We got a late start from Maryland. After unexpectedly having to have the truck's transmission rebuilt, which did not give us enough time to load the truck properly (The final load looked like a junk yard!) Gaby and I started out. As we got onto the Washington DC beltway, the engine died! We managed to restart it, and limped back into the shop that had done the work. Two engine sensors had gone bad, as had a brake line. We also had a bald tire replaced. An exhaust leak, which did not affect performance, but made the cabin very noisy, could not be fixed. The next day, we started out for Alaska.
And made it as far as Youngstown, OH. There, the starter died, and we lost half a day having it replaced.
Loading the box truck at Abdon's Maryland house.
F 2.3 @ 1/120, 370 mm, taken 2017:07:15 10:14:02.
From Youngstown, we drove to Osseo, Wisconsin, and stayed at a motel right next to the local adult bookstore! The next day, we made it to Morehead, MN. There, we discovered that the bus had chewed up a wheel bearing. We managed to rent a trailer from U-Haul, and with lots of help from the manager of the Hardees where we had broken down, we got the bus on the trailer, tied it down, and were off again, after loosing another day. We managed to get into Canada, after a 40 minute delay wherein the Canadian customs officials tried to be polite about the mess in the back of the truck. We stopped in Estevan, Saskatchewan, Canada, for what proved to be the nicest motel of the trip.
The left front wheel bearing on the '67 bus disintegrated.
F 2.3 @ 1/15, 370 mm, taken 2017:07:23 13:18:46.
Gaby checks the trailer in Fort St. John, BC, Canada .
F 2.3 @ 1/235, 370 mm, taken 2017:07:26 19:49:43.
The next day was free of breakdowns, and our only worry was driving into a 15MPH headwind with the truck's worn steering box making going in a straight line a white knuckle affair. The truck got its name that day, the "White Knuckle Derelict". As we approached Battleford, Saskatchewan, someone drove by and pointed to our left rear wheel. Gaby pulled over, and we found that the outer wheel had lost all of its tread, leaving only the steel plies in place. Calling USAA, who were supposed to cover roadside breakdowns was useless. They could't help us at all and barely knew where Saskatchewan was. Abdon, on the other hand, found a tire repair place just 5 miles from our breakdown site.
There, we had an emergency tire was put on, and were told to drive slowly to BattleFord to get a new tire. In Battleford, we learned that the tire store had just closed, but the security guard found the tire guy just as he was leaving. He spent another 40 minutes of overtime (hopefully paid!) replacing our emergency tire with a new one. We lost another day, and had the dubious pleasure of staying in a motel that had no drinking water (A water main break had contaminated the local drinking water).
The next day was mercifully free of breakdowns. We stopped in Watson Lake, Yukon Territory, Canada.
Saskatchewan panorama. This was taken before the tire blew, after we had left St. John's.
Watson Lake's claim to fame is that visitors for decades have posted signs in their sign park. Here's a small portion of it. The motels in town were overflowing, and we had to pay luxury rates for very modest rooms.
Inside the road sign park.
F 5.6 @ 1/125, 28 mm, taken 2017:07:28 08:45:45.
Watson lake road signs panorama.
Stunted trees of the Yukon tundra. The soil is so shallow due to underlying permafrost that this is the best they can do.
The next day promised to be nice as well, until a person who was interested in the VW bus pointed out that one of our tires had disintegrated again, this time on the U_Haul Trailer. It was riding on its rim, which was ruined. Well, at least there was a tire store right next to the gas station where we discovered the damage.
We drove to the store, only to find it had just closed! Again fortune smiled, and a woman came running up to us to tell me that if I could "Stop that green pickup!", perhaps the driver (who owned the store) could help us. I sprinted out to the highway and waved him down. He not only had a new tire, but a new rim as well! We also didn't have to pay him, as he'll bill U-Haul for the work. We then crossed the border (The US agent was quite friendly, and let us go even though Gaby's passport had expired.) and we proceeded on to meet Abdon, who kindly took over driving that truck. Gaby and I followed in his car, which was the first time Gaby and I could talk and not shout while driving for the whole trip.
U-Haul tire disintegrated.
F 7.4 @ 1/320, 24 mm, taken 2017:07:28 20:07:11.
