The summer of 2018 has more than made up for the lack of a summer in 2017. We are in the midst of another hot and sunny stretch of weather with temperatures in the 70s and possibly the 80s with clear sunny skies. There must have been at least 5 times as many sunny days so far this summer as there were all of the last. Sandals, shorts, tank tops, sunscreen, and public service announcements warning of heat stress have been common this year. Mmmmm, vitamin D!
The lack of cloud cover has limited the number of Wrangell's incredible sunsets but a recent period of smoky haze brought here from Siberian forest fires on transcontinental winds did create some interesting Suns.
A few pictures of Castle Mountain one beautiful evening out on the water.
Father and daughter on another beautiful evening out on the water. This is Bessie Peak on the left and Red Mountain on the right. There is no alpine more beautiful than the alpine in southeast Alaska on a day like this. When I am out on the water, I find myself looking longingly up at these mountains wishing I was up on their heights.
Just a couple of Bessie's north side. It's hard to believe that these mountains are less than 4000 feet high, they look like they should be much higher.
A smoky sunrise while out on an overnight fishing trip, a successful fishing trip.
A pretty fish called a kelp greenling found near kelp beds oddly enough.
A well camouflaged ambush predator called a sculpin. These are common but unwanted fish to catch while bottom fishing for more desirable fish like halibut or rockfish.
This last colorful fish is a yelloweye rockfish or just yelloweye, a prized catch and a beautiful fish with delicious meat great for tacos! There are many species of rockfish with the yelloweye being one of the largest getting up to 36 inches in length. These fish typically live in fairly deep water, over 100 feet, and can live more than 100 years! The age of a fish is determined by counting the growth rings of their ear bones called otoliths. This is done much like with a tree but is not quite as easy to do. Notice the spines making up the dorsal fin of this guy? That is another characteristic of rockfish, they have venomous spines on the dorsal fin that will zap you much like a bee or wasp sting.
It is deer, mountain goat, and black bear hunting season now in Southeast AK so I hope to have some more photos and blog posts in the not too distant future as I'll be getting out into the wilds a bit more. Stay tuned
