Jackie and Pat's Alaska

It has been a busy past couple of months, including stretches of incredible weather. The month of May was almost entirely sunny, with temperatures nearing 75 on a daily basis. Juneau was actually happy to have a week off from sun to re-hydrate everything and give folks a chance to catch up on house work and laundry. Nobody does chores when it is sunny in the mountains!

At the end of March, Pat and I and three other members of Juneau Mountain Rescue traveled to Anchorage to evaluate and observe the Alaska Mountain Rescue group's 5-year certification (which our team went through last year). We didn't have much snow to work with, but clear skies and rock were welcomed. The following are photos from our high angle scenario down on Turnagain Arm.

Jeremy, with Pat packaged up in the litter (wearing the goggles).

The re-accreditation team.

Pat spent another week up on the Icefield when we got back from Anchorage, and then had a day's worth of Icefield work to complete. I (Jackie) was able to join their 3 person team so we had groups of two to fly back and forth.

We flew up to the Canada border and worked our way all the way down the Gilkey Glacier, digging snow pits, collecting snow density, depth and core information, and using a steam drill to install ablation wires.

We also flew over the site we were dropped at last year, near the base of Glacier King.

Pat digging their first pit, while we were landing.

Pat and Chris working on the pit. Pat collecting a density measurement and taking core measurements.

One of my favorite sites. The 'view' is better than the others? Not really a fair thing to say...

Our transport for the day.

Joanna showing off the steam drill.

The lower Gilkey Glacier.

Gilkey.

If we ever send out a Christmas card, this would be it.

And this could be the black lab CC photo?

Anyways, early April we finally ordered our chicken shipment! Pat of course was out of town for the first week of their life, but they were still pretty small when he got to meet them.

I have to take a long lunch to go pick them up from the Post Office and take them to their new home. They were 3 days old when I pulled them from the box below. We have 18 birds that survived (lost of couple the first several days), 14 of which we will keep as egg layers, and 4 are meat birds and will be butchered in the coming weeks.

Chicken Delivery.....

All of the chicks huddled in one box for warmth!

One of our Easter Eggers that lays green/blue eggs. Call-out to Sarah!

We moved the chicks out to the coop at the beginning of May once it warmed up. Much more space and they were growing so fast!

Below is Matilda, our buffed laced polish chicken (we only have one). She is a very unique bird, and will have a headress. Looks ridiculous as she develops it....

Several days ago, two Months old now. Still has growing to do, but the head dress is filling out.

Not able to roam all around the yard yet, but go out into their run when we are home.

Can you tell the meat birds (giant, tan) from the other egg layers? Even as young chickens they are much larger.

We have bard rocks (black and white speckled), a columbian wyandette, Matilda (buffed laced polish), Americaunas (Easter Eggers) and rhode island reds. A nice mixed flock. I also found a woman in town that sells organic Scratch and Peck chicken feed and these guys love it!
Only a couple months to go and we will be cranking out some eggs.

Since it has been so nice out, thought I would leave you with some scenic photos from the month of May, including some views from some of our boating, camping fishing adventures. And some dog photos for anyone that misses them.

We head to fish the Outer Coast tomorrow.....whooo!

Bucket of Shrimp!

And finally....First king of the year!

Hope everyone is having a great summer, and more adventures to come. Get outside!

Sure has been a fast moving past couple of years.....about time I get this thing updated.

Pat and I still live in Juneau, Alaska, in the house (err, cabin?) that we purchased five years ago when we first moved here. Barley is 6 now and last year we got another addition to our crew- a black lab puppy named Otis. Well, 3/4 lab and 1/4 dalmatian, but looks entirely lab. Otis turned one this past December, and is an obsessive retriever, loves the water and going on the boat, and seemingly impossible to wear out. Both dogs love to run and ski as much as possible, and love every minute of living in Southeast. Pat and I are both still actively involved and current members with Juneau Mountain Rescue, with Pat continuing his role as board President.

Pat works for the University of Alaska Southeast as a Research Professional full time, year-round, and Ski Patrols in the winter at Eaglecrest Ski Area. Pat still operates a jet boat in Berners Bay, installs hydrology and monitoring equipment all over Southeast Alaska to monitor ocean and freshwater environments, and works with graduate students conducting research up on the Juneau Icefield.

