Fall in Alaska

It's Fall. The air is crisp (VERY crisp...it actually started SNOWING today!), the leaves have turned their mellow golds, and the last fish have been caught for the season. Here are a few pics from our fall fishing and sailing adventures....

This is our neighborhood court, Kushtaka Circle, tucked against the Chugach Mountains.

One last fishing trip for Silver Salmon on the Kenai River...

Our final boat trip out of Seward for the season. After this boat trip, SV High Endeavours went into hibernation for the winter season. We removed her sails and winterized her.

The SUN came out and shone on us all weekend. We spent the four day weekend exploring beaches, walking up creeks, relaxing, and picking berries.... This was the morning view out my galley window...the sun coming up over the mountains, causing the water on the shore rocks to evaporate...

Chris dropped me off by dinghy at this water-surrounded rock, but eventually came back for me.

4th Wedding Anniversery in Wisconsin

This year, for our 4th wedding anniversery, Chris and I returned to the site of the deed...Door County, Wisconsin. Jen's family cottage is there and is one of her favorite summer locations, full of memories of growing up.

Jen & Chris at the site of their wedding ceremony, 4 year anniversery. Sister Bay, Wisconsin.

The crew in front of the family cottage (from left to right): Laura & Ty, Kelly, Dad Burger, Aunt Barb and Uncle Dave, Mom Burger, Chris & JenDoor Couty Wine-Tasting: Jen, Laura, and KellyJen on the Lake Michigan coastJen at Cave Point, Lake Michigan coastPontoon Boat Fishing: Dad, Mom with Shorty, and ChrisChris and a Monster BassBack in Anchorage: Jen made a pie with Door County cherries and Chris cooked Wisconsin Bass.

Fishing, Hunting, and Gathering: Reflections on Local Food

One of our favorite aspects of Alaskan life is the ability to gather one's own food. Lately, I've been reading many books about "local food" (Check out "Omnivore's Dilemma" by Pollan or "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" by Kingsolver). I have enjoyed finding all that the Alaskan land offers up for our sustenance. We wanted to live in a place that could feed us, and Alaska is such a state. Being in touch with where one's food comes from is immensely gratifying - and one doesn't get much more "free-range, organic" than a moose or wild salmon! Alaska has a genuine food culture, where there is an affinity between people and the land that feeds them.

First, there is fishing. Alaskan summers are all about fishing, whether it be for salmon (reds, kings, silvers) or halibut. We spent many weekends on the famous Kenai River. No Kings for us this year (keeps us humble about how special catching a Kenai King Salmon really is), but many reds and some silvers.

Jen & Chris with a Red Salmon on the Kenai River.

Jen dip-netting. This is a VERY posed picture. The day was miserable rainy and Jen only lasted about 15 minutes of this. No fish were caught.

Chris fishing in Humpy Cove from our sailboat, outside of Seward.

Next, there is hunting. As I write this, Chris and his dad (along with some of their friends: Nate, Steve, and Brian) are out moose hunting along the Swanson River, where they canoed to a potential moose hunting site. One moose can feed a few families for the winter. They are also hoping to go deer hunting on Kodiak Island.

Then, there is gathering. This last weekend, while Chris was hunting, my friend Leah and I thought it only appropriate to "gather." We went to nearby Girdwood to pick high bush blueberries. This was my first experience with high bush blueberries and we gobbled them up while we picked (2 in the bucket, 1 in my mouth). However, back home, as I prepared the berries I noticed a little friend looking at me...a blueberry worm! After much research on the topic, I discovered that our blueberries were packed with PROTEIN. They are now soaking in cold saltwater and the worms are making an exodus to the surface. I will be making cordial with the berries, along with a blueberry crisp.

Jen with her blueberries.

Leah with Anna on her back, berry-picking together.

This next year, we will be planting a garden in our backyard (we set up the beds this year) and will be exploring other Alaskan edibles, from fungi to seaweed! We also have raspberries all along the side of our house.

SOME THOUGHTS ON LOCAL FOOD to ponder....

• Americans put almost as much fossil fuel into our food as our cars. We're consuming 400 gallons of oil a year per citizen (about 17% of our nation's energy use) for agriculture, a close 2nd to our vehicle use. But getting the crop from seed to harvest takes only 1/5 of the total oil used for our food. The lion's share is consumed during the trip from the farm to your plate. Each food item in a typical US meal has traveled an average of 1,500 miles. If every US citizen ate just one meal a week (any meal) composed of locally raised meats and produce, we would reduce our country's oil consumption by over 1.1 million barrels of oil every week. That's not gallons, but barrels.



