| Author | Content |
Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
December 7, 2007 8:46 PM Post #4272240
| I was fortunate enough to work in Sitka Alaska this November and enjoyed all the beauties of the Pacific coast of SE Alaska. I stayed in a lighthouse about a mile off shore from the main town. This will show you several highlights of this most beautiful city. This is Mt Edgecombe in the western reaches of Sitka sound. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
December 7, 2007 8:50 PM Post #4272251
| They have a raptor center to recover injured birds and release to the wild again. It is a good place to send support dollars. They do a great job getting the birds back to the wild though some have to stay permanently. This boy is one of the residents. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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gloria125
Greensboro, AL
December 7, 2007 8:53 PM Post #4272258
| Hey Sofer! That volcanoe looks like a live one. Yes? |
Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
December 7, 2007 8:55 PM Post #4272261
| This was my home away from home while I worked on the pets of Sitka. I thought of it as a nice fringe benefit for working there. Except when the motor quit on my way out to the lighthouse and I drifted to shore. Oh well adventure is the source of life. This lighthouse is on Rockwell Island. It has its own cistern for water and complete with hot tub and fresh and salt water shower. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
December 7, 2007 9:00 PM Post #4272271
| Well yes and no. About 20 years a helicopter took a pile of tires and lit them on the summit and everyone thought it was becoming active. Today we all think how terrible that is but then everyone laughed when they found out. It is currently dormant. But being on the ring of fire only temporary. This is the big boy at sunset over the harbor this summer. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
December 7, 2007 11:19 PM Post #4272623
| This is a view while hiking along Halibut Pt Rd near the ferry. Lots of beach hikes and short mountain hikes in Sitka. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
December 7, 2007 11:22 PM Post #4272631
| This is someones island home. Common to find in Sitka sound. Many people commute to town with boats. Or swim. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
December 7, 2007 11:25 PM Post #4272639
| Sitka exists only at the base of the big ice fields in the mountains beyond. Many mountains in the sites around town. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
December 7, 2007 11:28 PM Post #4272644
| Looking East into the sunset, quite early this time of year. Sun sets around 3 pm in December. Sunrise is around 10am. I love this because I could sleep and and get up for the sunrise! That is the way life should be. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
December 7, 2007 11:32 PM Post #4272661
| I found sun often in the morning through the fall. Evenings would get quite cold and the sky would clear. Not too much Aurora this far south along the coast. As the sun came up the clouds would form. Though I probably had one out of four days sunny on the SE coast of Alaska. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
December 7, 2007 11:38 PM Post #4272676
| Hiking along the rocky shores near the lighthouse shows a garden I could never duplicate. Sea stars, sea lions, sea otters, and urchins. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
December 7, 2007 11:42 PM Post #4272684
| This sunset from the light house was unique in the face of the cat it showed me. I have many pictures from this event. What a joy of this half hour of sunset. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
December 8, 2007 12:01 AM Post #4272727
| Living in Alaska allows for many books to be read during the long nights of darkness. Many people up here read all of the time and most discussions are about their interests in books. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
December 8, 2007 12:05 AM Post #4272733
| Of course not every day is beautiful. This storm caused the light house to vibrate in the gusts of wind. The waves pounded up to the windows when striking the rocks below. Lightening struck during the night causing cloud shadows to become active creatures in my imagination. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
December 8, 2007 12:09 AM Post #4272745
| This was my couch from the top of the light house. A good place to sip brandy and read stories from adventures in the Sitka fishing world. Many stories of survival in the storm tossed waters. I wonder how many stories were untold? 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
December 8, 2007 12:14 AM Post #4272765
| Hauling up anchors is a difficult job but someone has to do it. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
December 8, 2007 12:16 AM Post #4272772
| We should all visit an island so this is part of our lives. It is so true. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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GreenAtHeart
Franklin Grove, IL (Zone 5a)
December 8, 2007 1:38 AM Post #4272985
| Thank you so much for the tour. The pictures are beautiful and your writing makes it all real. |
pepper23
KC Metro area, MO (Zone 6a)
December 8, 2007 9:28 PM Post #4275255
| Wow!! Gorgeous area sofer!! Great pictures too!! You seemed to really capture the spirit of the area. |
gloria125
Greensboro, AL
December 8, 2007 9:38 PM Post #4275276
| Another spectacular adventure. Thanks for sharing with us, Sofer.
