Unalaska Island Trek II

January 30, 2010

Well as most you (and by you I mean you my blog visitors, the local community and my friends) know – ever since trekking the island last fall I’ve been itching to get out and finish what I started.  My knee is healed up nicely (it only pops and cracks once in a while) and I’ve gained what feels like 30 pounds, over the last four months.

It looks like June is the month I’m going to go back down to the far end of the island.  I’m hoping to start at Station Bay again if not, Chernofski will do just fine.  Maybe I can visit Art Christensen at the old sheep ranch there.  I know Buck (a sheep that kept head butting Dakota for six miles) will be happy to see us again.

Same as last time for the most part, I’m not changing much.  The route is perfect thanks to Jeff Hancock of Aleutian Adventure Sports.  My meal planning and food cache in Pumicestone Bay were perfect. (although I’m tossing out trail mix.)  The amount of food Dakota carried in her pack was spot on, although I may carry a little extra in my pack for her.  I’ll be renewing the registration on my SPOT Satellite Messenger and that will of course include up to $100,000.00 of whatever it takes to rescue me insurance!  I’ll have it post in real time my location on the site here just like the last time.

One BIG change this year will be NOT having a flight crew from the USCG fly out to come rescue me after 11 days of trekking and just two days shy of my destination because I fell in the Shaler Mountains and couldn’t walk anymore.

Here is the gallery of images from my first trek across the island in August / September of 2009.

Walking My Dog Jane

January 29, 2010

Sorry Dakota – please forgive me.  I don’t recall exactly how I came to hear about the book titled Walking My Dog Jane

by Ned Rozell.  It was a while ago  I was living in Anchorage at the time.  I do remember though the initial reason I bought it was because here was a guy who (with his dog Jane) in one summer walked the entire length of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.  From Valdez to Prudhoe Bay (and then a bit further) and for those of you who know me – you know that is right up my alley.

I’m not much of a ‘book’ reader – In the grand scheme of things I have not read a lot.  Lets see…  Several O’ Henry books, everything by Jack London a few Robert Service publications, quite a few Clive Cussler books, a few Louis L’Amour and a book that really captivated me at the time I read it called On A Pale Horse by Piers Anthony.

So getting back to the reason for this post.  I was reading through the participants of the White Mountains 100 ultra race coming up (of which I’ll be a part of) just out of Fairbanks and low and behold, registered in the number one spot is Ned Rozell.  Yeah, I know.  If you have ever thought the world was a small place, try Alaska and ever more so try, Unalaska. – So here is yet another reason I’m jazzed to be apart of the event.  Hopefully I’ll get to meet Ned, and have him autograph my copy of his book.

Oh and for a good read, and I mean a really good read – please checkout the book.  I’m sure you’ll like it.

White Mountains 100

January 28, 2010

Excellent news!  The 2010 race is on!  The BLM permit request has been approved.

A handful of you know that I’ve volunteered for several outpost and trail volunteer positions with the Iditarod and The White Mountains 100 races.  I’ve been contacted by the organizers of both with the go ahead.  (now I just need to pitch it to my boss). If it works out I plan to run the White Mountains course before the race – just to get some winter  and cold weather trekking and camping in this year.  Winter in the islands has been really mild with little snow.

I can’t tell you how jazzed I am to be a part of this event!   Thanks Ed!

Below is a little about the race as taken from the official White Mountains 100 website.

Are you ready for an adventure in the remote beauty of interior Alaska? Come north to Fairbanks, Alaska for the inaugural White Mountains 100-mile ultra race. The race course cuts through the heart of the jagged limestone peaks that define the White Mountains National Recreation Area. This rugged wilderness will challenge racers with a variety of terrain and trail conditions, satisfying even the most experienced

winter athlete. Steep climbs, bowel-clenching descents, sharp turns, areas of active overflow, glare ice, tree stumps, roots, and bare tussocks are all part of the White Mountains trail network. Sub-zero temperatures, strong winds, along with blowing and drifting snow may add to the excitement. Traverse this diverse landscape on skis, bike, or just your feet.

Click the map image to the right for a larger version of the race course.  Visit the White Mountains 100 official website for more information.

Six Reasons

January 27, 2010

Here are six reasons you should NOT loan out your camera to other people!  An acquaintance of mine was headed to Nepal on a Habitat for Humanity mission.  She was looking at getting a new digital camera for the trip.  I suggested the Canon Powershot G10 (which is what I use above and below water).  I loaned her my camera to get a feel for it.   a few weeks later she gave it back – still undecided and I think she said she got one from her parents, but in any case I got my camera back.  PLUS a bunch of pictures!  Every year we have a Fisherman’s Halloween at the Cape Cheerful Lounge in the hotel  It appears a group of folks (some you know and some you don’t) decided to be Jonathan. ( yup Mr. Hillstrand; part time skipper of The Time Bandit).

Another Free Trip… (almost)

January 26, 2010

It’s that time folks.  The second annual Almost Free Trip to Unalaska & Dutch Harbor is officially open to participants.

Some of you may recall last years contest was to correctly guess what the image in a picture was.
A lot of you guessed correctly in identifying the Big Dipper.

This years contest is even easier.  Just send a postcard with your full name and a random six character alpha numeric code on it to the address below.  Please only one card per person / entry.

Another Free Trip
c/o Dan Young
PO Box 921557
Dutch Harbor, Alaska 99692

I’ll take cards postmarked through March 14th 2010.  The winning card will be selected that week at random from all the cards received and posted here on danslife.net  All you have to do after that is check to see if your card is the one posted, and if it is, email me the code you wrote on it.  (obviously I’m not going to show the code online )

So, just like last year the rules are simple.  I’ll fly you from Seattle to Dutch Harbor (and back) on Alaska Airline miles.  You send me the dates, I see if I can get  a ticket and if it works out great.  If not we keep trying dates until we get you out here.  Last years winner ended up flying out here in August and stayed a week and a half.

