Have I gone feral? I've been getting kitchen scissor haircuts, bathing in rivers and traipsing through muskegs...
I have tally on my wall of the mice I've killed this summer. The current total is 16. I tried to coexist peacefully with the cute little guys, until I woke up one night and two were crawling through my hair! Needless to say, I have switched to sleeping on the much smaller and more uncomfortable top bunk of my tiny little trailer.
However, I think I might have decimated the native mouse population. I haven't seen any in a couple days. There must be rumors stirring among the mouse community.
"Don't go in there, George! Larry went in that trailer the other day and never came out."
Daily whaley swim-bys. Native Tinglit petrogyphs on remote islands. Caves everywhere. Canoeing down the Thorne River into the bay. Sea lions!
Alaska is a whole new ballgame.
Alone in the bush and loving the wild life!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
More from Alaska
Hello Folks!
I hope you all enjoying the warm weather down south! Thank you so much for all of your emails and letters. I assure you that all of them have been read, but unfortunately, I cannot respond to them individually because of the slow DIAL UP connection at the Thorne Bay trailer library. (sounds almost Archaic, heh?) It usually takes about 15-20 minutes to check my email, when there is only a 30 minute time limit for computer use, so I'm sure you'll understand. But keep sending them! They are much appreciated and reading them are a nice thing to do when I come into town on the weekend.
After almost a month, I'm mostly adjusted to living in the bush. The maintenance men are still trying to figure out the generator, electricity, hot water, and the refrigerator problems so, for the past 2 weeks its been really unreliable and now, it is completely gone. Its much harder to fix things than you would think because you can't just run to the local hardware store if you forget or get the wrong size of something, like a bolt, so you have to make a 2 1/2 drive back to the shop...and even then, everything comes by ferry, so if they don't have the right stuff, it would be a week, at least until it gets on the island...moreover to the store...
So, we're being good sports and camping out! We do have propane for the stove top so we can boil water for coffee/food or to wash our faces...We get to shower on the weekends when come back to the Forest Service compound which is pretty nice and refreshing after spending a long week in a cave. It's funny how my coworker (who lives in a separate trailer) and I kind of get used to being a little grudgy and accept crazy hair and dirty clothes that smell like wood smoke until we see people that are really clean, and we feel a little like hobos...All and all though, I'm having fun and am learning about how much I can live without.
Many people have been asking about bears...and at first, I didn't really see many. However, lately, I have been seeing a lot more! The salmon are slowly moving into El Capitan Passage (the protected saltwater passageway that is my backyard) and with them, come the bears. I always thought I would be really afraid of them when I saw them, but every time I happen upon one, I'm suprised by how cute and cuddly they really do look. Nevertheless, I leave the area pretty quickly....Other wildlife sightings include, humpback whales, sea lions, otter, and bald eagles are almost like seagulls back home, because we see them so often. Also, probably most interestingly, there is another mouse in my trailer who lives inside my oven (I already had to drown one in my garbage can because it was eating my food and I was sick of cleaning up all its scat every morning). So, since I can't use the fridge or microwave in the trailer, those have become my mouseproof food pantries. They work really well. Food choices can be limited at times, but I assure you, I am eating the freshest, most delicious seafood in the world FOR FREE! We just got a crab cage to set outside our campsite in the water so we can have more. I've eaten a lot of crab, halibut, and salmon and even got to try oysters (yum!) at a bonfire yesterday. Plus, I get all the thimbleberries, salmonberries and blueberries I want in the next couple of weeks!
My job is truly amazing and I get to meet people from all over the world and take them into my "office," the largest cave in Alaska...Everytime I go into the cave (3 times a day) I see something new, and it never ever gets old because each tour is different. Plus, its really reliable, it's always pitch black, a steady 40 degrees and at least 80% humidity...and we always emerge to a brighter, warmer world!
In my free time, I do a lot of reading, so if you have any suggestions, please send them! Also, I do a lot of beach combing when the tide is low. Last week, one of the geologists for the FS came out and taught us something called SRT climbing (single rope technique) and we got to rapell and ascend on a single rope off of a bridge...over a whitewater stream! It is the coolest and probably the scariest thing I've ever done! This will help me if I get to go about two miles into the cave, to the Alaska Room, which is the size of a football field, but you need special ropes (and probably a dry suit) to get to. Furthermore, I spend a lot of time splashing in streams and looking for caves. (The island has at least 800 of them with endless possibilities for more)
Yes, I am taking a lot of pictures! And I will be happy to upload them at the end of the summer for all of you to see but there's no way that will be possible with this connection...
