other “sticky” treat, and used a strip of blue electrical tape to mark the target on the end. I then headed into the pen to begin my experiment. I loaded the stick with potted meat (no spam, than you) and within just a few seconds every puppy in the litter was following the target like ducklings following their mom. I’ve asked my training partner to follow up on the process while I’m away at my place of employment.

When I get back I should be able change the criteria of the game very quickly. Instead of loading the target stick, I’ll load my bag with goodies, and when a puppy touches the end of the stick I’ll reinforce the behavior by feeding a treat from my hand. I’ll also be introducing them to the clicker to develop the value of the “click” as a secondary or “bridge” reenforcer.

But that is then, and this is now. Now it’s time for me to saddle up and start making the trek up the road to earn money to pay for kibble.

Training Run Video & Domestic Duties

It's overcast and a bit warmer this morning than yesterday, but still chilly enough to justify shutting down the outside water supply. We're back to hauling water in buckets, but it's only an inconvenience, not a major issue by any stretch.

This morning I created a video with some of the highlights of yesterday's first training run. At 14 meg, it's a pretty large file, but I think a lot of folks might enjoy watching it. To download it, just click on this link - First Training Run Vid

For the dogs, today is a 'rest day'. I will be giving them another training run tomorrow, probably focusing on lots of "gee/haw" work. Gee is the cue used to prompt them to turn right, and haw the cue to turn left.

Although the dogs got the day off, I did not. I have to return to my place of employment on Tuesday, so it's time for me to do some housekeeping. It's mundane stuff, but I've fallen behind so needed to wash a sink full of a dishes and especially clean the floors. Since I am in and out of the house frequently through the course of any given day I tend to track in quite a bit of mud and dirt, loose straw and other dog-yard debris. Then there were a couple of loads of laundry that needed to be washed, dried, sorted and put away, all while maintaining the daily kennel chores.

While out in the kennel tending the mutts I shut down and rolled up the garden hoses that provide water during summer. We've had frost and a frozen hose nearly every day for the past week and at this time of year there is no reason to believe it will get substantially warmer. I also fired up the little garden tractor and mowed the lawn, most likely for the last time this year. Unless there is a major change I'll remove the mower deck and install the snow blade and tire chains early next R&R.

I'm planning to hit the rack early tonight, probably shortly after I feed Lucky and the puppies and give all the of the dogs a couple of scoops of water. We're going to run tomorrow fairly early, and I want to be awake, alert and well oriented to what we are doing.

Preparing For Some Serious "R&R"

Tomorrow I'll be going off-duty at my place of employment, and heading home for some well deserved "R&R" (aka Rest and Real-Life). There is much to be done and enjoyed this time around.

My friend Janece will be flying up from Kentucky for the first week of my R&R. She is recovering from injuries suffered in a bad automobile collision and is under solemn doctor's orders to take time away from her work to REST and REHABILITATE. The only way for a business owner to get away from working is to get as far away from that business as possible, hence she will arriving late Tuesday night. The very easy-going agenda for this visit includes several trips to Chena Hot Springs to soak in the mineral hot springs.

Our informal "Red Lantern Club" is planning a pot-luck picnic and afternoon of fun with dogs for Thursday afternoon. Our "club" is really just a group of friends who train our sled dogs together, and who frequently quality for the traditional last-place consolation prize in most of the races in which we compete.

Friday morning my venerable and brilliant lead dog, Torus, will be going to the vet for the Big Snip. Having confirmed that Lucky is pregnant, Torus will be sterilized to reduce the risk of unintended breedings in my kennel. Frequent readers of this blog know that Torus is a truly exceptional leader, and he was bred to Lucky, an equally exceptional bitch belonging to musher Kyle Belleque of Dillingham. Kyle and I will be dividing the litter between us.

Lucky is due to whelp in the middle of August, and will probably do so while boarding with my training partner. Nonetheless I need to finish some details of her whelping pen, where she will raise the wee-ones during my time off from employment. Having finished converting a good shelter into an excellent whelping house with a removable roof, all the remains is to cover the pen with fencing wire to thwart the intentions of owls, hawks and other airborne predators with fresh puppy on the menu. To integrate that project with an enclosed storage barn for the straw used for bedding during the cold seasons, I'll need to remove some fence posts and replace them with taller posts, which will serve double duty in supporting the roof the new shed. If I'm reasonably diligent I should have the shed completed before I next return to my job.

There are also some smaller project that need to be completed in the next two weeks. Although it will be months before they are needed, I need to set up at least 3 more tethers. When the pups are ready to integrate into the main yard they will need houses and tethers, and they are much easier to set up during summer than after the ground has been frozen and covered in snow. I also plan to install some floodlights over the kennel so that I can illuminate it while doing my chores and to dissuade visitors of the wildlife variety. Finally, I'll need to install a pair of picket lines on which dogs can be temporarily restrained while they are being harnessed and prepared for training runs.

I'm sure that other projects will crop up in the future, but those details should basically complete the 2008 Kennel Renovation Project, and result in an unusually secure and efficient sled dog kennel for the Stardancer Historical Freight Dogs.

