Week 3: 6/17 – 6/23

Monday, Luke and I had the day off to celebrate Ahtna Day, a special occasion honoring the values and traditions of the Ahtna people, reflecting on their history and ongoing fight to preserve their way of life. We started the day at Mia’s, where she prepared an incredible lunch of pesto gnocchi and homemade mint tea. I spent a peaceful afternoon outside with a good book. We then went birdwatching at Gulkana Airport. The diverse birdlife added a fascinating element to our already perfect day. Later, we headed to Sailor’s Pit, a charming little river beach, and spent the day relaxing by the water.

On Tuesday, we went out for more sampling, and I’m getting pretty comfortable with it! We’ve become quite efficient and can now finish quickly. During our drive back from one of the more distant sampling sites, we spotted an owl on the side of the road. It turned out to be an injured great horned owl with a broken leg and damaged wing, likely from being clipped by a car. After consulting with an avian rescue center and Alaskan Fish & Game, we were instructed to capture the owl and transport it to a facility for proper care. We named the bird Henri(etta), unsure of its sex. Thankfully, Henri(etta) was safely delivered to the experts. We enjoyed a delicious dinner at Sheep Mountain Lodge generously paid for by our job for working such a long day. We later learned that Henri(etta) was confirmed to be a male and, sadly, had to be put down due to the extent of his injuries. Although it wasn’t the outcome we hoped for, I’m grateful for the experience and the chance to help.

Wednesday was a day of adventure as we rode ATVs to various sites for Klutina baseline assessments. This work allows us to monitor the conditions of the Klutina River and the surrounding anadromous streams. Anadromous streams are waterways that fish use to migrate from the ocean to freshwater to spawn. Afterward, we took some time to reorganize our gear and prepare for the coming weeks. Unfortunately, our attempts at sampling were unsuccessful that day.

Thursday was all about grinding out samples. We worked late into the night, ensuring all the data entry and computer tasks were completed. It was a long day, but satisfying to get so much done.

Friday started with morning sampling, and I gained some confidence driving the trucks through bumpy dirt roads. Usually, Luke does most of the driving because he enjoys it and it makes me nervous, but I’m pushing myself out of my comfort zone. Later, we had the opportunity to work with tribal youth, teaching them about salmon and how to take health samples. It was a rewarding experience, reminding me of my old self amidst all these new adventures. After that, we went camping with Mia at Tangle Lake. We kayaked to an island, set up camp, and spent the night around a bonfire. Mia made pesto pasta, and we baked potatoes in the fire. As bedtime approached, I felt a bit nervous about camping in bear country for the first time, but cuddling Mia’s dog Sequoia and holding bear spray helped me sleep.

Saturday began with me waking up early to enjoy my book outside. Once everyone was up, Mia made blueberry pancakes on the camp stove. It was incredibly windy, so we took down the tent to prevent it from blowing away. We used the kayaks to block the wind and spent the day sunbathing, reading, and chatting. Despite the persistent wind, it was an amazing day. Concerned about paddling against the wind, we decided to head back instead of spending another night. The paddle back was beautiful and provided a perfect upper body workout. Sore, tired, and happy, we headed home.

Sunday was an exciting airport day with Mia, Emily, and Luke! We enjoyed $10 airplane rides over Glennallen, live music, and cornhole. I had my first bush plane ride and got to see many different bush planes. Afterward, we ordered pizza and returned to Sailor’s Pit to spend the rest of the day. It’s quickly becoming my favorite spot to relax and unwind. After we all relaxed and watched Monty Python’s Holy Grail.