U haul tire disintegrated2.
F 6.6 @ 1/800, 105 mm, taken 2017:07:28 20:07:16.
The undisintegratatable Gaby.
F 7.4 @ 1/320, 24 mm, taken 2017:07:28 20:08:35.
I spent the next night sleeping in a tent in a campground in Tok Junction, AK. From there, Abdon, his daughters, and I went to Chicken, AK to mine gold. On the way, we caught a moose having its morning bath.
Bathing moose.
F 6 @ 1/400, 105 mm, taken 2017:07:29 10:14:54.
No privacy with these humans around! I'm outta here.
F 6 @ 1/500, 105 mm, taken 2017:07:29 10:15:15.
Downtown Chicken AK.
F 8 @ 1/1250, 95 mm, taken 2017:07:29 10:48:35.
Huge placer mining barge.
F 7.4 @ 1/320, 32 mm, taken 2017:07:29 10:48:51.
Chicken announces itself.
F 7 @ 1/800, 82 mm, taken 2017:07:29 11:33:35.
Abdon, Alejandra, and another miner pan for gold and Gaby supervises.
F 7.4 @ 1/500, 58 mm, taken 2017:07:29 11:38:04.
Fireweed.
F 7.4 @ 1/500, 58 mm, taken 2017:07:29 11:38:04.
Abdon works his claim.
F 7.6 @ 1/400, 24 mm, taken 2017:07:29 12:47:21.
Gaby mines for gold.
F 5.6 @ 1/400, 105 mm, taken 2017:07:29 13:06:48.
Abdon clears a clogged water jet.
F 6 @ 1/200, 50 mm, taken 2017:07:29 13:12:00.
Moose processed foliage.
F 6.4 @ 1/320, 65 mm, taken 2017:07:29 13:27:32.
Alaskan clouds.
F 9 @ 1/4000, 65 mm, taken 2017:07:29 14:03:47.
A very common form of Alaskan plumbing.
F 8 @ 1/640, 24 mm, taken 2017:07:29 14:10:09.
Alejandra pans for gold.
F 6.6 @ 1/640, 105 mm, taken 2017:07:29 14:26:28.
Sucking up some new gold ore.
F 6.6 @ 1/500, 92 mm, taken 2017:07:29 17:14:35.
Alehandra checks the ore processing.
F 6.6 @ 1/200, 32 mm, taken 2017:07:29 17:15:15.
Collecting the placer collected ore.
F 7.4 @ 1/320, 28 mm, taken 2017:07:29 17:53:13.
Gaby pans the collected ore.
F 6 @ 1/400, 100 mm, taken 2017:07:29 17:16:40.
Gold flakes!
F 5 @ 1/250, 105 mm, taken 2017:07:29 17:57:04.
Chicken facts.
F 5.6 @ 1/200, 60 mm, taken 2017:07:29 21:56:48.
How to pick up chicks.
F 4 @ 1/50, 105 mm, taken 2017:07:29 21:57:59.
Mosquitos.
F 4 @ 1/50, 105 mm, taken 2017:07:29 21:59:26.
Forest fog.
F 7.4 @ 1/640, 58 mm, taken 2017:07:30 09:38:48.
There was quite a bit of wildlife we saw. In addition to moose and caribou, we also saw bison, big horn sheep, Dahl sheep, a black bear, and bald eagles. I was all too often driving, or just didn't get the camera ready in time to photograph them.
Roadside caribou.
F 5.4 @ 1/250, 105 mm, taken 2017:07:30 09:53:56.
Roadside caribou2.
F 5 @ 1/200, 105 mm, taken 2017:07:30 09:54:17.
There was also an abundance of superb scenery. As it will stay put as you photograph it, I got quite a few shots. There are quite a few in this account, culled from many more that weren't quite as good.
Cloudy mountain.
F 7.6 @ 1/1250, 105 mm, taken 2017:07:30 14:34:12.
Cloudy mountains.
F 7.6 @ 1/1000, 88 mm, taken 2017:07:30 14:39:48.
Cloudy mountains2.
F 7.6 @ 1/1000, 70 mm, taken 2017:07:30 14:43:15.
Cloudy mountains3.
F 7.6 @ 1/800, 70 mm, taken 2017:07:30 14:43:18.