Meanwhile, on Saturday Janece and I are planning to take Chinook and Amazing Grace to a practice weight pull put on by the Interior Freight Dog Association. Although Chinook has been trained for weight pulling he's never had the opportunity to do so in competition against other dogs. At the time I got him, the IFDA was inactive. Now they have been revitalized so it's time to see what the "Big Guy" can do. Grace will come pull in order to introduce her to a new experience and give her a chance to play with her owner, Janece. If they do well, I will enter them in the real deal, a weight pulling competition at the Tanana Valley State Fair on Saturday, August 2nd.

Although it may seem early to those in the Lower-48, the Fair usually occurs during a transition in the weather that marks the difference between early and late summer. It is such a reliable occurence that we jokingly call it "Fair Weather", a pattern that is marked by gloomy, overcast skies, chilly temperatures and cold drizzling rain. Most years the Fair weather pattern develops in late July and lasts through most of August, and sometimes well into September. Many of us consider "Fair weather" to be natures little warning that winter is well on its way, and we'd best be finishing up our warm weather projects in a hurry.

So, that's what's happening here, that's the plan. We'll have to see how well it is executed.

Swanny

Happy Solstice

It's official. From this point on the days will bet getting shorter, the nights longer, and we Alaskans will start reminding each other that winter is coming, and will be here quickly. This morning the sun peaked over the horizon at 2:38 am and will not set tonight, but rather will dip below the horizon at 12:45 tomorrow morning. Of course this time of year we live under visible sunlight 24 hours per day.

In town, there will be live music at several venues, the Fairbanks semi-pro Goldpanners will play their annual baseball game through the middle of the night with no lights as none are needed.

Currently historical reenactors from around the State, and even from the Lower-48 are setting up their camps and settling in for the annual Alaska State Rendezvous. I'll be traveling down to join them on Wednesday, as I'll off-duty for R&R sometime after noon on Tuesday. Meanwhile, here at my place of employment the Summer Solstice is just another day.

Currently the woods, the wild roses are in full bloom. I have a lot of roses on my property at home and there are few here at my place of employment as well. Here is a photo I shot about 5 minutes ago just outside the front gate of this hardcore industrial facility.

As usual when at my place of employment, there just isn't a whole lot of news to share. One day follows the last and precedes the next as I mark time, earning the money needed to support my "real" lifestyle at home.

Catching Up on News

I returned to my place of employment Tuesday. As promised, I did spread the grass seed in the play area on Saturday, and I also mowed the grass in my front 'lawn'. Sunday, my 'day of rest' I leisurely tidied up my house, tightened a dining room chair that had long been threatening to pitch me onto the floor, and repaired the face on a cabinet drawer that chose Sunday morning to fall off. I also spent a couple of hours using up the remaining sheet of extra T-111 siding by building a fourth new dog house. All in all I'd say it was a pretty productive rest day.

Of course, Monday was spent mostly running errands in the morning in preparation for returning to my job. I've only been back a couple of days and I'm already looking forward to the next R&R. When I get off work I'll be leaving straightaway for the Alaska State Rendezvous, which will held near Talkeetna this year. The rendezvous is essentially a reenactment of the American fur-trade rendezvous' of the early 19th century, in which trappers gathered to exchange their furs for goods and supplies needed for the next season, and engaged in a huge annual party. During our rendezvous living history enthusiasts from throughout the State get together to live like 19th century homeless people.

We finally seem to be easing into our beautiful Alaskan summer. I've seen some wild roses blooming here and there, and the fireweed has grown a bit beyond the "shoot" stage, though is still a ways from blooming. After another winter of minimal snow, our 'break up' was a long, drawn out affair more accurately described as a slow thaw.

During a normal year, I would expect to have seen blazing hot temperatures in the 80s or even low-90s by now. So far temperatures rising into the mid-70s have been rare. The good news is that mosquito and wasp populations have been low thus far.

That pretty much wraps up the news of the moment. The weather is beautiful today, the woods around my place of employment are quiet and calm, and so am I.

A Good Day's Work

I started the day with a trip to town to buy fencing materials and grass seed for the expanded dog yard. Today was very warm, so upon my return I placed 15 gallon galvanized tubs in the dog yard so every dog has access to at least one. By filling each about half way every dog can play in the tub whenever s/he wishes to cool off a bit.

I spent the remainder of the day planting fence posts, and I'm very pleased that ALL the posts are in. I can start off tomorrow hanging fencing, and if the project continues half as smoothly as it went today I may even get some grass seed down and watered.

I received the bill for yesterday's dirt work, and couldn't be more delighted. The actual cost came in considerably under the original estimate. The savings is significant enough to buy a LOT of dog food.

Today was the warmest day thus far this spring, with a high of 73 degrees F here at the house. Maybe we'll finally start getting some seasonally appropriate weather.

Wishful Thinking - Real Disappointment

With a couple of inches of new snow, I was thinking that the trail from the house might be in good enough condition to take the team for a run today. In fact, I planned the whole day around doing so.

Before gathering up gear it occurred to me that it might be a good idea to ride the trail on the snowmachine before risking the dogs. It is probably a good thing that I did so. Although portions of the trail are in good shape, in very good, others are horrible. Apparently someone had a great deal of fun with a small SUV or oversized ATV. The result is some deep ruts frozen into the trail that are very likely to pitch me right off a sled. The dogs might enjoy it, but chasing a lost team down an ugly trail isn't high on my "good time" list.

I guess I'll just have to bite the bullet and accept the the dog sledding season really is over, and it is time to move into "break up" things.

Swanny