Saturday, June 25, 2011

Bears





My last post didn't publish so will repost. I met a bear on my lawn mower. She was fairly large so I thought she might be a male. She watched me slowly meander past her and I didn't have much of a choice but to keep going. I went back on a safer machine with my camera. She had two cubs way up in the large tree.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Cruising on


It's summer that is cruising on, although the weather is chaotic, cold/hot, wet/dry.
Aliy's 2011 Iditarod notes are starting on her blog, www.spkkenneldoglog.blogspot.com.
It's always an amazing and detailed account of her full Iditarod... great learning for anyone who reads it.
We have two helpers this summer, Tanner, a young musher, and David, an aspiring musher.
The dogs are happy to have their level of activity and attention. We have visitors who enjoy trail rides and meeting the dogs.
Our older dogs are still doing their best but are winding down with some major health problems.
Martin is probably the healthiest older dog here, although fully blind Skinny, continues to trail walk and they greeted each other on the trail yesterday. Skinny knows Martin by scent and you can only wonder what they think or if they recall being pups together in Two Rivers, AK. Two great dogs, for sure, and we always wish they could tell us their thoughts. Lillen continues to have jaw problems but meds and gentle handling seem to keep it under control. Glory's rapid tumor has returned but she runs like a pup. She is the last of Scuba's pups we have. Sierra is losing mobility and eyesight... but for now they still get out and about and seem to be happy with each day's events.
So for now, each day is jampacked with activity.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Local Wolf Pack



The Wild Rivers Guide has a photo of a newly designated Spread Eagle Barrens wolf pack.

The photo was at night on a field camera, showing five adults. The article says that the DNR officially named it the Spread Eagle Barrens pack and that there is evidence of them having pups.


This photo of the baby duck was at Fumee Falls, no mother duck in sight.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Photo a Day, experimenting















My kids gave me a beautiful album of photography in which the photographer, Brandenburg,
took only one photo a day and collected them in the album. I'm not quite disciplined enough to take only one, but I can choose one a day. This is today's choice, illuminating the tiny hairs on the branch.

The runner up was another backlighted leafy twig with a spider web on it. I hadn't seen the web so I didn't get a clear shot.

Rivers













The rivers are at their banks and pushing. Piers Gorge was wild yesterday but a beautiful

area for a Sunday family hike.














Saturday, May 7, 2011

May 7, 2011



Spring is late this year. There are as yet no wildflowers nor budding spring bulbs. There are signs of wildlife on the field cameras including red fox and raccoon.The turkeys are very active.

We can see digging in the mosses and droppings on the trails from other than deer. The deer herd is stable and healthy.