Alaska's Emerald Isle

After 2 months in Sitka, I'm headed further North to Kodiak Island.  Kodiak is home to the Coast Guard's largest air station.  Much like Sitka, Kodiak is known for its fishing and hunting.  My time will be spent aboard USCGC MUNRO, a 378' high-endurance cutter.  Kodiak, AK 

USCGC MUNRO Rescue

I just received word that Coast Guard Cutter MUNRO, the boat that I've received orders to, assisted in an amazing rescue of over 40 fishermen from their sinking vessel in the Bering Sea.  USCGC MUNRO Rescue 

Blue Lake

I took to the hills today.  It was much needed and really enjoyable.  Blue Lake is nestled between a few mountains (all of which I don't know).  I decided to ride the mountain bike as opposed to hiking in.  The ride was incredible.  Blue Lake Road took me up and through Sitka's back-country.  The weather was really quite mild...perfect for a ride.  After passing the campground, the road winded up, then down, and then back up again.  On the final downhill, I sped down to the hill overlooking the lake.  I hadn't noticed how windy it was until I got to the lake.  It split the country-side exposing it to massive amounts of gusting wind.  Powerful would be the word.  The lake, the mountains, the wind...powerful.  As usual, I immediately began snapping an obscene amount of pictures.  The area provided more than enough.  Interestingly enough, I stumbled upon a pipeline that led down from the boat put-in right into the lake itself.  From the information I gathered, Blue Lake as well as Green Lake are Sitka's primary sources of hydroelectricity.  That explained the pipeline.  Pretty neat.  As I wondered around more, I climbed my way around a ridge to a slide-area on the western edge of the lake.  Suspended above the lake I climbed up and into this area.  A huge tree was laying right in the middle of it.  I decided to make my way up it, and at end of it was a rope tied to one of its roots.  The other end of the rope was tied to a tree on a ridge sitting above it.  Unsure of the ropes stability, I scrambled further up the slide to the top.  As I made my way around and back down to the tree the rope was tied to, I stumbled upon an area that looked as though someone might have been squatting there at some point.  If it's seclusion they wanted, they got it.  It didn't provide the view of the lake I was hoping for, so I made my way around and back down to the lake and was on my way back.  It was a fun little ride, though.  I'll have to be sure and come back this summer and camp for a bit.  

Indecision 2008

"DOR."  Those 3 letters slid up my throat and off the tip of my tongue last Tuesday, March 4th, 2008.  3 simple letters that put a swift end to my airman training.  One year of waiting on a boat, weeks and weeks of going back and forth to medical to make sure my flight physical was all taken care of, 1 week of travel to get up here, and another 3 weeks of actual training...all of that just to say 3 letters.  It's the kind of situation where you want to say, "how ironic," even though it's not applicable.  "How pathetic?"  No.  "What a waste."  Possibly.  I don't see it that way, though.  I see it as going out on a limb to try something new that is challenging and exciting.  3 weeks was just enough time to utter those 3 letters...now that's ironic.  Do I regret it?  No.  I cannot feel regret for quitting something I didn't wish to continue.  And the effort to go into the program and try it on for size is something few actually ever do.  Many will sit and speculate on the sidelines, but it's not for them to decide.  Truth be told, I'm not sure if there's any profession within this service that I truly want.  Romantically speaking, I would say rescue swimming...but it's not me.  I give thanks for the opportunity.  Now, I wait to see if they'll keep me here.  It's far from a bad situation, though.  There are far worse situations to be in.  If you break it down to bare bones, no matter what, I will have food, a roof over my head, no bills, and a job.  Many would give much for that kind of security, and for that I cannot complain.  I am blessed.    

It's funny...The Daily Show has a segment during election-time...they call it Indecision (whatever election year it is).  For me, this week is Indecision 2008.  Stay tuned...  

Photos

I have a new addition to the blog.  To the right, you'll notice a series of links to the various photographs I've taken since arriving in Sitka, as well as some from the previous year spent patrolling the South Pacific, living in California and some from Arizona.  Enjoi!

Another Week Down

Mark another one off the calendar...this week is done!  I find myself settling into something that might soon resemble that of a routine.  This is a good thing.  On top of that, I'm growing more comfortable with the instructors, as well as becoming more accustomed to their commanding personalities.  A few of the most recent interactions with them might be called an actual conversation.  Again, this is a good thing.  Although, their seemingly innocent and kind correspondence with me must not be construed as an invitation for friendship.  This would be a mistake on my part.  They will not and cannot be my friends.  They have a job to do, and that involves breaking me down "lower than snake-shit," as my Dad coined it. Although sore, my body is slowly adapting to the brisk pace, to say the least, my instructors have so adequately set.  It feels good to have your body taxed to a degree that makes a simple task like tying your shoes a chore.  The week was relatively uneventful due to a search and rescue mission that required the involvement of nearly all of our rescue swimmers.  Aside from a rigorous, hour-long beating at the hands of Petty Officer Arnold for not folding up our sweats and placing them in the corner at the gym, my body was provided an adequate amount of time to recover.  Tuesday's pool day consisted of a 500m swim (shirt & shorts), 150m buddy-tow, and a 500m gear swim.  It was a perfect opportunity for me to get more practice swimming with the gear and focus without the added yelling.  Much to my astonishment, Thursday's pool day was promptly cancelled due to a busted pipe.  Needless to say, after Wednesday's beating, I was pleased to not have to push it in the pool.  On Friday, we waxed one of the helicopters, and that was it.  Easy, mindless work...I enjoyed it very much.  The highlight of this weekend was on Saturday.  I took Zoey out for a walk.  We drove until Sawmill Road dead-ended.  We passed through the gate and continued on the unkept road frequently hiking down to the water to take some pictures and check out the areas exposed due to the low-tide.  Zoey, who is incredibly hyper, loved it.  She had plenty of room to run and play in the water.  As we were walking down the road, I looked down toward the water where I saw something splash.  We walked down to the water for a better look and, much to my amazement, there wading in the water were a group of 5 sea lions!  I could only see from their eyes up.  It was the coolest thing, though.  5 big heads staring at me.  Then, all at once, they thrashed back and down under the water!  All at the exact same time...crazy.  Sadly, they were too far away, and blended in too well for me to get a picture.  Amazing.  After that, Zoey and I made our way back to the truck and headed back into Sitka.