Well, I know we’ve not posted in quite some time. Honestly, I’ve been looking for new pictures, and new stories before writing a new post, and have been lacking. However, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake qualifies as a major new event!

To catch up, we bought a house over the summer, and have decided to stick around for a while! Due to the house purchase, we didn’t really have time or opportunity to have more adventures outside of Anchorage during the summer. We’ve been settling in, trying to make this house our home.

This Friday, November 30th, 2018, that all changed. A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck just outside of Anchorage. In the intervening 48 hours, we’ve experienced well over 650 aftershocks, most unnoticed, but many felt. We’ve been lucky, with only minor damage around the house. Likewise, damage has been on the moderate side in the area, with some infrastructure damage, but no loss of life.

I don’t have any new photos to offer at the moment, but soon, I promise.

Until then, thanks for thinking of us here!

Wes

Hello all, all the followers of this unpretentious blog. I am truly sorry for the long gap in posting, but a severe case of writer’s block set in, only recently cured. I think my impending birthday strangled my creativity, and I was unsuccessful in trying to get Julie to fill the silence. (Please, give her hell for not picking up the mantel!) a

It’s been a time of severe change here in Alaska. Depending on who you talk to, there have been a multitude of seasonal changes. Beyond the typical “Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall” swing of time, there are a few different seasons this far north. I will attempt to explain.

First off, the first seasonal change is not winter-spring, but winter into breakup. There is no such clean change in the Arctic, it is more nuanced. We go from cold winter, to semi-cold thaw. And the rivers go from solid ice, to a mix of open water and ice floes breaking up into large packs, creating dams and flooding. In town, the piles of snow begin melting, leading to wet sections of roadway which freeze at night when the temperatures drop below zero.

Another season is “pothole dodging season”. Since the retreat of the ice, the roadway has returned, with a multitude of car-consuming holes. Our current sport is dodging these craters trying to minimize the damage to our vehicles. When we arrived here in August, Canadians tried to tell us there were two seasons in the arctic. Winter, and road construction. Totally true!

Speaking of ice, it is disappearing fast. In the past two weeks, the snowpack in Anchorage has rapidly diminished. We have finally started to reach the 50’s during the day, resulting in a rapid decline in the visible amount of snow around the streets. Things like lane markers have emerged from the ice. This doesn’t mean driving skills have improved, it just means there are fewer excuses for straddling lanes.

The most visible change has been the amount of daylight available. We go from a start of day around 6 am, to a last light of 10:30 pm. And it increases every day. Soon, there will be no night to speak of at all.

This weekend is my birthday weekend. This has been a birthday I am not looking forward to, being my 40th. But I will soldier on. We are planning to head to Talkeetna, and then to Denali National Park, to get the lay of the land and get options for going back in the summer, (so come see us!). Standby for awesome pictures!

Wes-

6

In the past month, Julie’s best friend arrived and we embarked on a wonderful, exploratory adventure to Homer, down the amazing Kenai Peninsula! We all had a wonderful time, and here’s a few photos from the journey!

Seagulls were rampant in Homer!

We found a spot with a plethora of eagles!

Julie showed her awesome photography talent as well.

And on down the Kenai…

I hope this satisfies everyone’s thirst! I’ll add more soon!

Wes

I know it’s a little late for a New Years post, but I’m behind the times again! So, Happy New Year!

This new year is significant, because it means next year I’ll qualify as an Alaska resident, and be able to file for the Permanent Fund Dividend, (if it still exists next year after the politicians get done mucking with it,) and more importantly, I will be able to get resident hunting and fishing licenses!

I’m looking forward to hunting and fishing as much as I can, but the basic license before any stamps or tags is over $300 for a year. Ouch!

The weather has been disappointing so far this winter. I know, be careful what you wish for, but so far Anchorage is over 20 inches below normal on snowfall. It’s been warmer in South Central Alaska than much of the lower 48 for the past month! I don’t want sub-zero temps, but a little more snow would be nice.

Julie and I did brave the cold last week, trying to get a view of the Northern Lights. Alas, it was not a great night, the Aurora Borealis was just a greenish glow on the horizon. But it was clear, 3 degrees Fahrenheit, and the stars were amazing.

I’m getting better at enhancing them, but they don’t really need much improving.

One of these days, our timing will be perfect, and I’ll catch them overhead.

I’ve finished formal orientation, and have been released to work with a partner solo, No more third-riding! While I enjoyed learning new techniques and how medicine works in the Last Frontier, I was getting tired of the third-wheel feeling. It will be good to start working on getting my own routine going.

Julie’s best friend is coming to visit soon, stand by for pictures of our escapades!

– Wes

I am a horrible blogger. There, I said it.

I have the best of intentions, to allow no more than two weeks between posts. But, then again I fail, over and over. I’m sorry for those who are waiting with baited breath, for each published post. Ok, all two of you. Probably my mother and one disaffected person I don’t know. But that’s still an audience. Sooo…here goes an update.

