The first time ever I saw the aurora we were with our friends Dave and Carol Lam at Suzi’s dad’s cabin on the St. Croix River in Minnesota. We were far from the city lights. We were watching a … Continue reading The Dragon Ate the Moon
When Bald Eagles encounter problems, often caused by interaction with humans, the Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center patches them up, helps them regain strength in flight barns, and releases them The Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center, in its first release of 2015, … Continue reading Eagle Release
Three weeks ago I was in the Amazon tropical rain forest. Now I am home in my own Tongass temperate rain forest.. Both are green, both have lots of water, both have abundant life, both are essential lungs for our … Continue reading Rain Forest to Rain Forest
March brings life to Sitka Sound. When the herring come in everyone follows, by air, in the sea and under the sea. The eagles, gulls, whales, sea lions and fishermen all congregate to celebrate the great spring biomass festival and … Continue reading The Great Spring Sitka Sound Bio-mass Festival.
The Earlier Post was from the whale watch on the Esther G. These pics are from Sitka Sound taken both from the Esther G, our deck … Continue reading December 28, 2014, Sitka catches a break.
On Sunday we went out on a whale watch with Davey Lubin on the Esther G Sea Taxi. For more pictures from the Esther G and other places around Sitka Sound, Click here. Continue reading Winter Whale Watch, Dec 28, 2014
The sun finally broke through for a nice mid winter Sea-totem walk through the rain forest. Continue reading A Mid-Winter Sea Walk and Totem Walk
To Northerners like me the Solstice is an essential holiday. For me Solstice marks the New Year more than January 1. I have rituals to mark the turning of the season. This year it was a bonfire, a swim in … Continue reading Here Comes the Sun
A reporter should not become involved with his story. That’s what they teach at journalism school. But sometimes a reporter needs to experience what he is reporting on in order to get a real feel for the story. That’s what … Continue reading Sitka Polar Dip, The News Behind the News.
Sitka’s Raptor Rehabilitation Center; where you can have three different eagles and one snowy owl sit for portraits. Continue reading Eagles Sitting for Portraits
The Sitka Artisan’s Market & Holiday Craft Party lives in the spirit of the best European Christmas Markets. Allen Hall, on the Sheldon Jackson Campus, has historically been a meeting place for Sitkans. Over the last few years Sitkans volunteered … Continue reading Sitka Artisans’ Market
I follow the University of Alaska Aurora Website that shows images of where the Aurora is expected in the next hour. A couple of days ago I read about a magnetic storm heading our way. I kept my eye on the … Continue reading Old Sitka, November 15, 3 AM, 24 Degrees
The Sitka Whale Fest, sponsored by the Sitka Sound Science Center, is a multidisciplinary feast. It mixes a science symposium with an arts fair, contests of ocean knowledge, music and dance performances, poetry, eating, and getting out on the water … Continue reading Sitka Whale Fest 2014
Sitka has added 83 feet to the top of its 1950s dam. This will allow us to generate 15 MW of energy. The greater the drop from the top of the lake, the more power we can generate. Note the … Continue reading Blue Lake Expansion.
The 18th Annual Whale Fest is going on right now in Sitka with science, art, food, music and whale watching. On this Saturday’s whale watch we found three groups of whales while we rocked and rolled in a storm surge. … Continue reading Whales, Rainbows and Sucker Holes, Sitka Whale Fest 2014 Whalewatch
To most Americans Guy Fawkes is the hero of the graphic comic and film “V for Vendetta,” represented by a smiling mask with upturned moustaches. But in England he is the arch traitor. In 1605 he was caught under the … Continue reading Remember, Remember ! Sitka Style
I am essentially a shy person. Either that or I am too well vested in the Protestant work ethic. I generally don’t feel comfortable at a party unless I have a role. When I managed Raven Radio my role at … Continue reading Stardust Ball III (2014)
Here is the second tranche of photos from Raven Radio’s Stardust Ball. My picture is the last one on the page, in case you want to know what I look like. It is not a selfie. ( I have added … Continue reading Stardust Ball II (2014)
In Sitka the Saturday before Halloween means the Stardust Ball, a costume ball sponsored by Raven Radio. When I managed Raven we held the event in the Moose Hall, which had a great dance floor. As it grew it moved … Continue reading Stardust Ball! (2014)
Dan recruited me to help him with the Alaska Day Roller Derby bout coverage. The Sitka Sound Slayers played the Wrangell Garnet Grit Betties. I got a hand held camera and was sent to the floor to record interviews with … Continue reading Roller Derby !
Last night, for Alaska Day, the Sitka Sound Slayers Roller Derby team had a bout against Wrangell Betties. I was there as a TV cameraman for the local TV station. I enjoyed the roller derby, but what really struck me … Continue reading Aerial Silk, Alaska Day 2014
There is more to Alaska Day than the parade. Here are pictures from the Fire Hall Open House, the Transfer Re-enactment, the Coast Guard rescue swimmer demonstration, the Russian Bishop’s House Tea and some other scenes from “Our Day.” Continue reading Alaska Day 2014
Alaska Day is our day. Sitka goes all out because this is where it happened on October 18, 1867, when Alaska moved from Russia to the US, from one side of the dateline to the other, and from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. The forecast was for high wind and lots of rain. The rain held off until after the parade and the lowering of the Russian and raising of the American flag on Castle Hill. Then it came, and let it come. Sitka loves its holiday. My day started with, I think, the best loved tradition of the … Continue reading Alaska Day Parade 2014
(*With credit to Leandra Baker for that parody of “Autumn in New York.”) Today after I got off the air it was nice so I grabbed a lunch and went to the top of Harbor Mountain. I watched the mist form over the sound and, just as I started to eat, a gentle rain began to fall. By the time I got off the mountain it was mostly sunny again with no rain. Someone posted on Facebook that Southeast Alaska didn’t have fall colors. It’s not New England or Minnesota’s St. Croix Valley but the combination of Alpine tundra … Continue reading Autumn in Southeast “Is often mingled with rain.”*