Wandering wood bison from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
Wood bison. Smaller than the more familiar Plain bison, but you’d still know about it if it sat on you. And it’s just females in this clip. Males are notably larger.
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Wandering wood bison
September 7th, 2011Meet the Muskox
September 7th, 2011
Meet the Muskox from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
Can’t say I’d ever heard of the Muskox. But here it is. Well insulated it may be, but in an Alaskan winter quite possible for a few unfortunate ones to be found frozen to death…
Bald eagle
September 6th, 2011
Bald eagle from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
Did feel sorry for this chap. Just one wing. And, no, he can’t just fly in circles. Actually, unable to get airborne. Period.
There’s a moose loose…
September 6th, 2011
There’s a moose loose… from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
Decided a song lyric marginally less cheesy than the usual antler jokes. The ones I can never quite remember.
Bear necessities
September 5th, 2011
Bear necessities from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
Introducing a couple of playful brown bear cubs. At a conservation centre outside of Anchorage, Alaska.
Bath time for the bear
September 5th, 2011
Bath time for the bear from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
Only thing missing is a loofer and a little foam bath… Watch out for the bubbles. And if you think that’s disgusting, you want to see what males black bears can get up to. Attention seekers. Still, explains why you’d struggle to find an anatomically correct teddy bear. Fortunately.
Homely affair
September 4th, 2011
Like others on the staff, John had original been a guest in the hostel. Returning to Alaska after a decent spell in the US Air Force. A retired Lieutenant Colonel. I don’t think he’d ever imagined he’d end up running two hostels, a few miles apart in Anchorage. But that didn’t seem to matter, for it was quickly evident he knew how to look after his people, both staff and guests. Actually, I thought it was more than that. He cared about them, as you would family.
It had started with a simple, unremarkable e-mail. To Anchorage’s Bent Prop Inn Hostel. I must have included a link to my website, for John replied, inviting me to stay as his guest. Could he help with some PR? I’d taken him up on this. Keen to show I always did what I promised, I’d got a press release off to him pretty promptly. Assured him plans were in place, flights booked, I’d soon be on my way. Wouldn’t let him down.
I’d tracked him down on my second day in Anchorage, eager to introduce myself. Until then not quite appreciating just how busy he was. Quickly apparent that, despite this, he always had time for others, be they staff or guests. Lunch together, joined by owner Ben, a former pilot who’s antics had inspired the Bent Prop Inn Hostel’s name. His passion was break dancing, something, I was to discover a bit later, he’d used to tremendous effect in the slums of New York, helping to steer young men away from crime.
Many of the hostel guests were student workers. Chinese, Moldovians, Russians, Polish, mostly young people far from their families for the very first time, in a society quite different from their own. Working in local fast food outlets or in the fish factories. Early starts and long hours. The hostel their home, John and his team de facto loco parentis. Like Dave, also a former guest, with years of experience running a homeless shelter. There were rules of course. Sensible ones. Strict no alcohol policy for example. The sort of things that make communal living work. A very homely affair.
[With especial thanks to John, Ben and the team – Cindy and Lisa at the midtown site, Dave, Adam and Reggie at downtown. If you’re in Anchorage, I’d heartily recommend a stay at the Bent Prop Inn Hostel – click here for further details]
Bear encounter
September 4th, 2011
Bear encounter from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
Majestic creatures the brown bear, more commonly referred to as the Grizzly because of its supposedly grizzled look.
Beaver fever
September 3rd, 2011They call it Beaver Fever explained host Linda. What you can get if you drink seemingly ice cold, pure melt water. For if bears defecate in the woods, beavers, well, I think you know. Contracting Guardia or Cryptosporidum relatively commonplace.
I’d been toying with sending my water filter home, simply because I’d not used it. Besides, I’d both chlorine and iodine tables. But some bugs are pretty resistent and boiling water, whilst effective, can often be fairly impractical. The filter, at least, is able to produce safe drinking water. Probably best to keep it. Lugged it around for three continents. One more wouldn’t matter.
Fireweed
September 3rd, 2011
Fireweed. So called because it’s the first to thrive on fire ravaged lands. But, perhaps more importantly, it provides a useful indication of the imminence of autumn. Once the flowers on the upper part of the plant have bloomed, the onset of the harsh winter is roughly six weeks away. Or, put another way, if you’re bicycling in Alaska, get a move on!
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