Alaska is more than I expected in many ways, and less in others. No matter what though, I'm truly having an fantastic time, learning an incredible amount about myself, caves, and life in the SE of AK. I do miss you all very much and think about you everyday.
Enjoy the sun! (It's always raining here!)
Much love,
Kara
I hope you all enjoying the warm weather down south! Thank you so much for all of your emails and letters. I assure you that all of them have been read, but unfortunately, I cannot respond to them individually because of the slow DIAL UP connection at the Thorne Bay trailer library. (sounds almost Archaic, heh?) It usually takes about 15-20 minutes to check my email, when there is only a 30 minute time limit for computer use, so I'm sure you'll understand. But keep sending them! They are much appreciated and reading them are a nice thing to do when I come into town on the weekend.
After almost a month, I'm mostly adjusted to living in the bush. The maintenance men are still trying to figure out the generator, electricity, hot water, and the refrigerator problems so, for the past 2 weeks its been really unreliable and now, it is completely gone. Its much harder to fix things than you would think because you can't just run to the local hardware store if you forget or get the wrong size of something, like a bolt, so you have to make a 2 1/2 drive back to the shop...and even then, everything comes by ferry, so if they don't have the right stuff, it would be a week, at least until it gets on the island...moreover to the store...
So, we're being good sports and camping out! We do have propane for the stove top so we can boil water for coffee/food or to wash our faces...We get to shower on the weekends when come back to the Forest Service compound which is pretty nice and refreshing after spending a long week in a cave. It's funny how my coworker (who lives in a separate trailer) and I kind of get used to being a little grudgy and accept crazy hair and dirty clothes that smell like wood smoke until we see people that are really clean, and we feel a little like hobos...All and all though, I'm having fun and am learning about how much I can live without.
Many people have been asking about bears...and at first, I didn't really see many. However, lately, I have been seeing a lot more! The salmon are slowly moving into El Capitan Passage (the protected saltwater passageway that is my backyard) and with them, come the bears. I always thought I would be really afraid of them when I saw them, but every time I happen upon one, I'm suprised by how cute and cuddly they really do look. Nevertheless, I leave the area pretty quickly....Other wildlife sightings include, humpback whales, sea lions, otter, and bald eagles are almost like seagulls back home, because we see them so often. Also, probably most interestingly, there is another mouse in my trailer who lives inside my oven (I already had to drown one in my garbage can because it was eating my food and I was sick of cleaning up all its scat every morning). So, since I can't use the fridge or microwave in the trailer, those have become my mouseproof food pantries. They work really well. Food choices can be limited at times, but I assure you, I am eating the freshest, most delicious seafood in the world FOR FREE! We just got a crab cage to set outside our campsite in the water so we can have more. I've eaten a lot of crab, halibut, and salmon and even got to try oysters (yum!) at a bonfire yesterday. Plus, I get all the thimbleberries, salmonberries and blueberries I want in the next couple of weeks!
My job is truly amazing and I get to meet people from all over the world and take them into my "office," the largest cave in Alaska...Everytime I go into the cave (3 times a day) I see something new, and it never ever gets old because each tour is different. Plus, its really reliable, it's always pitch black, a steady 40 degrees and at least 80% humidity...and we always emerge to a brighter, warmer world!
In my free time, I do a lot of reading, so if you have any suggestions, please send them! Also, I do a lot of beach combing when the tide is low. Last week, one of the geologists for the FS came out and taught us something called SRT climbing (single rope technique) and we got to rapell and ascend on a single rope off of a bridge...over a whitewater stream! It is the coolest and probably the scariest thing I've ever done! This will help me if I get to go about two miles into the cave, to the Alaska Room, which is the size of a football field, but you need special ropes (and probably a dry suit) to get to. Furthermore, I spend a lot of time splashing in streams and looking for caves. (The island has at least 800 of them with endless possibilities for more)
Yes, I am taking a lot of pictures! And I will be happy to upload them at the end of the summer for all of you to see but there's no way that will be possible with this connection...