• Local, fresh foods TASTE better! Food is the rare moral arena in which the ethical choice is generally the one more likely to make you groan with pleasure! Eating home-cooked meals from whole, in-season ingredients obtained from the most local source available is eating well, in every sense. Good for the habitat, good for the body.



• Find your nearest farmers' markets and local producers: www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets. Also, check out http://www.localharvest.org/ and http://www.csacenter.org/ and http://www.slowfoodusa.org/

Now, back to eating...

First Year of Residency Over & the Harding Icefield

What does a group of family medicine residents in Alaska do to celebrate the completion of their first year of residency? They go camping! Every year, the Alaska Family Medicine Residency holds a camp-out. It ends up drawing about 100 people (residents, faculty, staff, and their families). Jen was in charge of much of the planning and shopping for this event (she's the class representative in the residency), which meant that Chris "volunteered" his help as well. He's such a good sport! The Saturday of the camping trip was spent on a strenuous 8 mile round-trip hike to the top of a mountain to the Harding Icefield. This ice field is 60 x 60 miles in size and over 3,000 feet thick. The day was amazingly sunny and we all ended up with sunburns (bad doctors!). See pics below...

Jen and Chris half-way to the top.

Chris showing what NOT to do.

A group of young Alaskan docs and their significant others.

Check out the line of people in the snow above - gives a good perspective.

Jen & Chris at the top. Notice the points (tippy tops) of mountains sticking out from the massive ice field. Those mountains are 3,000-4,000 feet tall and are encased in ice. The Natives call these exposed mountain tops "nunataks."

Intern year is behind us! 2nd year of residency involves less time in the hospital, more clinic time, fewer nights of call, less 30 hour shifts in the hospital, and new levels of responsibility (supervising the new interns). We also get more weekends off - more adventures to be had. Thanks to all those who have given their support and love through this first year of residency. Only 2 more years to go!

Jen's 30th Birthday & A Word on Bears

Jen's 30th was spent in Soldotna, Alaska; on the Kenai River. A wonderful birthday dinner complete with triple chocolate cake (why have only single or double chocolate?) was prepared by the folks at "Kenai Vineyards" (the elder Hyer's place on the River). The day itself was spent going for a hike in the woods (see above) where there was uncomfortably close signs of bear nearby. At REI, where Chris works, people often ask Chris, "So, are there bear at such-n-such place?" His standard reply has become, "Is such-n-such place in Alaska?" They often pause and then get it - there are bears EVERYWHERE in this state. People bring bear protection of various sorts, from bear spray to guns. There was even a black bear spotted in our neighborhood a few weeks ago. There are a few things that people can do to decrease their odds of a bear attack - go hiking in groups (a bear has never killed anyone in a group of 6 or more), talk loudly while hiking (don't surprise bears), and stay FAR AWAY from any dead animals (bear food) and cubs (baby bears). However, no matter what you do, nothing decreases your odds to "zero" of a bear attack, so it is wise to be aware and carry protection. Our good friend, Steve, was just charged by a bear in the middle of an open field last week. There was no precipitating factor, he was not a threat to the bear. Luckily, Steve actually teaches a class about bear safety and shooting. The bear charged, he shot, and the bear ended up dead. He was a teenage bear, which are said to be the biggest troublemakers - something that must run in all species :)

The Kenai Peninsula Canoe Trails

Every summer, we try to spend a long weekend on the Canoe Trail System on the Kenai Peninsula. This year, we spent that weekend in May with our dear Alaskan friends Nate and Leah and their baby Anna.

Here is the AMAZING thing that shows why Nate and Leah are perhaps the best parents ever. Anna is only about 1 year old, which is a feat in itself for a canoe trail excursion. The canoe trails involve portaging over land, carrying all one's gear and the canoe, going from lake to lake. Imagine carrying all that gear AND a baby AND all the baby's gear. Even more amazing is that Anna was born with spina bifida, and has little to no movement of her legs. So, here we are, in backwoods Alaska as these amazing parents take the time and the energy and the love to share the beauty of nature with their little girl.