Cloudy mountains4.
F 7.6 @ 1/1250, 105 mm, taken 2017:07:30 14:43:40.
Cloudy mountains5.
F 7.6 @ 1/640, 50 mm, taken 2017:07:30 14:49:36.
Cloudy mountains6.
F 7.6 @ 1/1250, 105 mm, taken 2017:07:30 14:49:47.
Land of the midnight sun. A view from the roadside of the Alaska highway, near Palmer.
F 8.6 @ 1/800, 24 mm, taken 2017:07:31 16:12:57.
Mountains from that same roadside pull off.
F 8 @ 1/2000, 105 mm, taken 2017:07:31 16:13:03.
After 10 days and 4500 miles, we made it to our goal. The truck, bus, people, and goods made it to Abdon's house in Palmer, AK.
Abdons house. Gaby drinks her Gatoraide on the porch.
F 7 @ 1/320, 24 mm, taken 2017:07:30 16:09:03.
The next day, we headed out to look for fossils and to do some target practice with Abdon's guns in an outcrop near the Matanuska river
The Matanuska river.
F 7.4 @ 1/1250, 105 mm, taken 2017:07:31 16:13:57.
A redneck car museum on the road to the fossil beds.
F 6.4 @ 1/200, 24 mm, taken 2017:07:31 16:39:11.
Summertime mountains without their snow cover.
F 7.4 @ 1/1250, 105 mm, taken 2017:07:31 16:47:08.
The girls at a lake. The scree to the right contain fossils on many of the
rocks. It's not hard to find a good one, even though they have been well picked
over by others.
F 6.6 @ 1/640, 105 mm, taken 2017:07:31 16:54:27.
Collecting fossils.
F 7.6 @ 1/500, 24 mm, taken 2017:07:31 17:20:53.
Alejandra finds a tree trunk.
F 7 @ 1/320, 50 mm, taken 2017:07:31 17:22:08.
Many rocks have fossils.
F 8.4 @ 1/800, 45 mm, taken 2017:07:31 17:23:00.
The intact fossil outcrop above the lake.
F 7.6 @ 1/640, 60 mm, taken 2017:07:31 17:24:01.
Gaby and Alejandra on their ATV.
F 8 @ 1/640, 40 mm, taken 2017:07:31 17:25:19.
Mountains-forest-cloud.
F 7.6 @ 1/1250, 105 mm, taken 2017:07:31 17:35:37.
Once we had filled the bucket with some very interesting fossils, we drove to another part of the park, where it is safe to shoot guns.
Gaby brings clay skeets.
F 7 @ 1/800, 105 mm, taken 2017:07:31 17:37:32.
Abdon lectures on skeet shooting.
F 7 @ 1/500, 55 mm, taken 2017:07:31 17:40:23.
Abdon shoots a skeet.
F 7 @ 1/500, 55 mm, taken 2017:07:31 17:40:31.
Gaby shoots a skeet.
F 7 @ 1/320, 50 mm, taken 2017:07:31 17:41:21.
Pull! Abdon throws the clay skeet into the air for Gaby to shoot at.
F 7 @ 1/400, 50 mm, taken 2017:07:31 17:41:29.
Gaby shoots a skeet2.
F 7 @ 1/500, 80 mm, taken 2017:07:31 17:45:40.
Tom shoots a skeet.
F 6.6 @ 1/500, 70 mm, taken 2017:07:31 17:51:57.
Gaby shoots a skeet3.
F 6.6 @ 1/250, 47 mm, taken 2017:07:31 17:55:32.
Gaby rides the ATV.
F 6.4 @ 1/250, 58 mm, taken 2017:07:31 18:22:22.
Tom shoots the 44 magnum.
F 6.4 @ 1/320, 70 mm, taken 2017:07:31 18:26:31.
Tom ascribes his hit to luck.
F 6.4 @ 1/200, 45 mm, taken 2017:07:31 18:29:56.
Careful where you point that thing!
F 6.6 @ 1/200, 32 mm, taken 2017:07:31 18:29:59.
Abdon shoots the 44 magnum.
F 6.4 @ 1/160, 35 mm, taken 2017:07:31 18:30:53.
The 44 kicks like a mule.
F 6 @ 1/200, 55 mm, taken 2017:07:31 18:31:00.
Tom takes aim.
F 6.4 @ 1/200, 45 mm, taken 2017:07:31 18:36:22.
ATVs are popular.
F 6 @ 1/500, 105 mm, taken 2017:07:31 19:00:24.
Alejandra.
F 6.6 @ 1/500, 65 mm, taken 2017:07:31 19:00:33.
Gaby explains how to drive the ATV.
F 6.6 @ 1/500, 65 mm, taken 2017:07:31 19:00:33.
Tom's first ATV drive.
F 6.6 @ 1/320, 50 mm, taken 2017:07:31 19:01:12.
Tom's first ATV drive2.
F 6.6 @ 1/500, 95 mm, taken 2017:07:31 19:02:22.
Tom's first ATV drive3.
F 6.4 @ 1/500, 105 mm, taken 2017:07:31 19:03:18.
Abdon has the best view from his living room I've ever seen. No other living room view even clomes close, in my experience.
View from Abdon's living room.
F 7.4 @ 1/1000, 150 mm, taken 2017:07:31 21:05:41.
View from Abdon's living room2.
F 7 @ 1/800, 600 mm, taken 2017:07:31 21:06:21.
View from Abdon's living room3.
F 6.6 @ 1/500, 150 mm, taken 2017:07:31 21:06:43.
View from Abdon's living room4.
F 6.4 @ 1/640, 329 mm, taken 2017:07:31 21:35:14.
View from Abdon's living room5.
F 6.6 @ 1/800, 600 mm, taken 2017:07:31 22:47:13.
What a view.
F 5.6 @ 1/100, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:01 09:38:37.
What a view2.
F 6.6 @ 1/800, 600 mm, taken 2017:08:01 10:14:35.
Mike Dunham came up to take us to explore Hatcher pass, and its old abandoned ('till the price of gold gets high enough!) mines.
We drove up to Hatcher pass and parked at a roadblock. The road continued for
official vehicles, so we walked it.
F 6.6 @ 1/200, 32 mm, taken 2017:08:01 13:01:02.
Gaby checks out an abandoned truck.
F 7 @ 1/250, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:01 13:28:00.
An abandoned mine entrance.
F 6.4 @ 1/500, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:01 13:43:50.
The drain from the mine still works!
F 6.6 @ 1/250, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:01 13:44:49.
Century old ruins.
F 7 @ 1/250, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:01 13:52:11.
Mike and Abdon discuss mining and history.
F 6 @ 1/400, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:01 13:53:36.
Gaby explores the old mine.
F 6 @ 1/400, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:01 13:53:36.
Purple flower.
F 6.4 @ 1/500, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:01 13:55:21.
Wildflowers.
F 6.4 @ 1/500, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:01 13:55:21.
Jagged mountains.
F 7 @ 1/320, 45 mm, taken 2017:08:01 14:02:19.
Abdon exploring Hatcher pass.
F 7 @ 1/250, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:01 14:53:11.
A glacier carved valley.
F 7.4 @ 1/320, 35 mm, taken 2017:08:01 14:53:33.
Purple flowers.
F 6.6 @ 1/640, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:01 14:56:06.
Red leaf.
F 6 @ 1/500, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:01 14:57:24.
A beaver lodge.
F 6.4 @ 1/500, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:01 15:00:40.
The view from Hacher pass into the Palmer-Wassila valley.
F 7 @ 1/640, 93 mm, taken 2017:08:01 15:36:23.
Another Hacher pass mine ruin.
F 6.4 @ 1/250, 60 mm, taken 2017:08:01 15:37:54.
An abandoned diesel engine.
F 6 @ 1/200, 45 mm, taken 2017:08:01 15:38:18.
Gold mining explained.
F 6.6 @ 1/200, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:01 15:39:21.
Gold mining explained2.
F 6.4 @ 1/320, 55 mm, taken 2017:08:01 15:39:29.
Gold mining explained3.
F 6.6 @ 1/320, 55 mm, taken 2017:08:01 15:39:41.
Back home at Abdon's the view is still excellent as we visited and reflected on a great time.
Living room view.
F 6 @ 1/500, 600 mm, taken 2017:08:02 10:18:41.