I have a year and a half in working for the State of Alaska- Department of Environmental Conservation in the Division of Water, under the Wastewater Discharge Authorization Program, and work with Seafood Processors throughout the state to permit land-based facilities and vessels to operate in State of Alaska waters.

I am still battling with a bout of depression after the Packer vs. Seahawks playoff game, but I am already looking forward to next season! Here's to Rodgers winning MVP :)

Here is a little bit of what we have been up to the past couple years (or at least the easiest accessible photos that I have):

Fishing and Boating Adventures

Of course, we still have full summers of fishing, including a number of cabin trips, beach/island camping, and Outer Coast fishing trips. Jackie's parents enjoyed a trip out to Cross Sound/Eflin Cove last summer, and got to experience the lifetime experience of King Salmon fishing in the open waters of the Gulf of Alaska. A couple photos taken from the Blue Cheese, the last summer we had her.

Sleepy Barley in the bow.

Barley

17 pound Coho

Re-setting dungeness crab pots

King fishing on the Outer Coast

We sold the Blue Cheese at the end of the summer of 2014, and upgraded to our dream boat. Equipped with a v-berth up front to sleep in, a table, sink and heater/cook stove, we have a floating cabin to explore more areas of Southeast Alaska in.

Now you should all definitely come visit!

Tess, Otis (center), Barley and Pat, taking a ride from the boat to shore in the zodiac.

Icefield and Hiking Adventures

Last year we flew up to the Icefield with a group of friends and camped, skied and climbed for a week. Jackie also took advantage of having her adventure partner Sarah still in town (Sarah and her husband Torsten have since moved to Guam, where Sarah got stationed with the Coast Guard) and spent many days hiking and skiing with the dogs and Sarah. This was usually while Pat was out on a work trips flying and camping on the Icefields in the spring.

One of the areas that Pat spent time on the Juneau Ice field.

Fall Icefield trip.

Goat on the peaks above the Icefield.

Pat on the icefield in the spring.

Pat enjoying a wedding cigar on our Icefield trip last May.

Ski touring on the Juneau Icefield.

The Juneau Icefield, skiing last May.

Here are a couple photos from Sarah and I hiking the Observation Peak loop with Barley.

Barley looking over the Icefield.

Observation Peak.

Sarah and I on Observation Peak, overlooking the Juneau Icefield.

This Past Winter

We haven't had the greatest winter weather wise, meaning hardly any snow and lots of rain. Eaglecrest hasn't been open since December (except the bunny hill), so we have been keeping busy lots of other ways, and embracing the snow when we can.

We already had a trip planned to the Big Island of Hawaii, where we met up with our good friends Andy and Hillary that now live in Vermont.
This was my 50th state to visit, so got to check that off the list! Here are a couple photos from Hawaii....

Green Sand beach, a 2 1/2 mile hike to the southernmost tip on the Big Island (and apparently the southernmost tip of the United States as well.

Enjoying a libation on the green sand beach.

Hiking in a crater at Volcanoes National Park, the morning after a huge storm blew through the area we were camped. They closed the park and we were some of the only visitors inside, and basically had the place to ourselves.

Watching the sunset from the newest black sand beach.

Big Island Brewhaus in Waimea.

A view of Mauna Kea, from 12,000 on Mauna Loa. Fresher snow on our hike up Mauna Loa than in Juenau at that time.

A cool cave we found hiking up Mauna Loa.

Our last night on the beach. Sad....

We have been enjoying the snow when it does come, and the dogs enjoy it even more.

Barley

Otis

Barley and Otis. Otis always has to cuddle up with him.

Nordic skiing out at Eagle Beach this winter.

Otis and Barley

Barley and Otis, tired after skiing.

Otis being protective of a pile of climbing gear at the JMR cache, ball in his mouth.

We hopped on the ferry this past February and took our annual ski trip, this time up to Whitehorse, Yukon in Canada for some real winter and Nordic Skiing.

Headless dogs with their faces buried in the fresh powder.

Ascending.

Crossing the border back into Alaska.

The following weekend we had a Mountain Rescue training, where we chartered several helicopters and got dropped on the Juneau Icefield to practice snow anchors and high-angle rigging. We managed to get a little skiing in too when we dropped down the backside of Vesper peak and skied down onto the glacier.