Alaskan Picture Pages

I extended my time in Alaska to include a week of vacation. "The Phoenix" came up and joined me, and we spent a week cramming in as many activities as possible.

The first day we went on a bear-viewing tour. We chartered a small float plane and went to a nearby bay where we could safely view the bears from a boat.

Mama grizzly bear fishing for her two cubs:

I wouldn't want to be a salmon!

These two Spring cubs made all sorts of loud whiny, grunty sounds for more fish:

Smaller, adult male grizzly:

Black bears look small and cuddly by comparison:

I think this eagle was hoping for some leftover fish:

We spent a few days in Denali National Park, doing some hiking and white water rafting. We didn't have very much time for hiking, so we took the park shuttle as far as we could to the Savage River and walked around. Denali, by far, had the some of the best scenery. I had hoped to see caribou, moose, and dall sheep, but it didn't pan out. Mount McKinley is only visible a handful of days every month, so we didn't get to see it during our time there. Oh well, more incentive to return for a longer stay next time.

Fall looks entirely different on the tundra:

Me, looking carefree:

Marmot!

This is a ptarmigan, which I think must mean "tastes like chicken" in native tongue. One of our fellow tourists tried to convince us that it was a golden eagle. We just smiled and nodded.

After that, it was on to Seward Peninsula via the Alaskan Railroad (which has great views, but is a REALLY slow trip, so I was glad we took the motorcoach back!). We spent a couple of days on on Fox island at a fairly secluded hotel, where we dined on salmon, kayaked on the ocean, and took advantage of their personal chef.

The next day, we went on a wildlife-viewing day cruise. Highlights included spotting some whales and watching a glacier calve.

I think this sea lion was also on vacation:



Flirty otter:

Mama and baby whale:

It was difficult to go back to work, and I still have tons of photos to sort through, but I'm glad I went, and feel like I took pretty good advantage of the time that I had in Alaska. It's such a huge state, that there's no way to cover everything in one visit, and for some of the things that I wanted to see (Northern Lights), you really have to check it out at different times of the year. August was a great time to go though, as there was still plenty of daylight and tourist season was tapering down, so a lot of places that we went weren't as crowded.

Into the Wild

One of the things that I have discovered that I like most about running is the ability to clear my head. After a certain point, it is just one foot in front of the other, with breaths rising and falling as part of the pattern. I think that I must be somewhat unbalanced, as after I get going, I inevitably develop an ache in one shin, which melts away as an ache in the opposite knee develops, which recedes in kind as a groin or butt muscle begins to whine. (How is it even possible for only one side of your butt to be sore?)

The other thing that I like is being outside. Now that Spring has finally arrived, there are all sorts of distractions... dandelion seedlings taking flight.

• The other day, my friend and I had to slow down to pass a group of geese and their downy goslings. As we approached, the mother started hissing, just like a cat, in our direction! Luckily, we were able to make a wide enough arc from her path that no sprints were necessary. I have a feeling I can't outrun an angered goose in flight!

• Earlier this week, as I rounded a corner, a beaver quickly scuttled into some reeds.

• Today, during my run, I was pretty much a blank slate, when suddenly a hawk swooped in for a quick attack on an unsuspecting small animal, soaring just feet from my face!

Currently, I am on an elective block, which lately has meant fluttering about from room to room in the ED looking for pathology on ultrasound. Basically, I pop in, introduce myself, and slop some cold gel on a stomach, leg or chest, and then disappear, leaving a slimy snail trail in my wake. It's been interesting to kind of be on observer status in our department. No dictations to do, only minimal paperwork. Sometimes there is an attending around to provide on-the-spot teaching, but often I am left to my own resources... which typically involves getting coffee and chatting with coworkers. Not bad at all.