Why the code?  That and the postmark location is how I’m going to verify that you are the person who sent me the card.  I think its safer than asking you to include  email or phone information on the post card.  You can include that information if you like, but I’m happy with the random code.

Thanks and have fun!

Dan

* * *  E X T R  A . . .  E X T R A . . . * * *

Not that it really matters after getting out here, but for the sake of it,  I’m throwing in a Sunday Brunch AND a Seafood Buffet.  (assuming your here over a Sunday and or Wednesday)

American Pickers

January 24, 2010

Please note that I am very familiar with the making of Reality TV shows.  For the last five years I’ve worked with Discovery Chanel, Original Productions, Radical Media, BBC, Pilgrim Films, NBC and a few others.  While the viewer sees mainly the end product I get to see everything including what the talent and execs think and says off camera.  So if you know more than me about reality TV then feel free to correct me.  If your just the person who watches the show – don’t bother telling me why I’m wrong ~ You don’t have a clue.

Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz.  SCREW YOU! Your nothing more than two gold diggers making a popular scene in front of camera.  If you really think taking advantage of people within a few hours for great, cool historic antiques from folks is how to make a name for yourselves.. well thats just lame.

It would be different if you were more interested in the history, and the linage in the items you were after instead of the stupid short story you put on film.  Your show would be more interesting if you were interested in the items for a historical asptect instead of an interior design or whatever you claim aspect.

You are the reason bottom dwellers of television have become the prime time of a materialistic America. No one cares anymore about history per say, just the money it can bring.

Your show is interesting in such that the items you find are great and often amazing.  The fact your a mobile televised pawn shop with no care or interest in the genuine story behind the people and the items found is saddening.  Find something more worth while to do with your time.

Want To Say Hello?

January 21, 2010

Here is one for you, I see a lot of you pass through the site every day, mostly from other blogs and search engines and I never get a chance to say hello, or maybe you never get a chance to say hello (or maybe you don’t want to).  Well if you do, here is your chance.
If your an IM (Instant Message) kind of person then feel free to say hello via Trillian Astra, Yahoo, AOL or MSN.  My chat name on all three services is MjrKrash (from my computer programming and application development days).  I usually connect at night (Alaska Standard Time ‘night’ to be specific).  I might not always be around but if I am – and you say hello,  chances are good I’ll chat with you.

I’m Banning China Too!

January 20, 2010

I don’t know what Google is doing with their threats to exclude China from it’s circle of friends, but I can tell you that I’ve a strong ban going on the entire countries IP address assignments for a completely different reason.
It seems the previous owner of danslife.net had hosted some really popular music files from really popular musicians in China (or wherever).  So much so that I still receive nearly 300 unique requests a day for music files that don’t exists.  These visits really throw off the daily stats for actual visitors.  To give you an idea of how many search engine results come up from the old site click this link.  The first four or five listings are good, then pages and pages and pages of music listings.

Tired of traffic stats I have to throw out, I decided to take affirmative action.  I’ve obtained a list of almost all the IP addresses assigned to internet providers in China.  I created a .htaccess file for the Apache web-server running my site.  I then added all the addresses to the allow/deny routine and bam.  97% of the traffic just plain denied!  There are some addressed that keep sneaking through and I will keep adding them to the list as I catch them.

For now, I know its working and I’ll fine tune it as I get time.  You can get a rough idea of traffic and visitors to the site by visiting the Whos Visiting link in the menu bar up top.

Time Bandit Outrigger Camera

January 18, 2010

Well over the last four years the Deadliest Catch show sure has evolved.  Its a lot bigger now from a production stand point.  More camera operators, more production assistants, more staffers, directors of photography.  Don’t forget the technicians, story board writer, all the BTS (Behind The Scenes) staff and camera crew.  Plus there a a few folks back in Burbank putting it all together.  No room for us local folks that put in our time and effort.  I no longer have a spot under the Special Thanks To line at the very end of the credits… but I still help out with photography, filming, logistics, last minute technical issues, diving, skiff operations.

I got a call from Zac McFarland to see if my boat and I were available to help install the outrigger camera back on the Time Bandit.  Of course I said yes and headed out to the City Dock where I tied up to the Kodiak  and waited for the Time Bandit to get in to position.  Once they were tied up, I headed over and positioned the boat near bow on the starboard side.  Scotty & JJ tied the boat up and lowered cameraman John Moody down and after a few hours of being soaking wet from smashing waves & winds,  broken antennas (Yeah Sheila your paying for it)  and barrage of verbal expletives,  The outrigger arm and camera were bolted mounted and tested.  Of course I took the opportunity to take some photos.

Game Change

January 12, 2010

Taken from Yahoo!

Heilemann and Halperin’s ”Game Change” has provided tremendous fodder for the national political conversation.  In addition to this dispute over the McCain campaign and the controversy over Reid’s racially insensitive word choice, the notable claims include:

…blah

…….blah

…………blah

- that Sarah Palin believed Saddam Hussein to be behind the attacks on 9/11, didn’t understand why North and South Korea were separate (the Korean War) and that she could not properly pronounce Joe Biden’s name.

… and now for my favorite part :

The book contends that Palin was a mentally unstable person prone to wild mood swings, describing her being hopelessly lost in a “catatonic stupor” at one point during the campaign.

OUCH!  That really sucks.  But wait.  um ~ that kinda of sounds like me.

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