TD
Termination Dust, TD, generally appears on the coastal peaks sometime in October. TD is the first dusting of snow. It is called that because the appearance of snow means the end of summer jobs. When we arrived on October 1 … Continue reading TD
Category: Alaska
Alaska Day Parade, 2026
Back in 1980 I was managing KTOO radio in Juneau. Alaska Day was a State Holiday. Raven was not yet on the air. The Alaska Public Radio Network decided to do a statewide man on the street asking people, “What … Continue reading Alaska Day Parade, 2026
Harbor Mountain before the TD.
Friday, October 9 was sunny. Harbor Mountain Road is the one vehicular access to high country, over two thousand feet above sea level. The road was built by the military in World War II and led to a secret radar … Continue reading Harbor Mountain before the TD.
Autumn in the Muskeg at the End of the Rainbow.
When you ask a Southeast Alaskan what word comes to mind when they hear “October” that word is, more likely than not, “rain.” Thursday, October 8 was rainy. In the afternoon, a big sucker hole opened with sunshine and blue … Continue reading Autumn in the Muskeg at the End of the Rainbow.
Autumn in Southeast, Why does it seem so exciting?
Shimmering Clouds in 60 knot winds and 40 foot seas Are Making me feel I’m home. * October and November are stormy months in Southeast Alaska. Statistically October has 29 days of rain. As I am writing this, the trees … Continue reading Autumn in Southeast, Why does it seem so exciting?
Harbor Mountain in an Electric Car
June 19, 2026 I was beginning to wonder if I would make it up Harbor Mountain. A USCG Jayhawk crashed at 1800 feet and the road was closed for a while. But it is open now with only a small … Continue reading Harbor Mountain in an Electric Car
2026 Rotary Duck Race!
July 18, 2026 In 1992 a container ship lost a container full of bathtub toys. The container broke open and 28,000 “Friedly Floaties” broke loose and started the more than 6,000 mile circuit of the Subarctic Pacific Gyre. Because of … Continue reading 2026 Rotary Duck Race!
2026 Rotary Wildlife Cruise.
This year’s Rotary Wildlife Fundraising Cruise hit the jackpot. Not only did we fill the boat but while we had rain in the morning, as we cruised out of Crescent Harbor the sun began to break through. We also hit … Continue reading 2026 Rotary Wildlife Cruise.
Look Up!
Most visitors along Lincoln Street spend their time looking in shop windows or taking pictures of the big bear who wears a plaid vest or St. Michaels Cathedral, which is a pity because if they looked up, they would see … Continue reading Look Up!
Small Town Fourth!
Someday I may celebrate the 4th in a big city with huge fireworks shows, parades with 76 trombones, tall ships and big stars on a big stage, but I’m not sure the experience can match a small town 4th. As … Continue reading Small Town Fourth!
Two Kinds of Hope
This Morning on Raven Radio Melissa interviewed representatives from the Sitka Cancer Survivors Society. They were promoting a fundraising event that helps raise money for mini grants to Sitkans with Cancer, $1,000 the first year and $500 a year for … Continue reading Two Kinds of Hope
The Milk Run Home
On our way back from the cruise, we flew from Seattle to Sitka in the dark. On our return from Minnesota, we had full daylight all the way home. Alaska Airlines operate several “Milk Runs” between Seattle and Anchorage. In … Continue reading The Milk Run Home
Beltane with “My Log.”
Beltane, May first, is one of the Celtic cross calendar days. The cross quarter days are halfway between equinox and solstice and mark the beginning of a season. The two major cross calendar holidays are Samhain, October 31, the beginning … Continue reading Beltane with “My Log.”
Turning STEM into STEAM. Sitka Whalefest 2025
At Festivals I withdraw from daily life and immerse myself in something different and stimulating. Throughout the year Sitka gives me several chances to take such a staycation immersing myself in chamber music or jazz. But in November a long … Continue reading Turning STEM into STEAM. Sitka Whalefest 2025
Boardwalk Patterns
It’s been a while since I logged onto the blog. I have been posting on Facebook but have been busy enough that I haven’t done much writing. The last week we have had a succession of storms battering our coast. … Continue reading Boardwalk Patterns
Small Town 4th
OK by Alaska standards Sitka isn’t a small town, but it can feel like it. As one friend wrote in a song, no one uses turn signals because everyone already knows where you are going. Skagway, Alaska is really a … Continue reading Small Town 4th
July 2, 2025, Almost Independence Day, 249 Years Later.
On July 2, 1776, Richard Henry Lee moved a resolution, before the second Continental Congress, declaring independence for the 13 American colonies. John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail: The Second Day of July, 1776 will be the most memorable … Continue reading July 2, 2025, Almost Independence Day, 249 Years Later.
2025 Sitka (Summer) Music Festival Photo Gallery
Every June my hometown, Sitka, becomes alive with the arts. Both the Sitka Music Festival and Sitka Fine Arts camp bring people from all over the Country to our little town. We have performances and parties all month. This year … Continue reading 2025 Sitka (Summer) Music Festival Photo Gallery
Bathing Eagle
Walking through Sitka National Park today with Brian, we saw an eagle on a gravel bar in Kassada Heen (Indian River). As I zoomed in with my camera the eagle jumped into the river and started splashing and preening. It … Continue reading Bathing Eagle
Raven Radio Summer Solstice Cruise, 2025
On the longest day of the year we joined the Annual Raven Radio Summer Solstice Cruise on one of the Allen Marine Tours boats. Allen Marine supports non-profits in Sitka by donating their boats for fundraising cruises. According to Rob … Continue reading Raven Radio Summer Solstice Cruise, 2025
2025!
At age 70 9PM becomes the new midnight. By that standard I have seen in the New Year every year since I reached the Biblical lifespan. The ball drops in New York, I sing “Happy Days are Here Again”, stay … Continue reading 2025!
2024 Sitka Counseling Christmas Bazaar
Today we celebrated the 42nd Sitka counseling Christmas Bazaar. It was a clear and cold day. I don’t think I have ever had as much problem finding a parking place as I have today. That means having to walk about … Continue reading 2024 Sitka Counseling Christmas Bazaar
Sitha Whalefest 2024
If I lived anywhere else, I wonder if I would attend a science symposium. I’m interested in scientific issues, but I don’t think it would occur to me to sit through 9 science presentations. But I live in Sitka, and … Continue reading Sitha Whalefest 2024
Home
I seldom sleep well on days before I fly. It’s the combination of fear and excitement. I have a fear of flying dating back to a day in 1978 when I was sitting in an exit row, landing gear on … Continue reading Home