Living room view2.
F 6.4 @ 1/640, 600 mm, taken 2017:08:02 10:18:51.
Living room view3.
F 5.4 @ 1/250, 600 mm, taken 2017:08:02 10:22:41.
Next day found us on another fossil hunt, this time to a remote place marked on one of Abdon's maps as the best fossils in Alaska.
Matanusak glacier, near our turnoff to the fossil outcrop.
F 7.6 @ 1/1250, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:02 14:35:23.
Rugged mountains.
F 7.6 @ 1/1250, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:02 14:35:33.
Matanusak glacier feeds into the river.
F 8 @ 1/500, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:02 14:35:39.
The place was really remote, and the roads were pretty much rough trails. Abdon's 4 wheel drive pickup negotiates them nicely, however.
Rugged trail.
F 7 @ 1/320, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:02 15:43:03.
The road becomes a small stream!
F 7.4 @ 1/320, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:02 15:46:58.
Trackless wilderness. It should be noted that this tundra brush is very
dense and difficult to walk through. If you can make 1 mile/hr, your're doing
quite well. Much of the low lying areas in this photo are quite swampy. In
short, not an easy hike at all.
F 7.4 @ 1/320, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:02
15:59:15.
Trackless wilderness2.
F 7 @ 1/400, 45 mm, taken 2017:08:02 15:59:31.
At a wide spot in the river, we unloaded the ATV, and then tried to turn around. The rear wheels dug into some mud we did not see, as the thin layer of gravel indicated a firm river bed. Not! We got badly stuck. At this critical juncture, the ability of the truck to go into 4 wheel mode failed. This was the beginning of 18 hours of arduous effort to extract ourselves from the wilderness. Fossils were forgotten!
The truck was sunk to it's rear axle and bed.
F 6.6 @ 1/200, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:02 16:40:02.
Truck stuck2.
F 7 @ 1/320, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:02 16:40:14.
To make matters worse, the ATV also got stuck. The small winch that was
built into it was attached to the trees on the far bank. When the winch was
started, the cable broke! Three things went wrong simultaneously. Murphy's law
was working overtime.
F 6.4 @ 1/500, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:02 16:49:21.
With both vehicles stuck, we tried to get the ATV out. Abdon and Gaby were in shorts, I took off my boots and socks, rolled up my jeans and proceeded to wade into the stream.
What looked like the stream bottom was actually quick mud! I scrambled for dear life and managed to reach some solid stream bed and safety. Here's where it happened:
Quickmud.
F 6.4 @ 1/500, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:02 16:49:36.
I was almost ready to give up, but Abdon and Gaby managed to tuck the ATV ramp under the front wheels of the ATV and dig out the rest of it. Abdon gunned the ATV and it pulled up onto the ramp! He then managed to back it out of the mud. The ATV was free! We then tried to pull the truck out. It didn't budge. Abdon decided to ride the ATV out and go for help.
He made it to the top of the trail, where he had some cell coverage. He called Mike Dunham, hoping that Mike could help him find a rescue squad. Mike did better than that, he got into his Subaru, drove 120 miles to the beginning of the road to the fossils, and brought Abdon a shovel and a long "farm jack" so the back of the stuck pickup could be raised and boards placed under the stuck wheels to allow it to drive out.
In the mean time, Abdon found a guy named Jim, a guy with a cabin near the road head who lent Abdon a couple of boards. 5 hours after he left Gaby and me, he returned in the ATV.
Truck stuck3.
F 7.4 @ 1/320, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:02 17:40:09.
We jacked up the truck, stuck the boards and ATV ramp under the rear tires, and hitched up the ATV. The truck didn't move at all, despite several valiant attempts. We decided we needed to walk out. Abdon took Gaby on the ATV, and I was to walk on the trail, with the understanding Abdon would come back to pick me up.
This was not a good idea. Unbeknownst to me, there were 5 two year old grizzly bears in the area who would see me as competition and/or lunch. Having seen no sign of them, I merrily started walking. I also realized only later that there were a labyrinth of trails and roads up there, and in the failing light, I would have become seriously lost. But fate was smiling on me that day. At 1/4 mile into my trek, I saw the lights of an ATV. Not Abdon. It was Jim and Mike, come to rescue me!