Alaska is more than I expected in many ways, and less in others. No matter what though, I'm truly having an fantastic time, learning an incredible amount about myself, caves, and life in the SE of AK. I do miss you all very much and think about you everyday.
Enjoy the sun! (It's always raining here!)
Much love,
Kara
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
My First Week
Hello, Everyone!
Yes! I am alive, the illustrious town of Thorne Bay, AK (pop. 400) doesn't have much for internet access. So, now I am about an hour away in Craig, AK for Forest Service training and on a break so I walked on over to the library (which isn't a trailer like in Thorne Bay!). Anywho, all is well. I've been in the cave four times and totally love my job. Starting on Thursday, I will be living out there in the trailer for five days a week, out of contact. I'll be back on Sundays and Mondays (we have tours on Sat) to do laundry, use phones, and go to the market (which interestingly, only has five aisles! crazy) It's a different world here, everything's slower, everyone, and I mean EVERYONE waves to you as you walk by, and everyone knows who you are and your job before you even tell them. Word spreads fast around here. The rainforest is absolutely beautiful and I've already seen countless bald eagles (they're like seagulls to locals), too many Sitka Black Tailed Deer, and sea otters. My friend is going to take me out on her boat in the upcoming weekend or so to go whale watching. I've went through bear protection training, but unfortunately haven't seen any quite yet. Once the salmon start running, I expect to see them though! I've had the freshest crab on Earth! (straight from the sea water and into the boiling water in my kitchen) So, everything's going well and I'm having a blast!
I hope you all are having wonderful summers and I hope to hear from you soon.
All my love,
Kara
Yes! I am alive, the illustrious town of Thorne Bay, AK (pop. 400) doesn't have much for internet access. So, now I am about an hour away in Craig, AK for Forest Service training and on a break so I walked on over to the library (which isn't a trailer like in Thorne Bay!). Anywho, all is well. I've been in the cave four times and totally love my job. Starting on Thursday, I will be living out there in the trailer for five days a week, out of contact. I'll be back on Sundays and Mondays (we have tours on Sat) to do laundry, use phones, and go to the market (which interestingly, only has five aisles! crazy) It's a different world here, everything's slower, everyone, and I mean EVERYONE waves to you as you walk by, and everyone knows who you are and your job before you even tell them. Word spreads fast around here. The rainforest is absolutely beautiful and I've already seen countless bald eagles (they're like seagulls to locals), too many Sitka Black Tailed Deer, and sea otters. My friend is going to take me out on her boat in the upcoming weekend or so to go whale watching. I've went through bear protection training, but unfortunately haven't seen any quite yet. Once the salmon start running, I expect to see them though! I've had the freshest crab on Earth! (straight from the sea water and into the boiling water in my kitchen) So, everything's going well and I'm having a blast!
I hope you all are having wonderful summers and I hope to hear from you soon.
All my love,
Kara
Friday, May 29, 2009
My Alaskan Adventure
After an awesome summer in the Colorado Rockies last year, a lot of people have been asking me what I have up my sleeve for this summer...Well, some of you might have heard some rumors about me and Alaska and I assure you, they're all true!
So, here's the scoop: YES! I am moving to Alaska for the summer. It's actually a really sweet deal. I got a job as a Cave Guide at El Capitan Cave (the largest cave in Alaska!) on Prince of Wales Island, AK. My entire airfare to and from Alaska was paid for by the Student Conservation Association! I get a stipend, and at the end of the summer, I will get an AmeriCorps Education Award for school. Plus, I get to start my research for my Senior Thesis this summer instead of next fall. (WOOT!)
I leave tomorrow and come back to the lower 48 on the 31st of August. I have to fly to Seattle, (where I hope to visit Kurt for awhile) then switch planes for Ketchikan, AK. From there, I have to spend a night at a hotel because the ferry to the island only leaves once a day, at 8am. It's a 3 hour ferry to Prince of Wales, (the city I arrive in is Thorne Bay) after which I'll have to take a 2 hour drive on a gravel road to where I'll be living...I encourage you to Google Maps it if you're bored and want to check it out.