I got pulled over. And got a ticket. Two tickets to be precise. One, for the offense of failing to obey a red light, (totally guilty, apparently yellow lights are super short here.) And a second for a too-dark tint violation.

Tint too dark? Seriously? I thought those regulations died in the ’90s. Apparently not. The tint in question came with the truck. As in, from the dealer in Oklahoma. I guess that fact isn’t a defense in the state of Alaska. And the fine for not taking it off my front windows is $500! I guess I should have some appreciation for the officer, who wrote the ticket to be correctable. As in, if I get the tint removed, then that ticket goes away. I have 30 days to decide how to deal with the situation. But I already know removing tint myself in winter is going to be a serious challenge.

Truth be told, I’m not a fan of super dark tint. However, here in Anchorage, where the low-life peoples steal everything they can, I’m a fan of folks having difficulty seeing into my vehicle. So, I will use the 30 day grace to decide how to respond.

Where are all our peeps? I figured someone would have already been begging to come visit! Open invitation, just give us fair warning! We’ve been scoping out super awesome restaurants, (Michelle). I need the sister foodie to come, and start setting up a super restaurant list! Wendy, you and fam too, we’ll have a ball!

Ok, time for some pictures….

d

Sorry it’s been so long since I last gave an update, the past few weeks have been busy, with the end of classroom instruction for me (Wes), and returning to flying orientation shifts.

<<
Yes, this is the tallest mountain in North America, Denali. Finally flew by it on a clear day! The pictures really can’t convey the awesomeness of this vista.

Julie has been settling into her position at the Alaska Native Medical Center, and is enjoying the work. It’s always a challenge adjusting to serving a new population and culture, but she excels at it. I haven’t brought a patient directly to her yet, but I have dropped off several times while she’s been at work. One of these days she’ll be taking patients from me just like at BMC!

The snow has definitely returned, and looks like it’s here to stay this time. We’ve had about three waves of storms, and about 5-6 inches total have fallen in the area. Temperatures have also fallen well below freezing, with a brief period of -3 deg. F this morning. Burr! But so far, we’ve both been able to keep warm. This month’s electric bill was a bit of a shocker, but we think we’ve found the culprit and made adjustments.

This past week, we found out we have a little escape artist on our hands. Phoebe discovered an open gate, and disappeared. (With the colder temps, we think the gate froze and expanded, and popped open.) Abject terror and a furious search ensued from her human parents. In the pre-dawn, extremely cold dark, I was sure a police officer would be stopping me for driving slowly through the neighborhood thinking I was a pervert or a burglar, but it didn’t happen. We were ecstatic to find Anchorage Animal Care and Control had corralled our little renegade, and kept her safe. Quite a few $$$ later, she was back at home. And the gates will be double-checked from now on.

So, the adventure continues. I’m looking for a good night to chase the northern lights, but picking a good clear night is turning out to be the biggest challenge. But I’ve seen some amazing displays while flying. It’s just too bad iPhone cameras don’t do night photos well. I have an app to help, but it’s difficult to dial in. But I’ll keep trying.

I still can’t believe I’m getting paid to do this job.

Where else in the world can I find the opportunity to see these sights?

–Wes

Well, we’ve had our first brush with snow. For about a week, there was about an inch on the ground and roads, which made driving an interesting experience. I had high hopes Alaskans would drive better in the snow than southerners. Alas, I was sorely mistaken. Within 10 minutes of driving in my first Alaskan snow, I had to play dodge-car repeatedly, and almost hit the person in front of me when they locked up their brakes while trying to turn into Sams. We have been told the driving will improve with more snow, it takes people a few times to remember how things work on snow and ice.

The view from the roof of the hangar. Looks like you can see the entire Chugach Range from here! I will work on a better panoramic photo from here soon.

Also, from the parking lot, came this gem…

I believe this is what is called a “Sun Dog”, a second sun in the same frame. Also with a nice defined halo of the sun. The only filter present is my truck’s tinted window. It kept the sun flare down to make the dog show up without being too washed out. (I tried both, and this was the best representation of the actual visual I could do with an iPhone.)

I’m still working hard, getting used to LifeMed, and trying to find a good work groove to follow. It’s harder than anyplace I’ve worked before, due to the range of patients we see. Truly, from cradle to grave is the population we serve, with all the associated conditions.

Another first in my air medical career, HUET. Helicopter (and other airframe) Underwater Escape Training. Basically, I was taught how to escape from an underwater aircraft, after a violent landing. I’ll admit, it was somewhat more difficult due to the history I have with aircraft smacking into the ground. But I made it through and received my certification.

This week, I’m headed to Fairbanks, to continue my company orientation. Forecast is for reasonable below freezing temps. Reasonable. As in not -30. So we’ll see. It’s a little concerning when the email from the educator includes things like, “Bring a face mask”.

I’ll try and include as many photos as I can. And I’m planning on going out shooting later this week when the weather gets better.

Thanks for reading, and tell your friends to follow us!

-Wes