All I needed to do was cling desperately onto the back of the powerful ATV as it negotiated the rough trail. Not an easy task. Fortunately (for me) they stopped after 6 or 7 miles and asked if I was OK. Well, I was still alive, but exhausted. Mike generously offered to take my place, which I accepted, and he held on for dear life over the next 3 or 4 miles.
We wound up at Jim's cabin, where he had 2 trophies. Both the wolf and young grizzly had attacked him when he was butchering deer he had killed. In Alaska, you can only shoot these animals with a special license (chosen by lottery) or if attacked by them.
Jim's trophies.
F 4 @ 1/10, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:03 03:34:34.
Jim, in very dim light.
F 4 @ 1/5, 60 mm, taken 2017:08:03 03:34:55.
Abdon and Jim. If Abdon looks tired in this shot, he was!
F 4 @ 1/20, 93 mm, taken 2017:08:03 03:39:17.
Mike then drove us home (80 miles) and then himself (another 40). The next day, Abdon rented a big U-Haul 4 wheel drive pickup, loaded it up with a second farm jack, much larger boards, strong towing straps, and away we went to extract his truck from its river bed.
We got the truck out!
F 8.6 @ 1/800, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:03 18:15:03.
We dug out the front wheels, got the new boards and ATV ramp under the rear wheels, attached the new stronger straps, and the big truck pulled the little one out!
Tom shortly after we rescued the truck.
F 9 @ 1/1000, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:03 18:14:48.
Abdon had a dicey job getting his now 2 wheel drive truck out. There were several mud holes in the trail he had to drive through, and the splash from one of the larger ones almost flooded his engine. The air filter was soaked, but fortunately, it didn't hydrolock. Once a wet sensor dried out, he restarted the pickup and drove out.
I took this shot as I waited in the big pickup for Abdon at the trail
top. He's about 1/4 mile from the end of the road in this shot at the bottom
right of the photo.
F 8.6 @ 1/2500, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:03 19:23:41.
Where we were stuck: 61°57'08", -147°32'49".
When we got home, sleep was the most popular activity.
F 4 @ 1/25, 58 mm, taken 2017:08:04 00:40:41.
The next day, Mike came up to retrieve his stuff, and he helped Abdon tune his violin.
Abdon and Mike tune the violin.
F 5 @ 1/100, 45 mm, taken 2017:08:04 16:23:46.
More views from Abdon's front window.
F 6.6 @ 1/320, 47 mm, taken 2017:08:04 09:55:53.
More views from Abdon's front window2.
F 9 @ 1/1600, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:04 13:25:35.
More views from Abdon's front window3.
F 7.4 @ 1/400, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:04 13:25:58.
Cleaning the pistol.
F 5 @ 1/100, 55 mm, taken 2017:08:04 13:26:08.
More views from Abdon's front window4.
F 7.6 @ 1/1250, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:04 16:24:07.
More views from Abdon's front window5.
F 7.6 @ 1/1250, 600 mm, taken 2017:08:04 17:11:32.
More views from Abdon's front window6.
F 8 @ 1/1250, 82 mm, taken 2017:08:04 18:25:16.
More views from Abdon's front window7.
F 7.4 @ 1/800, 82 mm, taken 2017:08:04 18:25:26.
More views from Abdon's front window8.
F 8 @ 1/1250, 150 mm, taken 2017:08:04 18:35:03.
After Mike left, we went shooting again, this time to sight in his .22 rifle to its scope.
Calibrating the 22.
F 6 @ 1/200, 50 mm, taken 2017:08:04 21:44:42.
Still calibrating the 22.
F 6.4 @ 1/160, 32 mm, taken 2017:08:04 21:57:28.
Target practice.
F 7 @ 1/500, 58 mm, taken 2017:08:04 22:58:12.
Target practice2.
F 6.6 @ 1/400, 60 mm, taken 2017:08:04 22:58:48.
Moose bones near the shooting range.
F 6 @ 1/125, 28 mm, taken 2017:08:04 23:25:25.
Mountain and lake.
F 6.6 @ 1/320, 55 mm, taken 2017:08:04 23:25:52.
Mountain and lake2.
F 7 @ 1/250, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:04 23:26:01.