gloria |
vadap
Aurora, CO (Zone 5b)
December 8, 2007 9:47 PM Post #4275296
| Sofer, absolutely wonderful pictures. That lighthouse is gorgeous. And, might I add about sleeping on islands, the same can be said of sleeping(and working) on ships at sea. How I miss Alaska! |
Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
October 25, 2008 6:01 PM Post #5715210
| I was back out to Sitka and thought someone would like to see winter scenes. This is a series of the natural look on each island of SE AK. I thought worth photos 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
October 25, 2008 6:05 PM Post #5715218
| Turning left I go to what I call Waldens repose. 
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Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
October 25, 2008 6:10 PM Post #5715237
| cresting the hill you are beconed to the waterfront. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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gloria125
Greensboro, AL
October 25, 2008 6:15 PM Post #5715245
| Hey Sofer! Good to see you are still adventuring! Love the Sitka photos. |
Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
October 25, 2008 6:16 PM Post #5715247
| Anyone for a dip in the icy waters? 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
October 25, 2008 6:22 PM Post #5715267
| This is a tidal wash through bringing the old giants for a long rest until the next super high tide. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
October 25, 2008 6:35 PM Post #5715301
| I just have to walk this path. All of these are on an Island about 1/3 the size of a football field. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
October 25, 2008 6:38 PM Post #5715311
| Finishing a look out to Japan from the lighthouse. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
October 25, 2008 6:41 PM Post #5715314
| Looking down into a mountain ash and tidal pools from my living room. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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debi_k
S of Lake Ontario, NY (Zone 6a)
October 25, 2008 6:58 PM Post #5715346
| Very gorgeous pictures. |
vadap
Aurora, CO (Zone 5b)
October 28, 2008 2:00 PM Post #5725451
| Man Sofer, you're living the dream! Thanks for sharing. |
Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
October 28, 2008 7:20 PM Post #5726626
| Thank you all. It has been wonderful. 2 weeks and I am back up there and in Juneau. Hope the rain stops. Probably will start snowing. That I like. There was a moment or two that the sun did come out. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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CajuninKy
Biggs, KY (Zone 6a)
October 31, 2008 12:26 AM Post #5734979
| What are those red berries in that 2nd 10/25/08 pic? |
Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
October 31, 2008 12:56 AM Post #5735058
| Mountain ash tree (bush) here. They are in AK also. I haven't seen them as invasive yet but I don't know if they are native. |
CajuninKy
Biggs, KY (Zone 6a)
October 31, 2008 2:08 AM Post #5735323
| I guess the birds like those, huh? |
Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
October 31, 2008 2:58 AM Post #5735505
| I don't think there are many birds feeding on these. Maybe Warblers? I don't know the bird populations of SE AK. I'll have to ask when I get up there next week. The tree is surviving on a saltwater sprayed location of nothing but rock. You wonder. |
CajuninKy
Biggs, KY (Zone 6a)
October 31, 2008 3:28 AM Post #5735613
| If trees are so tuff, why is gardening so hard? One of those things that make you say, "Hmmmm". LOL Are you going back and forth often? |
Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
October 31, 2008 5:29 AM Post #5735835
| There is little light for most plants to thrive. Even on a good summer lots of rain in SE AK. The soil is very acidic and most of the minerals are pretty washed away. Also there is very little soil anywhere. Most of it is peat. |
CajuninKy
Biggs, KY (Zone 6a)
October 31, 2008 1:31 PM Post #5736369
| Sounds so different from here. I'd like to visit Alaska some time. I'd love to see the wildlife. Especially the wolves. Do you ever treat any wild animals in your work? |
Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
October 31, 2008 2:26 PM Post #5736566
| We often see Eagles. There is a recovery center in town that has our clinic do diagnostics and surgery. Wolves are visible in Juneau on the glacier. One is named Romeo because many dogs bear puppies like him. The rest of wild animals have laws that prevent treatment and care due to the risks involved with people interacting with wild critters. Veterinarians need special licences to work on any wild species. |
CajuninKy
Biggs, KY (Zone 6a)
October 31, 2008 5:49 PM Post #5737268
| I love wolves. They are incredible. I did not know a vet had to have a special license to work on wild animals. I figured they would have to have specialized training but didn't know it went farther than that. So now I'm wondering. I have a friend who is a licensed rehabilitator for wild animals. I'll have to ask what vet she brings them to. I thought it was the same guy I bring my horses to but I might be wrong. |
gloria125
Greensboro, AL
October 31, 2008 6:10 PM Post #5737316
| The Auburn (Alabama) football team has the "war eagle" as its mascot. The eagle flys o ver the crowd before the game begins. Apparently the university has a collection of raptors who have met untimely deaths. They have now determined that the birds were malnourished. So I guess eagles have specialized diets.
