Summer mushing training

Summer into fall is the time to collect grass for dogs. Bags and bags are collected to help keep the dogs warm through the winter.

I was sitting out near the airstrip visiting with some kids when I heard the four wheeler coming our way. One of our local teams was out getting some exercise.

One chore mushers have is collecting grass in the fall for winter bedding. Bags and bags need to be collected.

 In Bethel, there are many obstacles that summer mushers may encounter. These Bethel dogs come from the Old Friendly Dog Farm.

Tundra diversity

I walked out near the airstrip to collect a "square foot" of tundra. Not so easy as the woody roots of some plants would not break. If I'd had a shovel I would have dug a soil profile to see what was taking place down under. What I'm told is that I would have found about 4-6 inches of topsoil, then 6-8 inches of sand from the glacial runoffs, then ice, permafrost.

willow and blueberries

marsh about two feet deep

bear berries and lowbush cranberries with some labrador tea

thick moss

bear berries (black), lowbush cranberries (red)

burgandy leaves are spent salmonberries

rust moss, white lichen

lichen with crowberry plant poking through

crowberry minus little black berry

Northern Lights

 I just walked in after having spent the last hour out with a herd of children. I had been Skyping my family from my office, and as I opened the door to head outside several kids spooked and screamed. They were pointing to the north, and of course, the Northern Lights were out dancing their magic. Several loud whistles were daring them to come down to visit.

 Since I can't photograph them, I put in a few gorgeous cloud/sunset/water pictures that can just fill up my camera.

I ran home to dress warmer (now in the 20's) and came back to about 20 children ages five to 15. Several came with me to run closer to the water away from the overhead lights. Greens and yellows were floating across in bands with spires shooting up occasionally.

 Some of the kids came yelling that a lot of the little ones were crying up on the porch crowded into the corners, terrified. Stories tell of moving lights shooting down and grabbing up those that are unprepared, out in the open. Some of us "biggers" went to the little ones and picked them up to hold them tight.

I told of magical stories of the lights, blending with science, of solar flares and mirror images in the south. When we got everyone calmed down we went out from the protection of the porch, hands held, to watch the glow.

Since curfew was about 20 minutes away we all decided to walk the village boardwalk to drop everyone off safely. We all oohed and ahhed over lights, shooting stars, the Big Dipper, and satellites. By the time we rounded the last corner we were down to three. They headed off together and I came inside, face frozen earlobes about ready to drop off.....

Crazy weather -flooding

 We had high winds for three days, constant blowing, with plenty of rain coming down. I'd heard the water was higher than normal. We don't have a lot of high spots and this region is known for its wet tundra. So, a lot of water all around, anyway. Went for a walk south on the boardwalk along the river. Rather frightening the closer I got to the end. The last house was surrounded by the river....

 This is looking away from the river to the back of the village. There is a large pond here with an outlet to the river. Many people were having to move their dogs to higher ground. Some sheds had been blown down with walls under water.

 Kids and water, nothing better! The water level stayed high for another two days, then subsided.