Mountain pass.
F 7 @ 1/800, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:04 23:26:42.
Gaby.
F 6 @ 1/125, 35 mm, taken 2017:08:04 23:26:55.
Reflections.
F 7 @ 1/640, 67 mm, taken 2017:08:04 23:27:31.
Gaby2.
F 6 @ 1/125, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:04 23:28:11.
Moonrise.
F 6.4 @ 1/500, 600 mm, taken 2017:08:05 00:59:50.
Moonrise2.
F 6.6 @ 1/500, 150 mm, taken 2017:08:05 01:00:38.
The next day found us traveling to Denali National Park.
First view of Denali.
F 7 @ 1/1000, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:05 12:21:05.
Talkeetna is a village whose major industry is tourism. Abdon tells me that these redneck signs are there because tourists buy them, and might not reflect the views of the villagers themselves. There seemed to be all kinds there.
Redneck religion.
F 7 @ 1/250, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:05 13:01:20.
Redneck religion2.
F 8.4 @ 1/1000, 60 mm, taken 2017:08:05 13:01:34.
Redneck religion3.
F 6.6 @ 1/320, 47 mm, taken 2017:08:05 13:02:13.
Redneck religion4.
F 6.4 @ 1/200, 45 mm, taken 2017:08:05 13:02:24.
Redneck religion5.
F 6 @ 1/160, 47 mm, taken 2017:08:05 13:02:46.
For years, the elected mayor of Talkeetna was a cat! Locals assured us that the cat was much better than most human politicians. Unfortunately, the little critter had only just died, so we didn't get to meet him/her
The mayor of Talkeetna.
F 4.6 @ 1/125, 97 mm, taken 2017:08:05 13:03:09.
Denali from the Susitna River, Talkeetna.
F 7.6 @ 1/1250, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:05 13:26:17.
Another view of Denali from the Susitna River, Talkeetna.
F 8.6 @ 1/800, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:05 13:26:24.
Gaby loves wilderness travel.
F 7.6 @ 1/400, 28 mm, taken 2017:08:05 13:40:56.
Birch sap reducer. It takes 150 gallons of birch sap to produce 1 gallon of
syrup.
F 5 @ 1/80, 32 mm, taken 2017:08:05 14:28:52.
Three dollars and anything goes.
F 5 @ 1/250, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:05 14:53:48.
Fireweed and Denali.
F 8 @ 1/500, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:05 15:21:18.
Denali.
F 8.4 @ 1/2000, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:05 15:21:23.
Range west of Denali.
F 7.6 @ 1/1600, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:05 15:21:26.
Abdon stalks the wild blueberry.
F 7.6 @ 1/500, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:05 16:21:55.
On the road to Denali National park. F 7.6 @ 1/800, 73 mm, taken 2017:08:05 17:05:57
Day's end found me admiring Abdon's view.
Abdons living room window.
F 6.6 @ 1/800, 600 mm, taken 2017:08:05 22:51:53.
Abdon's living room window2.
F 7.4 @ 1/1250, 600 mm, taken 2017:08:05 22:52:57.
Abdon's living room window3.
F 7 @ 1/800, 483 mm, taken 2017:08:06 23:51:42.
Abdon's living room window4.
F 6.4 @ 1/400, 300 mm, taken 2017:08:07 00:46:05.
The next day, Monday, Abdon dropped me off with Mike, as he needed to go to work.
At dawn, I had a last look at Abdon's superb view.
F 4.4 @ 1/160, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:07 01:15:03.
Mike took me to Aleyeska lodge, south of Anchorage. The gondola ride up the mountian was spectacular.
Alyeska gondola ride.
F 6 @ 1/125, 28 mm, taken 2017:08:07 14:03:07.
Alyeska gondola ride2.
F 6.4 @ 1/500, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:07 14:03:21.
Alyeska gondola ride3.
F 6 @ 1/160, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:07 14:03:36.
Alyeska gondola ride4.
F 7.4 @ 1/400, 50 mm, taken 2017:08:07 14:04:12.
Alyeska gondola ride5.
F 6.6 @ 1/200, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:07 14:04:34.
Alyeska gondola ride6.
F 6.6 @ 1/640, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:07 14:05:39.
