It's that time of year again...termination dust is sprinkling the tops of mountains like powdered sugar doughnuts.  This is on the Glenn Highway just outside of Wasilla.  It's a little hard to take a picture while driving on the freeway, but I couldn't resist.

a few more

fun with anacroynms

Hold Palin Accountable Rally in Anchorage!

Here's a better view of Mt McKinley, or Denali, and one of Polychrome Pass, which is another one of the amazing views from the Denali Nat'l Park.

Not sure who to credit for the picture, but the quote is from Michael Seitzman: 

Stop voting for people you want to have a beer with.  Stop voting for folksy.  Stop voting for people who remind you of your neighbor.  Stop voting for the ideologically intransigent, the staggeringly ignorant, and the blazingly incompetent.

Vote for someone smarter than you.  Vote for someone who inspires you.  Vote for someone who has not only traveled the world but who has also shown a deep understanding and compassion for it.  The stakes are real and they're terrifyingly high.  This election matters.  It really matters.  Let me say that one more time.  This. Really. Matters.

You never know what wildlife, if any, you'll see in Denali National Park.  I was lucky to see an impressive list of creatures, including Dahl Sheep, Porcupine, Fox, Arctic Ground Squirrel, Caribou and even a few Grizz.  Really, that's not bad for one day.  No outstanding pics but I'm not complaining.

My former coworker just shared this picture, taken a few years back on my first wildlife gig in AK. I was working for US Fish and Wildlife Service in Shoup Bay, outside of Valdez, and I was still getting used to the idea of chilly, icy weather in May!

This is off the Denali Highway a few miles outside of Cantwell.  It's hunting season out there, and you have to be a little careful about roaming around taking pictures in the bushes.  Nearly everyone I passed was dressed in camo looking for moose.   

Fall is in full swing now, and it's not going to last for long.  I had the opportunity to visit Denali National Park, for the first time since I moved to Alaska.  Mt. McKinley, or Denali, is the mountain on the right--almost hiding, but not quite.  Click on the pic for a better view of the highest mountain in North America.

just another day in Wasilla

For Outsiders, here is a quick snapshot of life in Wasilla.  I originally posted this in March 2007, with the heading, "Only in the Valley."
I missed the onramp for the freeway in Wasilla yesterday so I drove into a driveway to turn around.  I was surprised to see this pig running down the driveway towards my truck!  Then it got behind my truck so I couldn't back up.  I drove down the rest of the driveway to turn around without hitting the pig and a woman came out of the house to see what was going on.  I inquired about the pig and she said it lived down the street and sometimes came over to visit.  I started out of the driveway and saw the pig foraging on the side of the road.  I continued on my way, but waved to two cars coming towards the pig and when they unrolled their windows, I told them, "Careful, there's a pig running down the road."  They didn't seem to think that was strange at all.  As I was getting back onto the freeway, I could still see the street below.  I saw a truck with a dog standing in the open back, and a kid running behind, "herding" the pig back into its driveway.  I couldn't get a clear shot but briefly saw the pig reunited with its piglets back home!  I'm thinking of going back for a visit to see those piglets again.  I figure the people must be nice, if they were willing to herd their pig home...

speaking of wasilla...

Who approved the design for the Wasilla welcome sign?  Or is it just me that does a double take every time I drive by?!

where did common sense go?

Driving through Wasilla the other day, I couldn't help but notice the pro-Palin signs all over town.  Then I saw the message at Brown's, which I thought was interesting--and brave!

More great posters here: http://www.democratbydesign.typepad.com

Short n' shaky but you can feel the vibe

Pride

From the Alaska Women Reject Palin Rally today: