Whale Watch

Today as part of the Summer Science Institute participated in a whale watching trip aboard the navigator.

The purpose of this trip was to identify individual whales from the unique patterns in their flukes or tails. This the fluke of a calf. The markings of a calf are non-distinct, but as they age their patterns will become permanent. Also any scaring on the fluke can be used to help ID individual whales.

Here is the calf (baby) whale breaching. This whale is about 6 months old and was likely born in Hawaii in January off the coast of Maui.

Here the calf is on its side waving to use with its white tipped flipper, and part of the fluke is also visible.

That calf sure was a show off. We saw this young humpback whale breach several times.

Bald Eagle and Stellar's Sea lions on a Buoy near the Herbert Glacier.

A close up.

We also we able to visit a Sea lion Haul out on the shore. There may have been more than 80 Stellar's sea lions. Note the large gray bull (male) in the middle.

This guy got tangled up in some monofilament fishing line that is cutting into his neck.

Some of the Sealions had numbers branded into them. Note the large male in the upper right side of the photo. These numbers are used the track individuals over their life span to see where they travel and reproduce or feed.

Black Oyster Catchers, with a chick.

Bald Eagle. These guys were every where. But we do not get them up in Anaktuvuk Pass, it is too far north and there are no big river or lakes for them to fish.

Pigeon Guillemot. One is looking down into the water to see if there is anything good to eat. My what bright red legs they have! (Below.)

My First view of Orca Whales. These were a group of 5 transient whales, Killer whales are actually the largest members of the dolphin family. Killer whales are made up of two groups that do not interbreed and may become separate species, transient and resident. Resident killer whales eat mostly fish where as transients eat more marine mammals.

4 of the 5 orcas surfacing at once.

This little guy, a Stellar's sea lion was hanging out near the boat trying not to get eaten by the whales.

The Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau Alaska

The Mendenhall glacier is a short drive from the UAS campus.

The Glacier is calving into a lake.

Local Streams support good salmon runs and a favored hang out spots for the bears (mostly black bears in this area, I guess.)

Raindrops on Lupine

Icebergs recently calved from the glacier floating in Mendenhall Lake.

The tiny speck in the upper left hand side of the photo is a flightseeing helicoptor.

Spruce trees on the hillside through the mist.

Steep Creek Falls.

Glacial silts give the water a milky look.

UAS Campus

I am now taking a 5 day Summer Science Institute in Juneau at the University of Alaska Southeast. I am posting some photos from around the campus.

Here is a campus map for an overview. We have to walk everywhere on campus and it is a little spread out. Also it is often lightly raining.

This plant is the Devil's Club or Devil's Walking stick. It has numerous sharp thorns on the bottom of the leaves. The berries are favored by bears, and the plant is used for several medicinal purposes including the treatment of adult onset diabetes and as "Alaska Ginseng."

Skunk Cabbage, more bear food.

Lichen drapes from the trees in the temperate coastal rain forest.

I think this is the Raven totem. They are in the process of carving an Eagle totem to balance out the raven.

Lupine, in the pea family, has nitrogen fixing bacteria on its roots.

The Dock on Auke Lake. (Auke means Lake so I guess this is Lake Lake.)

A cruise ship parked in Auke Bay.

Raven Sculpture.

Porcupine, looks like he has already lost some quills.

Argos

Last week I particiapted in the Inupiaq Land Use Values Class. I went camping with a group from Ilisagvik College and some local elders and guides. Also we were joined by some teachers from Fairbanks and Anchorage as well as some folks from Massachusets. There is some Barrow, New Bedford Whaling connections I guess!

Anyhow one of the highlights of our trip was travling by Argo.

What is an Argo you may ask....

The amphibious ARGO ATV. 8 Wheelers. 8X8, skid steer go any where! Tundra, cross rivers, wallow in the mud. These machines are Beasts. Climb hills and decend steep slopes with out rolling. Haul gear and up to 6 adults.

Packing up for camp. We can bring WAY more stuff than we needed when we do not carry it on our backs!

Some Argos have a climate controled canopy.

All of the Elders drive Argos. Here is Ada Lincon by hers.

Argos break down a lot and often need to be fixed in the field... or towed home by another argo! Never go out on the tundra alone... the argo will take you farther than you can walk back in a day before it breaks down!

Argos go on melting ice. A lot smoother than the bummpy Tundra... and fun for pulling 360's on. Splash mountain anyone? Safer than walking on the ice.... if they break through... they float!

One day we crossed the river to go fishing at a lake on the other side. When we headed back the river had rose so much from the melting snow and ice on such a warm day. It may have been in the 50's or 60's. We keept looking for a good place to cross, but there seemed to be a steep drop off into the rushing water and it was hard to tell how deep the water was. Then comes an argo full of my high school kids. Robert saves the day leading us back the way he came across the river. Safe and dry!

Flying to Juneau

WOW!!! Today has been a truely amazing day. First breakfast at Oline's in Fairbanks. That was awsome. She has such a cool little place, a nice garden and a green house.

Then I flew out to Ancorage. It was cloudy, but Mnt. Mickinely rose above the clouds. What a view of the great mountain. Then after araving in Anchorage we quickly boarded another plane for Juneau. No time for lunch.
Another amazing flight. What a way to veiw the glaciers. It was still a little cloudy, but I guess it usually is in this part of the state.


Blue glacial lake water.

Check out the striations below!

This is the Mendenhal glacier outside of Juneau. We are headed there on a field trip tomorrow and should get a closer look.

My last Ski

Here are some photos that I took the last time I went skiing.  It was about a month ago... (April 18th) But  have been a bit behind on my blogging... 

I skied out about 5 miles up Contact Creek for a 10 mile round trip.  It felt good.  I miss skiing, it is snowing again today, but the base has melted so no more skiing until next year... unless I find a glacier to ski on...

Windblown snow ridges.

Wolf tracks, must be fresh, it snowed last night. 

porcupine tracks.

Porcupine scat.

The porcupine... good thing Zoey was on lead or I would be pulling quills!

Random caribou Skull... nice rack though!