~~Quail Sighting!~~

During a recent photo walk at the local Desert Botanical Gardens (www.dbg.org), I overheard a couple talking about a pretty bird they had never seen before.

Trying to be helpful, I told them that this is a Gambel's quail and that they are common in Arizona. Some people even eat them. 

They looked at each other, laughing, and said, "We are from New Jersey, and they only birds we see are pigeons!" Well, some people eat those, too!

This is "Chester," the quail that visited me twice a day, every day, for 5-6 years....
He had one leg, and he must have passed to quail heaven....

~~Arrived in Nome, AK~~

Traveling to Nome was NOT easy, so I was happy to get off the third packed (and overweight) plane and see the person picking me up.

I get to the house and meeting the gold explorers.  We make a motley crew for certain.  We have one man that is a gold explorer; another man that is a diver; and a third man that is a re-known geologist. Oh...and me.

Nome is one odd little town. Only 3,000 people call it home year round. Nome is 21 square miles, with 12 of those being land and the rest being water.

The Port of Nome from the top of Anvil Mountain

The World's Largest Gold Pan

There are RULES of getting around in Nome. Everyone...no matter the age...can drive a quad. However, no quads are allowed on the main road, Front Street.  So, you will see little kids, women, and everyone else, spinning around on side-by-sides or quads.

My Ride, Side-by-Side

Upon arriving and after meeting everyone, I wanted to take a walk around the block.  After quite a while I got a text message from the lead explorer.

Him:  Where are you?

Me:    I went for a walk.

Him:  Okay.  Don't get lost.

Me:    I am lost.

~~As hard as it was, I would do it again...~~

People think I am nuts.  And that is okay because everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I am entitled to be nuts.  I secretly believe that those people secretly want to be just a little more like me. That is my belief. So there.

An opportunity to go to Nome, Alaska presented itself.  Since I rarely say, "no" to adventures, I enthusiastically said, "yes!"

The goal was to follow three gold explorers to their secret spot and capture their adventure in photographs. I was thrilled to get this opportunity!  Who gets to do this as a photographer?

Getting to Nome from Phoenix takes a lot of time and work!  I had to get up and o'dark hundred and travel to Seattle...layover.  From there, on to Anchorage...layover.  Then had to climb up into the back of a 30-seat plane to fly to Nome.

By the way, they were dumping people off the plane because the plane got too heavy.  This foretold the way the entire adventure was about to roll out.

More to come.....

Port of Nome from the top of Anvil Mountain. It was raining...of course.

Getting Ready for an Adventure...IS an Adventure!

As I a get ready for my Nome, Alaska, Gold Expedition adventure, I realized that getting ready for an adventure IS an adventure in and of itself.

I had to buy a new wardrobe of camo cargo pants, tops and camo boots. 

I had to learn what a "water straw" is and how to use it.  And "Frog Togs" were never in my vocabulary prior to this.

Even the mental preparation is an adventure, as I will be doing things I've never done with people I've never met.  And the things I will be doing will not be easy things.  We will be hiking miles upon miles everyday in unknown Alaska tundra. I will be hauling camera equipment through this, using my monopod as a walking stick.


I will be eating outside, fighting bugs, and holstering bear spray.  For two weeks, I will be living in heightened state of constant awareness.



I am sure it will be absolutely exhausting...in a good way.

~~Road to Whittier, AK~~

Whitter, AK, is another quirky little town about 60 miles southeast of Anchorage.  I traveled along the Turnagain Arm on Seward Highway and had to pull off for a few beautiful shots.

You can only get to Whittier by water or by traveling through the mountain through Whittier Tunnel, the longest tunnel in North America. It is one lane...and shares space with a train.

This is the tunnel opening to two and a half miles of claustrophobic terror!

An over generous about of snow and ice kept me from getting close to the harbor.

As quirky has it, most of the 200+ residents live in this 

Army barracks condo conversion, Begich Towers.

And then there is the abandoned military building, the Buckner Building.

The sites upon leaving Whittier were as lovely as Alaska gets!

~~Bundles of Joy~~

Getting ready to go play outside in Anchorage in February takes about a half an hour. Two sets of socks, two pairs of leggings, two shirts, two hats, hand warmers and gloves topped with a ski coat and vest,  I got too hot to stay in... I welcomed the chill of the outdoors.

I made my way to the costume footrace.... There was so much excitement, music and street noise.  It was fun to watch all these "bundles of joy."

~~Snow Day Ruminations~~

The weatherman on television keeps reminding me the Anchorage has not had this much snow in the last five years combined.  How can that make me feel better?  It doesn't, so he can quit now.

I am amazed that people are amazed that I took a trip to Alaska, all alone, for two weeks...in February. Now that I write that, I get it.  It does sound "outrageous."

But really, what is so outrageous about chasing a dream?  To me, it is more outrageous NOT to.

Yes, I planned. I researched. I wrote copious note about how to photograph the Northern Lights (Automatic focus, ISO 800, 30 second shutter.... tripod, trigger, etc.)  I'd be lying if I said that I am not disappointed that the Anchorage atmosphere didn't give me even one lousy clear night. I am.

There are life lessons in every experience.  I love that.  One of the greatest life lessons is that you can plan for events, but you need to let life surprise you.  If you plan too much, life can be disappointing. I choose to be surprised!


I didn't plan for this....but I was happily surprised....

So.......

~~Elkutna~~

About 25 miles outside of Anchorage, is the village of Elkutna. A combination of Russian Orthodox tradition and Native American practices, family members built "spirit houses" for their recently departed. There are over 100 colorful structures in this cemetery.

Elkutna is home to descendants of the Danaina tribe of Athabasans (natives).

~~Love me some MOOSE~~

~~Road to Seward~~

Beluga Point

Seward Highway Panorama

Iditarod, Mile 0

Port of Seward

~~Out and About~~

Anchorage Skyline from Cook's Inlet

Glacier Brewhouse

Crab Cakes

Hummus