Back From the Bush

Hi, I have returned from Aniakchak and loved every minute of it. I use to think Yellowstone was the most beautiful place in the whole world. Then I got the job at King Salmon and Katmai tied with Yellowstone but Aniakchak blows them out of the water. It is incredably beautiful, enchanting, mysterious and full of surprises both good and bad.

In the next few days I will tell you about my adventures. Today I want to focus on the rigors of life in a place that may get 100 people a year. As of this moment the five members of our team doubled the amount of people who have been there so far this year. Aniakchak is known for its unpredictable weather. It is the first monument that claims weather as the reason it is a national park. We were to leave for an eight day journey at 10am on the 10th. But the morning of the 10th had King Salmon fogged in. We watched and waited all day for the weather here and there to clear so that we could leave. It wasn't until 7 pm that our flight took off.

Eight days came and went by and it was time to leave. But Aniakchak was not ready for us to leave and neither was I. Day 9 the mountain passes would not let our pilot through. Day 10 high winds kept the plane on the ground. Day 11 two attempts were made to get us out. Day 12 fog in King Salmon in the morning but by 11 the pilot made finally left to get us. Two hours later I was back on my way to reality, or at least my Alaskan reality.

I spent 12 days eating nothing but granola bars, peanut butter crackers and dehydrated foods. We were down to our last day of food before we finally flew home. I was hungry, smelled horrible from not having a shower in 12 days or washing my clothes in all that time and very sore.I was suppose to leave for Brooks Camp the day after I got back but my plans were changed for me while I was gone so I have spent the time back trying to catch up and trying to remember what real food tastes like. But I am back and starting tomorrow I begin to tell the stories from the land that time forgot. Stay Tuned.