Mount Newhall Trail

July 29, 2010

Another good hiking trail (once you get to it) is the Mount Newhall Trail.  I guess technically it starts (or) ends at the Overland Drive summit and the same could be said for the cemetery along Summers Bay Road.  This brief description is a continuation from the Overland Drive side.
The trail is documented as being 21/2 miles in length and of moderate difficulty.  Again, in my opinion there are only a few things that makes this hike a little difficult.  The big thing is that the trail disappears for a while, this forces you descend and side hill at the same time to pick up the trail just above the cemetery.  This can be difficult if it is raining or foggy.

I started from the summit of Overland Drive.  The trail is obvious and takes off almost due west along another mountain ridge.  This part of the hike is fairly straight forward.  The only other reasons I would think to call it moderate is because of another scree / talus field after the ski bowl summit.

As you take off,  there is one minor ascent of about 30 feet and a small steep cliff that you need to round, but after that your going to experience pretty easy hiking crossing below Gateway Peak and eventually

reaching to saddle at Ski Bowl.

At Ski Bowl your going to see the remains of several shacks that used to house the tow rope ski lift system from when the military developed and used the area for instructional and recreational ski purposes (thus the name Ski Bowl)

When you make your approach to the saddle you will be heading due north and have a pretty good view of ‘the valley’ of Unalaska, also called the ‘other side’ if you live on Amaknak Island (also referred to as Dutch Harbor).

From here the trail is washed away, but from the saddle if you look down and to your right, you will see it below you about 60 feet.  It’s an easy transition to make your way down to the trail.

Again the trail is straight forward until you reach the scree and small boulder field.  Keep your direction and watch your footing.   The trail ends just a few minutes after that in a small alpine grass field near where the three ridges around you meet up.

The trail map shows the trail continuing along the ridge line to your left then spuring off.  You can follow the ridge to the summit of Mt. Newhall or you can start your descent to where the trail proper picks up.

Since your there, I’d take another few minutes and follow the ridge up to the summit, then if you feel like calling it a day, back track down and make your way to the cemetery.

However, for something a little extra and some more good views,

read my next post where I continue from the summit of Mount Newhall along the ridge and connect to the Illuliak Bay Overlook trail.

For more pictures taken on the Mount Newhall Trail, check out the photo gallery.

You can also check out other hikes from around the island by clicking on the Hobbies menu at the top of the page and then choose Hiking.

Overland Drive East Loop

July 28, 2010

This 31/2 mile trail is one of my favorites on the island.  While it’s noted on our local trail map is being of moderate difficulty this hike can be done in about an hour and fifteen minutes once your familiar with the tricky spots.

Starting at the summit of Overland Drive, the trail is unmarked and leads off of the SE side of the road.  There is enough room at the summit for several cars to park and still allow for traffic to make way along the road.

The trail starts off at an even 1100 feet and heads east, side hill’ing the mountain on your left and provides a great view of Ugadaga Valley, Ugadaga Bay, Beaver Inlet and Sedank Island.

The trail path is clearly visible for most of the hike.  There are several spots in which loose scree and winter runoff

have washed out the trail.  These areas require steady footing and  intuitive heading skills.  This means you should be able to navigate to the trail again without having to search for it.

In several spots along the trail you will notice old two wire communication lines exposed on the ground.  These lines are left over from 1940′s when the military had remote search light and fire control stations around most of the bays and inlets surrounding Unalaska and Dutch Harbor.

While maintaining the 1100 foot elevation it is fair to warn you that there are several spots along the trail that are sheer drops of several hundred feet or more, falling from there could cause serious injury so I encourage you to make sure you have good traction, foot support and I always take my trekking poles for added stability.

Making your away around to the NE side of the mountain (which should still be on your left) the trail is going to end at a shallow (muddy) pond.  If you need water, fill up on the little stream of water feeding it.  This is the only moving naturally filtered water on the trail.

This pond starts the section of the hike I call Lost Meadow.  Only because several people not familiar with the area turn around and hike back because they cant find the trail.  Often the fog is so thick you can’t see more than 50 feet, making navigation difficult without reference.

If you have a compass, make your way West/NW straight through the meadow.  If you can see, use the far peak triangular in shape directly in front of you (you should be facing west) and head straight for it.

You should eventually reach a knob with a view of Summers Bay off to the right.  To your left you will see a chute and the trail picks up there and should be clearly visible.

Making your way NW along the trail, the only part giving people trouble is the trail becomes over grown with grass and flowers in a small plateau.  Three Cairns have been placed to guide

you back to to the trail and are visible in either direction.

Continuing on you will make your way back around to your starting point at the summit.

Some things to take in to consideration are often it is foggy and visibility can be a factor.  Bring a compass just to keep you in the right direction.  I use trekking poles on all my hikes, they are invaluable.  When it’s raining the sections of scree and talus can be very dangerous so I’d avoid those sections.  Lastly the winds here are sometimes very strong (40+ mph or more) and through the valleys this hike follows it can get whipping.

