Aniakchak

there was a great story on the radio last weekend about Aniakchak National Park - one of the least visited National Parks in the country, and where I'm heading to do some field work next week. Only 26 people visited the Park last year, most of them likely ridiculously lucky geologists or biologists like myself. (Tho there are a handful of recreationists that fly in to the caldera and float out to the coast - sounds like a killer trip... someday).
It's crazy to think about what 'remote' means anymore these days. This park is only ~ 400 mi from Anchorage (closer than Fairbanks even) yet it receives maybe 1/1000 the number of visitors that go to the Antarctic every year. I've been googling it all night and have found ridiculously little info. Fortunately I ran into JJ tonight - he is the only person i know that has ever been out there. his only advice.... 'rubber and wool'. the weather is notoriously horrific, the bears dense... i'm excited to get out there.

Quick stop

I made a short 24 hour stop in the Skagit Valley, Washington on the way home. Was there in time for the tail end of the tulip season, I love the intense colors. and the plush green of the pacific northwest forests...

a few more NH photos

a week in NH

watch out american idol 2018! here's spence - age 6 - singing one of my favorite indigo girls songs....

and we took the training wheels off bryce's bike - it was like releasing a captive bird into the wild for the first time. age 4 and he is a far better biker than i am. no kidding.

despite the unrelenting rain, it's been a busy vacation - first baseball games, planting a veggie garden, and of course lots of time playing with adorable little abigail.