The morning of my daughter's flight we found a nice patch of red raspberries that was untouched. There were a bunch that had ripened to the point of falling off and lots of big ones were on the ground. Some would fall off as we picked. I will remember this spot and try to hit it earlier next year. Surprised so many were still in good shape so late in the year. We picked enough for a batch of jelly in less than an hour.
20190810_140812_capture (resized).jpg20190810_140815_capture (resized).jpg20190810_140815_capture(0) (resized).jpg
Here is what's left of our blueberry jam and fireweed and raspberry jelly.
20190817_041430_capture (resized).jpg

Crazy winds have knocked down powerlines starting all kinds of wildfires. From Saturday to Sunday 7 different breakouts happened. Biggest one took out 50 structures. Some were close to me but extinguished quickly thank God. Today the smoke was so bad at work I have a massive headache. And yes, I have an Alaskan windshield.

20190819_141901_capture (resized).jpg

20190819_141902_capture (resized).jpg

20190819_141903 (resized).jpg

20190819_140757_capture (resized).jpg

Spring time seems be when I hear about encounters that go bad. I think cause that's when the cubs are real young. Plus they come out of hibernation hungry. Can find bears in certain fishing spots fairly regularly but they don't seem to bother you when they are well fed. Had a grizzly with 2 cubs less than 20 yards on the Kenai but had no interest in me or the line of 15 guys fishing in a line with me.

I love real maple syrup! I'm sure we could do a trade!

Never heard of that one!!?

Can't wait! Hope you will enjoy the jams/ jellies!

Wow! That's a beauty! Ill bet that was quite a fight! I like fishing Willow even though it's catch and release for kings. Can't keep em but can catch one after another and not too much traffic. I don't do combat fishing.

AK is also the only place to commercially make birch syrup, but it does not touch maple syrup. I think of it more as a cooking ingredient as it is a little bitter. Also takes a bunch more to make the same amount as maple.

I will try to pick some up next time I go to Talkeetna. It's where they make it. Small little shop.

It is less than a 2hr drive but there is a wildfire between me and Talkeetna. Once this calms down I will grab you some to try though.

I think I am good. Got your package ready and it will go in the mail Thursday or Friday this week. Fires started moving back towards the road and a trip was not feasible this weekend. I will get you some birch syrup at some point and mail it seperately.

They are listed as "human caused", but if you look into it, it was extreme winds 2 saturdays ago that knocked down powerlines. To me that is natural, but I guess because it is powerlines?

Thanks for the offer, but I'm good to go!

Yep, but people assume it means negligence. Now everyone is ranting on Facebook without actually reading up. Or at least my wife tells me, since I do not have a Facebook account.

Family of Cranes.

Screenshot_20190826-164259_Gallery (resized).jpg

Screenshot_20190826-164310_Gallery (resized).jpg

The bus that they used to film that is at a bar in Healy. My daughter got a pic just like that one of her. People trek out to the actual bus, but I haven't.

Saw an entire flock of cranes on the way to the state fair. Never saw this many at one time like this. You can really see how smokey it still is from the mountains in the backdrop. Usually a crisp clear view from here.

20190829_125008 (resized).jpg

Screenshot_20190830-075028_Gallery (resized).jpg

20190829_125010 (resized).jpg

Fun at the state fair. 2000+ pound pumpkin took a new state record.

20190829_130247 (resized).jpg

20190829_142031 (resized).jpg

20190829_142511 (resized).jpg

20190829_143658 (resized).jpg

20190829_143735 (resized).jpg

20190829_143746 (resized).jpg

This one cracks me up. Had to include it from the AFC booth.

Resized_20190829_160519 (resized).jpeg

Wow! That's crazy!

My friend got a moose on Sunday. I went in to help him and it turned into 2 days since I had trouble with the 4 wheeler. Small one but still nice. A bull has to be 50+ inch spread or have 4 brow tines. Also a small spike / fork is legal like his.

part0 (resized).jpg

Its a small one, but usually a larger one will last a year for our family. And that's without buying any beef. It does not have any gamey taste like a deer does. It tastes like beef with just more flavor. If you didn't know you were eating moose, you would just think it was a really good steak.

Never actually weighed the meat after, but it is a lot!

Two baby moose in the front yard made the dog go nuts. Momma passed through a little while ago when it was still dark.

20190915_070313 (resized).jpg

20190915_070306 (resized).jpg

20190915_070311 (resized).jpg

20190915_070326 (resized).jpg

Took a ride out Petersville road this weekend. Also known as " the other road to Denali". Almost 40 miles that starts out paved and degrades slowly until it ends up being a quad trail. Towards the end you go through a creek which was cool.

Resized_20190914_160924 (resized).jpeg

Resized_20190914_162945 (resized).jpeg

Resized_20190914_162908 (resized).jpeg

Resized_20190914_162919 (resized).jpeg

Resized_20190914_185153(1) (resized).jpeg

Resized_20190914_172308 (resized).jpeg

Resized_20190914_172822 (resized).jpeg

Resized_20190914_182411 (resized).jpeg

Resized_20190914_182717 (resized).jpeg

And yes, those 3 buildings and camper were "petersville". Although it was spelled peatersville on the sign. The peak of Denali was floating above the clouds.

Talkeetna is very unique.

Glad you enjoy it! I hope you do make it here some day. Winter is closing in fast so trying to get out a couple more times before the snow hits.