Alyeska gondola ride7.
F 6.6 @ 1/800, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:07 14:08:42.
Alyeska gondola ride8.
F 7.4 @ 1/320, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:07 14:08:48.
Alyeska gondola ride upper landing.
F 7.6 @ 1/400, 28 mm, taken 2017:08:07 14:12:38.
Alyeska gondola ride upper landing2.
F 8.4 @ 1/640, 40 mm, taken 2017:08:07 14:14:35.
Alyeska gondola ride upper landing3.
F 8.4 @ 1/640, 40 mm, taken 2017:08:07 14:14:35.
Alyeska glacier.
F 8 @ 1/1600, 600 mm, taken 2017:08:07 14:39:05.
Alyeska glacier2.
F 8.4 @ 1/2000, 150 mm, taken 2017:08:07 14:39:14.
Alyeska glaciers.
F 8 @ 1/800, 45 mm, taken 2017:08:07 15:19:26.
Alyeska gondola ride upper landing4.
F 6.6 @ 1/640, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:07 15:20:14.
Alyeska gondola ride upper landing5.
F 7 @ 1/320, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:07 15:22:43.
Alyeska map.
F 6.4 @ 1/160, 40 mm, taken 2017:08:07 15:34:29.
The first Alaska map.
F 4.6 @ 1/50, 40 mm, taken 2017:08:07 15:43:15.
Mike comments on the first Alaska map.
F 4.6 @ 1/50, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:07 15:43:21.
On the road to Whittier.
F 7.6 @ 1/800, 73 mm, taken 2017:08:07 16:05:57.
Cloudy glacier.
F 7.6 @ 1/1250, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:07 16:16:52.
Cloudy glacier2.
F 7.4 @ 1/1250, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:07 16:21:56.
This was taken from the best hotel in Whitter. Mike and I had some of the best fish and chips I've ever tasted here, along with some acceptable beer.
Whittier harbor.
F 7 @ 1/320, 35 mm, taken 2017:08:07 17:05:18.
Prince William Sound from Whittier.
F 7 @ 1/250, 40 mm, taken 2017:08:07 17:05:31.
Water fall near Whittier.
F 4.6 @ 1/80, 58 mm, taken 2017:08:07 18:00:43.
Cloudy mountains near Whittier.
F 7 @ 1/800, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:07 20:07:30.
Mike plays Chopin.
F 4 @ 1/100, 88 mm, taken 2017:08:07 22:02:05.
Sam and Mike Dunham with birch poles.
F 7 @ 1/250, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:08 12:32:07.
Sam and Mike Dunham with birch poles2.
F 6.6 @ 1/250, 50 mm, taken 2017:08:08 12:31:48.
Mike and a neighbor's 1928 Chevy.
F 7.6 @ 1/500, 32 mm, taken 2017:08:08 14:43:36.
Mike.
F 8.4 @ 1/2000, 105 mm, taken 2017:08:08 14:43:39.
Danger men gardening.
F 6.6 @ 1/400, 67 mm, taken 2017:08:08 14:45:06.
Wine bottle tree.
F 6 @ 1/250, 67 mm, taken 2017:08:08 14:47:50.
Mike and granddaughter Lily.
F 7.4 @ 1/320, 40 mm, taken 2017:08:08 15:17:04.
Mike's flowers.
F 6.4 @ 1/200, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:08 15:23:19.
Mike and Abdon.
F 5.4 @ 1/160, 75 mm, taken 2017:08:09 21:34:23.
Mike's quinoa garden.
F 6 @ 1/125, 32 mm, taken 2017:08:09 21:38:30.
The man who bought Alaska.
F 4.6 @ 1/100, 55 mm, taken 2017:08:10 12:12:59.
Mike, author of The Man who Bought Alaska.
F 5 @ 1/100, 50 mm, taken 2017:08:10 12:13:14.
Mike, author of The Man who Bought Alaska2.
F 5 @ 1/100, 50 mm, taken 2017:08:10 12:13:23.
Seward explanation.
F 4.4 @ 1/80, 80 mm, taken 2017:08:10 12:13:46.
Mike demonstrates that pullies are force multipliers.
F 5.4 @ 1/80, 24 mm, taken 2017:08:10 14:23:25.