Back from "Kotz" ebue

Fish Camps along the Chukchee Sea (body of water north of the Bering Sea).

City of Kotzebue

Local man fishing along the city water front.

Cost of living in Kotzebue. Shipping is very expensive.

Pam and Molly in Kotzebue, Chuckchee Sea in the background.

Typical mode of travel in Kotzebue.

Moose and Cariboo antlers lay everywhere.

Look at the treasures you find once the snow melts!

Cemetary for all denominations outside of Kotzebue.

Going to the post office in Kotz.

One word says plenty here. Being able to pronounce the word is another issue.

Long time, no post! We returned from Kotzebue Last weekend. It was a whirlwind trip. Pam had business and Molly and I just hung out ansd soaked up the unique culture. Some would say Kotz is a dirty, run down town 34 miles above the Arctic Circle. I would say it is a town of layers and textures. People forget this is one harsh environment in the winter. Hard on equipment and hard on buildings and anything else exposed to the elements. Yes things could have been picked up around town but don't forget ice break up was only a month ago. Kotzebue in September is an awesome place. After Kotz, we went to Anchorage and saw the Smylie's. They took us to Hatcher Pass and we feasted on Halibut. We spent the night at Alyeska. Too bad it wasn't winter when the powder is steep and deep!

Fathers Day

How did you wake up this Father's Day morning? I woke up in a new 4 season mountaineering tent I have had my eye on for about 3 years now! Yesterday Hank and Molly surprised me with the Mountain Hardwear tent and Hank and I tested it out for the first time last night. As we laid in the new chateau, we heard racoon's fight, sea lions snarl, and the gastric windstorm caused by a certain 11 year old tent mate.

I can honestly say, I have the best kids in the world. I am proud of Nistassa and admire her independence, ability to see right from wrong and the kind heart she inherited from her Grandma. Hank is a person all to himself. He is intelligent, spiritual, thoughtful, helpful, sometimes slightly funny, and someone I look forward to spending many, many nights in a tent with. Molly aka: Brie-Brie, Spider Monkey is full of energy, has the cutest smile, very independent, and has the best laugh any Dad could ever hear!

I am lucky to have the kids I have and am proud of who they are and who they are growing to be.

Can you canoe?!?!

This past weekend I was invited to go canoeing on the Queets River in Washington. Six guys, three canoes, what could go wrong?

I grew up canoeing and my counter parts are all "experienced" Search and Rescue pilots for the Coast Guard who claim to be experienced outdoorsmaen. It was the perfect combination for a good time. Little did I know, three canoes would soon be two canoes. How soon you ask? Within 20 seconds I would say... Steve and I launched and quickly ran the first set of small rapids, we eddied out and waited for the next canoe to follow our line. Within a matter of seconds they hit the first rock broad side, Marcus was launched from the canoe and Eric fell out on the current side. Within about ten seconds the current wrapped the aluminum canoe around the rock like a piece of foil around a baked potato! No one was hurt and I couldn't stop laughing! Unfortunately their day was done before it started and one canoe was sacrafised to the God's of the mighty Queets River. I am pretty sure while we finished the 20 mile trek Marcus and Smith stripped out of their wet clothes and huddled in a sleeping bag to warm up, such actions are normal ops for Officer's -especially pilots.