The eagle seems to enjoy flying with the crowd yelling and getting so excited. But then I don't think this one has ever been a wild bird. |
Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
November 1, 2008 3:58 AM Post #5739112
| Yes once habituated with humans the raptors are pretty useless to hunt on their own. As far as licences the Federal government requires the special permits. (another tax to collect). The raptor center in Sitka is the leading edge for research and study of injured Eagles. Here is a picture of one in a cage. They have big aviaries for them to fly in to get exercise. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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gloria125
Greensboro, AL
November 1, 2008 12:45 PM Post #5739738
| And I bet they don't die from malnutrition! |
CajuninKy
Biggs, KY (Zone 6a)
November 1, 2008 3:00 PM Post #5740166
| I had a friend down the bayou in La who was a rehabilitator and she had done a number of eagles. She worked with the vet school at LSU. |
Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
November 2, 2008 2:58 AM Post #5742109
| No Sitka is rich with seafood from the processers and they eat their native food in captivity. There are several people who have full time jobs caring for these big ones. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Katlian
Carson City, NV (Zone 6b)
January 15, 2009 4:45 PM Post #6008609
| Hey Soferdig, it looks like you had fun in Sitka. I've spent a few nights in the lighthouse when I was going to college up there. Sadly, the school closed a couple of years ago because they were bankrupt. Did you ever get out to Goddard Hot Springs? It's a nice spot to camp for a couple of days. The WWII ruins on Makhnati are a lot of fun to explore too but it's a little tricky to land out there in anything bigger than a kayak.
Did you take the ferry or fly in? |
Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
January 15, 2009 5:15 PM Post #6008729
| im glad to talk with someone who has been to goddard. I am on call for emergencies so can't get there when working. also I hear that getting around the point in winter can be rough. what are your experiences getting to goddard and was the lady hermit friendly? |
Katlian
Carson City, NV (Zone 6b)
January 15, 2009 5:40 PM Post #6008836
| We would usually go as a group of 15 to 20 students and charter one of the catamarans from the whale-watching company. Thanksgiving weekend was a popular time to go and the weather was usually rather rough. I never met a hermit out there but it was 10 years ago so maybe she wasn't around at the time.
One February we kayaked over to Pirate's Cove on a beautiful clear day, went hiking, camped for the night and woke up to a howling storm. We couln't possibly have crossed the channel in that weather but fortunately there we some people with a big power boat camped nearby and they gave us a ride back to town.
When it gets really cold, skating up on Heart Lake is kind of fun.
I miss the damp, green forest. I don't think I was meant to live in the desert. |
bookie71
Anchorage, AK
July 30, 2010 5:45 PM Post #8007558
| Here is a picture of the volcano with the tires burning - note this was an April Fool's joke.
http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2010/04/01/april_fools_pra... |
Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
August 2, 2010 10:37 PM Post #8014784
| All as I can see is clouds. No black tire smoke. |
gloria125
Greensboro, AL
August 3, 2010 5:33 AM Post #8014995
| Hey Sofer! Good to see you on these pages! |
Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
August 5, 2010 3:49 PM Post #8021059
| Been working lots in AK. I will have some pictures coming up of my new sailboat. |
gloria125
Greensboro, AL
August 5, 2010 6:39 PM Post #8021381
| Is this one that you built? |
Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
August 6, 2010 9:46 PM Post #8024185
| No it is a big motorsailer. My new home away from home. It is a fisher 25. |
gloria125
Greensboro, AL
August 7, 2010 7:23 AM Post #8024628
| Ill be looking forward to the pictures. |
Soferdig
Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b)
August 14, 2010 7:21 PM Post #8040378
| Daves doesn't let me send from an IPhone so I will have to get home to down load Picts. Sorry. |
