Back in Action

Alright, so I am back up and running.  Between a dead camera and crappy internet service I was out of commission for a while... but with both problems solved here I am.

So since my last post a lot of stuff has happened!  I got a car (subaru outback), found an apartment on the southeast portion of town (about a 15 minute commute to work in "good" weather, all bets are off otherwise), and finally received my goods!  I tell you, nothing could have made me happier than getting all of my stuff (in tact) on Tuesday and sleeping on my bed again.

I have started work, and it is going well.  I work 10 hr. shifts, preferably 4 per week, with somewhere between 2 and 5 days off after each week.  Unfortunately, tonight marks the beginning of 5 straight midnight shifts (10pm-8am), two days off, then 4 more midnight shifts.  So that should be fun!  The position that I was hired for (essentially working the public desk and doing random duties) is short of people right now, so my training has been somewhat rearranged.  Of utmost importance is my certification for launching weather balloons, or radiosondes, for the compilation of upper-air data for assimilation into weather models (as well as for quick forecasting usage, radar info., and pilot briefings).  I have been reading these two thick, governmentally-written, manuals.... which put any of the most verbose academic journal articles I have ever read to shame.  And I have read hundreds of journal articles.  Originally, people who had to take this exam were given around 90 days to study.... we have two weeks max!

I am being trained by two people, a native Aleut (from St.Paul for all you Deadliest Catch fans) John, and by the guy whose position I am filling, Sam.  John has been super helpful, and tonight will be my first time working with Sam... though by all accounts he's the perfect guy for the job.

Enough of work... because I have had the opportunity to see some pretty cool stuff before work got cranked up.  I apologize for the quality for the some of the following photos, as my battery was pretty much dead, so I had about one second to take a picture.

First, I made a car camping trip down to the Kenai Peninsula, which was cut short by the first big snowfall of the year....you dont want to mess around with some of those mountain passes!  I succeeded in catching a hog of a rainbow trout on the new fly rod, somewhere between 8-10 lbs.  He made me reconsider my claim that all freshwater fish fight like pansies.  I also had my first Grizzly Bear encounter.  He was across the river, swam over to the gravel bar I was fishing on... at which point I gladly conceded my post.  He seemed to be a young male bear, somewhere around 600lbs or so. Not big (for a grizzly).  At that point I decided to definitely carry some bear spray with me starting next spring, and will strongly consider adding a .44 or .454 to my collection of firearms.  

People had warned me, but I guess I was somewhat naive in the threat? I'm not sure, but those bears are freaky!  Anyways, here is a pic on the drive home of some of the Kenai Peninsula lit up with fall colors.  I promise if I had to post all of the pictures I have taken I would never accomplish anything... it's just too freaking beautiful here.

So after the Kenai adventure I have mostly been sticking around town, doing some fishing for rainbows and landlocked salmon in area lakes.  These fish are fairly small (maxing out around 18 inches), but are always willing to bite, and will not shy away from dry flies.

I also went to a lake north of town, Beach Lake, and caught a couple of Arctic Grayling, which was something I had really wanted to do.   They are an interesting fish, with a sort of sail, although not as extreme as a sailfish.  These are little ones, but I am looking forward to chasing the big ones come May.  Here is a pic of one of the Grayling, slippery suckers!

Yesterday I went to this area north of town on the northern tip of what is called the Knik Arm, the norther extent of Cook Inlet.  I took Maddy to try to shoot some rabbits (or grouse).  It was an interesting experience, but long story short I struck out.  It was an awesome time though, and I was afforded an awesome view when the fog finally lifted in the late afternoon.  It was pretty cool to see 6000 ft. mountains as I stood at sea level.  Pretty Intense.

I'm going to go get ready for work now, so more to follow later!

Ok so i cant figure out how to get the pictures where i want them... but I will figure it out later. Enjoy