In Brief

Long time since last entry. After a great Spring of travel and boating in the Southwest, I packed up and drove North towards AK. Stopped off for a week in Idaho to go boatin' with Nelbert on the Middle Fork and Main Salmon, then up to Haines. Quick hellos in town and then up to Fairbanks for some Turn -N- Burn arctic trips on the Kongakut with Hawthorne. Drove back to Haines and made it for the 3rd of July in Skagway and the 4th of July in Haines.....sweet! Ran into natcho and jumped in on a last minute plan to traverse from Glacier Bay back to Haines via sea kayaks, ice travel, and pack rafts. We pulled the trip together in a matter of hours and hopped a plane to Gustavus. A midnight launch, we paddled up the East arm of Glacier Bay for 2 1/2 days until reaching the Riggs glacier, where we ditched the kayaks (to be picked up later by some pardz)and strapped on everything to our packs. Up and over a horrific nunatak to access the Glacier. Crampons, sleds, axes, and rope. Then, snowshoe into white abyss. Then, total whiteout hunker down
begin rations fear factor. Then......cold...and....wet. THEN, sunshine!
So, we packed up, got oriented, and blazed over the icefield to the Le Blondue glacier and made our decent into the upper Tsirku River valley. Upon reaching the river, the mosquitos made our next decision to keep on going very easy. So, we unpacked the boats, blew em up, strapped everything in, and paddled out to the 21 Mile takeout near Klukwan. The trip ended right at midnight, exactly one week from the start. By far my greatest achievment to date! But one cannot idle for long, for the Alsek was calling. Was graced a dream trip as one of two gear boaters on the Alsek River. Total of one gear boat, two gear guides....Corn and Liam! Yes....debauchery ensued to new and unexplored levels. One guy rows while the other makes drinks and plays guitar....then switch! Perfect way to see a river.
Came out on the Helo to make it to the Fair. Boogied down with friends and had 2 weeks of absolute Haines bliss. Then, Had to pack up again and winterize all my schnedal, say some goodbyes, and fly South to Antarctica. Arriving in the dark with starry nights was amazing. Joined a band for a 5 song set at our carpenter shop and we sort of bombed...but got it back in the end. Excited to play more music here.
Then, I cracked a tooth. Major bummer. But,, it got me a two week vacation in Christchurch, NZ! So, I strolled the gardens, walked the beaches, ate out at nice places, partied with the locals, bought gifts for ice folks, felt a bunch of earthquakes, and finally got a chance to just lay around in a hotel room and sleep in! Oh, and I got a tooth pulled, during and earthquake. Yeah, notso fun.
So, today, I am back on the ice and back to work tomorrow. So, that, in short, is what I've been up to since last Spring. It'll probably be another long while....so, til then, Adios my peoples!