I'll be living in a trailer in the middle of the Tongass National Forest.The Tongass is actually one of the largest old growth forests in the world and is considered a temperate rainforest...(very cool) Now, I am sure you're thinking two things: "there's rainforests in AK?" and "a trailer? that doesn't sound fun!" Well, a temperate rainforest is different from a tropical one in a couple ways: 1) temperature, its obviously much colder in AK than where your traditional rainforests are, and 2) biodiversity, tropical rainforests have a lot more biodiversity than temperate rainforests, but temperate rainforests have much much more biomass..So, there's your science lesson for the day...And about the trailer, its actually a step up from the many summers I spent in a tent, so I am quite excited.
A lot of people ask me if I can say hi or yell at Sarah Palin this summer for them...However, unfortunately, I don't think I will be able to fill this request because Alaska is a very, very large state the odds of me seeing her are not in my favor...
One last question you might have is, "this sounds remote, how can we get in contact with you?" Because of my remote location, no, I will not have a phone or internet acess during the week. It should be a very interesting, transcendental experience, but I will be able to call/email/update you all when I stay at the Forest Service bunkhouse in town on weekends. I will try to update you with all my adventures in the wilderness if you're at all interested. You can still call my cell phone [(262) 515-7886] and leave a happy message for me to recieve on the weekend. Of course, you can email me, but please email me at this address, klewandowski1@carthage.edu so I can streamline my internet time. Also, snail mail would be much appreciated! So, please send all letters, etc to this address:
Kara Lewandowski
Thorne Bay Ranger District
PO Box 19001
Thorne Bay, AK 99919
Well, that's all I have for now. I would like to thank you all for your love and support as well as your interest in my endeavors! And, of course, I will send you pictures and be safe! I love you all very very very much!
Cheers,
Kara
So, here's the scoop: YES! I am moving to Alaska for the summer. It's actually a really sweet deal. I got a job as a Cave Guide at El Capitan Cave (the largest cave in Alaska!) on Prince of Wales Island, AK. My entire airfare to and from Alaska was paid for by the Student Conservation Association! I get a stipend, and at the end of the summer, I will get an AmeriCorps Education Award for school. Plus, I get to start my research for my Senior Thesis this summer instead of next fall. (WOOT!)
I leave tomorrow and come back to the lower 48 on the 31st of August. I have to fly to Seattle, (where I hope to visit Kurt for awhile) then switch planes for Ketchikan, AK. From there, I have to spend a night at a hotel because the ferry to the island only leaves once a day, at 8am. It's a 3 hour ferry to Prince of Wales, (the city I arrive in is Thorne Bay) after which I'll have to take a 2 hour drive on a gravel road to where I'll be living...I encourage you to Google Maps it if you're bored and want to check it out.
I'll be living in a trailer in the middle of the Tongass National Forest.The Tongass is actually one of the largest old growth forests in the world and is considered a temperate rainforest...(very cool) Now, I am sure you're thinking two things: "there's rainforests in AK?" and "a trailer? that doesn't sound fun!" Well, a temperate rainforest is different from a tropical one in a couple ways: 1) temperature, its obviously much colder in AK than where your traditional rainforests are, and 2) biodiversity, tropical rainforests have a lot more biodiversity than temperate rainforests, but temperate rainforests have much much more biomass..So, there's your science lesson for the day...And about the trailer, its actually a step up from the many summers I spent in a tent, so I am quite excited.
A lot of people ask me if I can say hi or yell at Sarah Palin this summer for them...However, unfortunately, I don't think I will be able to fill this request because Alaska is a very, very large state the odds of me seeing her are not in my favor...
One last question you might have is, "this sounds remote, how can we get in contact with you?" Because of my remote location, no, I will not have a phone or internet acess during the week. It should be a very interesting, transcendental experience, but I will be able to call/email/update you all when I stay at the Forest Service bunkhouse in town on weekends. I will try to update you with all my adventures in the wilderness if you're at all interested. You can still call my cell phone [(262) 515-7886] and leave a happy message for me to recieve on the weekend. Of course, you can email me, but please email me at this address, klewandowski1@carthage.edu so I can streamline my internet time. Also, snail mail would be much appreciated! So, please send all letters, etc to this address:
Kara Lewandowski
Thorne Bay Ranger District
PO Box 19001
Thorne Bay, AK 99919
Well, that's all I have for now. I would like to thank you all for your love and support as well as your interest in my endeavors! And, of course, I will send you pictures and be safe! I love you all very very very much!
Cheers,
Kara
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