We feel blessed to have them in our lives and to have shared this weekend canoe adventure. Here are some pics:

You know you're in Alaska when....every sign is covered in bullet holes.

A moose swam across a lake right in front of our canoes.

An amazing loon that repeatedly swam under our canoe, popping up on either side. We could actually see the body of the loon as it swam through the water.

Chris, Nate, Leah, and Anna in a water portage - always nice because we don't have to unpack and carry our canoes.

This should be in a brochure....fantastic accommodations, fresh salmon grilled on the fire...

Chris portaging our canoe. Note key components of an Alaskan man - brown "Xtra tuff" boots, a 44 on his hip for bear protection, a beard.

Nate and Chris portaging our canoes. Leah and I offered to help...

A wonderful weekend of laughs, stories, campfires, great food, great adventure, wildlife galore, and more - THANKS NATE, LEAH, and ANNA!

Summer in Alaska: Family and Friends Welcome!

SV High Endeavours (Thumb Cove, Resurrection Bay, Alaska)

This summer we have been blessed with three sets of guests/family: Jen's parents Dick and Kathy Burger, our "Oregon parents" Bob and Christine, and our Oregon pirate friends Chris and Kim. The following are some highlights and pictures from their visits:

BOB & CHRISTINE's VISIT:

Bob, Christine, Chris, and Jen at "Chinooks" in Seward.

Christine & Bob on SV High Endeavours, enjoying gin-n-tonics.

We spent a weekend with Bob and Christine in Seward, Alaska; where the SV High Endeavours lives amidst icy glacier waters and mountains. We had a great visit, drank many gin-n-tonics, and simply enjoyed catching up. In our guestbook, they wrote: "We will be back for more beauty, more joy, more laughter, more love." They were here in May and we are determined to show them Alaska in all 12 months - so we know they'll be back at least 11 more times!

MOM & DAD BURGER's VISIT:

Dad Burger at the helm, with Ma Burger as First Mate.

Some beautiful scenery from touring about the Kenai Fjords.

Dad and Mom Burger in Kenai, Alaska.

Next, my folks flew in from Wisconsin. It was a bit colder than they were expecting (it HAS been a cool summer), but they were great sports. We took the sailboat for an overnight trip out of Seward to beautiful Thumb Cove, where we sat at anchor overnight. We drove to the Kenai River, where we camped at "Kenai Vineyards" (Chris' folks place on the river) and watched too many eagles to count soar through camp. And we simply spent wonderful time catching up, enjoying mom's home cookin', and making grand plans for the landscaping that needs to be done on our yard! We saw a black bear, moose (mom ran into a baby moose one day), eagles, puffins, sea lions, and other Alaska critters. It was a FABULOUS visit and I think they'll be back next summer (with lots of long underwear!).

CHRIS & KIM's VISIT:

Kim and Chris in Resurrection Bay, Alaska.

Thumb Cove

Chris Taylor, Jen & Chris tanning on an Alaskan beach.

Chris Taylor sun-tanning on an Alaskan Beach in front of an avalanche.One mile stroll to hug a glacier (Exit Glacier, Seward, Alaska)

Chris and Kim Taylor in front of Exit Glacier, Seward, Alaska

Alaska Zoo: amazing unique moment of watching a Polar Bear swimming.

Next, our boating friends from Oregon, Chris and Kim, came for an extended weekend trip - Alaska is not THAT far away for a weekend trip. If you are not getting the theme of where we take our guests - we went to our boat in Seward! We spent a weekend of laughter out in Thumb Cove, where we enjoyed sun-tanning (YES, it was SUNNY!) next to an avalanche, throwing snowballs, napping on the beach, surviving an anchoring mishap (the keel needed cleaning anyway), hiking out to a glacier, and playing dice games in the cockpit. While they were here, excursions around Anchorage were also had - the Anchorage Air Museum, the Anchorage Zoo (almost all Alaska-found injured animals that are there for rehab), and simply bummin' about town and relaxin'. I also think we convinced them to sail their boat NORTH to Alaska, prior to heading on their planned journey SOUTH to Mexico in 2013. For those who don't know, we are planning to do some sailboat journeying in 2013 with the Taylors.

A few highlights from SUMMER in ALASKA...

Jen always climbing rocks.

Jen & Chris spending a moment in the sun (Thumb Cove, outside Seward).

Sailboat in background is SV High Endeavours.