Pre-Flight Information: Lessons in Photography

Days until departure: 2

Sorry for the delay. Things here have been busy, what with finals, grading, hockey championship and dislocated kneecap.

Like I mentioned in a previous entry, I'm borrowing a Canon EOS from a friend. Now, previous to this, all my experience with a camera of this caliber has been in front of it, modelling for my good friend Vinnie. When the news came that I was going to Alaska, nearly everyone exclaimed, "Oh, you'll have to take lots of pictures!" I did agree, but all I own is a crappy point-and-shoot, and I thought if I was going to take pictures, I should at least camera that would do the landscape justice. So, I obtained my friend's Canon, and Vinnie gave me a few crash courses in photography.

For a school field trip at the beginning of this month, I took the Canon out on a practice run, and brought back the best 27 out of nearly 100 photos taken for Vinnie to peruse and advise me on. Here's the cream of the crop.As part of an entomology and plant identification group, a handful of Chico State students went to Fort Sage Recreation Area, right off Highway 395, near the border of Nevada. The habitat is Great Basin Desert. Although the Great Basin desert is high desert, and as a rule bloody cold this time of year, I think its one of the more beautiful landscapes in the western United States. This picture accurately represents the colors there, the milky-blue sky, pale red sand and juniper and sage greens.This is an Castilleja, otherwise known as Indian paintbrush. A striking bit of red among the duller background colors of the desert.

This is the landscape I'm talking about. This is probably one of the best shots from the trip, despite the damn lens flare.
These are tent caterpillars feasting on a desert peach. These are all sibling caterpillars - they weave this tent, and then climb out on the limbs to forage on the leaves of the plant.
Sunset, looking east from where we were camped. The rock formation farthest on the right is Sail Rock, a nice distinct landscape.

Since I have many things to do before I fly out on Saturday, I'll be scarce here again. The next time I write here, I should be in Alaska!

Pre-Flight Information: Where the Hell Am I Going?

Days Until Departure: 13

So I'm going to Alaska. We all know that "Seward's Folly" is the largest state in the country (at 663,268 square miles), as well as being one of the two states outside the continental U.S. (Fun fact: after this summer I'll have been to both of those.) Since this state is so very large, saying "I'm goin' to Alaska!" potentially cover a number of different areas.

So let's be clear. I'll be stationed at the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, the second largest NWR in the country and the state.

The one labeled with an arrow. In yellow. No, I can't see Russia from there. Jackass.

Okay, we're looking at a refuge that's 29,941 square miles. That's still a lot of land to cover. From what I've learned about my job (which I will cover in a different post) I'll be traipsing all over the refuge chasing nesting waterfowl. I do have a home base for the 10 weeks I'll be there.Bethel, Alaska, is the 6th largest city in Alaska, with about 6,300 people. I know very little about the town I'll be living in for the majority of the time I'm there, other than the following:

• It's located on the Kuskokwim River
  
• You can only get to it by boat and airplane
• 62% of the population are Alaskan Natives
  
• I'm pretty sure there are no ice skating rinks there
  

I'm half wary and half excited about living in Bethel. I'm naturally a planning and information-gathering type (I was recently told I'm a "natural taxonomist") and this lack of information about Bethel makes me nervous. However, my boss will be taking me on a tour of town when I get up there on May 22nd, and this will be a great opportunity to get settled in a town without any family or friends to help me out.

As for what Bethel looks like, you'll just have to wait until I get there with the Canon.

The Beginning

Days Until Departure: 13

A mediocre start to what should be an interesting blog just based on the subject matter.

I was lucky enough to get hired with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to work as a biologist at the Yukon Delta NWR in Alaska for ten weeks this summer. Since Alaska is inherently fascinating, I assume that a blog about my adventures in the largest and northernmost state would be at least of interest to some people (if only friends and family).

I'm also fortunate enough to borrow a Canon EOS from a friend, so I can at least pepper the blog with pretty pictures. I'm new to photography, and the pictures shown here will show my learning curve, and hopefully some improvement.

As for the title of this blog, it's a heavy-handed reference to my favorite comic of all time.

Anyway, please enjoy my ramblings about ducks, cold weather, 20 hour days, et cetera.