Happy Hiking

Dan

For more pictures of this hike, please visit the Overland Drive East Loop photo gallery.

A Change In Adventures

July 22, 2010

An opportunity to trek the Swiss Alps has presented it self and I took it.  I was supposed to trek across the island again, then a short seven day trek in the Cascades followed by a week on a beach on the Big Island of Hawaii – BUT the calling of an international trip was too much to resist.
I’m really excited, although short notice in regards to planning and logistics I”ve already got plane, train and bus tickets and the logistics and route are all in place.

Leaving in late August I’ll be making my way to Geneva Switzerland where after a day or so I travel by train and bus to a little Austrian town called Feldkirch in the foot hills of the Austrian Alps.  I’ll follow an old smugglers route up and over into the very small country of Liechtenstein.  Descending into the capital of Vaduz.  Continuing along the river Rhine, I’ll cross over into Switzerland again near the town of Sargans.

From there I’ll spend the next 18 to 22 days trekking through the Swiss Alps occasionally coming down to resupply and check in with the locals.

I’ve patched together 18 different hiking routes that closely follow the famous Alpine Pass Route, I added the crossing of Liechtenstein in the beginning and in the end I’ll cross over into France calling the trek finished in Saint Gingolph.

With any luck I’ll have a few days to actually rest and relax – maybe by rail to a few other countries that will let me in with just a passport and expedition pack!

Bering Sea Sockeye Salmon

July 7, 2010

More images of these two fishing trips in the gallery.

If there is one thing out here that most of the locals talk about when it comes to sport and subsistence fishing, it’s the arrival of the Sockeye Salmon at McLees Lake and Reese Bay.  The past few years the fishing has been hit and miss.  Fish and Game would close the area around the rivers outlet to the bay until at least 10,000 fish passed through the fish weir to the lake, then the area from the outlet and around the bay would be open for gill netting.  In the past the immediate area would remain closed until the first or second week of July.

This year however, the escapement number was reach early and the area around the river outlet was opened to fishing.  Jennifer, Shari and I made plans to head out early on Friday to go fishing.  We took two boats and headed out about 0800.   We ended up with 32 fish in just over and hour.  It was fun fast fishing, we were certainly happy with our catch.

I had also made plans to fish with Aura the following Monday.  Earlier in the year she had ordered a net and was very anxious to get it in the water and see it fish.  Originally we were going to meet up and leave about 0530.  However I was on fire watch with the fire department and ended spending my Fourth of July night putting out unattended (abandoned) bon fires until about 0300.  So we ended up leaving about 0730 instead.

We headed around to the bay, we were the first ones there.  It took a little bit to figure out the best location to fish her net, once we got it dialed in – it fished very well, netting fish every few minutes.  After a few hours we packed up and headed back.  She was happy with her net, and the fish it caught.

Once we got back to the dock, we cleaned up the boat and I started to fillet the salmon.  I keep the roe (eggs) also, I like to cure them and use them as bait for Silver Salmon (coho) later this year.  I have a large batch of salmon that are in

a nice dry brine getting ready to head to the smoker, and the rest I vacuum sealed with a variety of seasonings and put them them in the freezer.

All in all, two good fishing trips, and a few good pictures.  I believe I ended up with 18 fish for myself.  I could use  a few more though.

More images of these two fishing trips in the gallery.

My Friend On Umnak

June 19, 2010

It is with genuine sorrow that I write tonight about the passing of someone I’ve considered a good friend from the first day I ever met him.  One of the most amazing and interesting things I”ve seen since moving out here to Unalaska / Dutch Harbor was the random arrival and departures of the the Kennedy family who ranch cattle out on Umnak Island about 80 miles south of us and further out in the Aleutian Chain.  They would show up flying Robinson R22 and R44 helicopters and land in vacant fields or next to the hotel, conduct business and then fly back out to the ranch.

I met Lonnie shortly after I arrived here.  Offering to help with finding rooms for him and his family or fence builders and other crew coming to or from the island.  I got to spend a fair amount of time with him when he and his family would visit or stay over night in transit and never never once had he a bad thing to say about anyone or anything.  He was a family man, a believer in respect and faith, hard working, honest funny and down right genuine.

Lonnie died today in a crash while flying near Chernofski on Unalaska Island.  The details are still vague and after talking with his son here in town, even he doesn’t know what exactly happened yet.

The few photos posted here were taken during my trek across Unalaska Island in September of 2009, he made a point of flying my route every few days to make sure I was alive and well and the other is a recent but undated photo of him near the Okmok Volcano on Umnak Island.

Lonnie would email me weekly forwarding jokes and links on the internet, he would ask about weather and what I was doing or if I was still planning on hiking the length of the island again.  At the end of each email he would always sign it ‘Your Friend On Umnak ~ Lonnie‘  Every time he came to town I would get a call from him minutes after landing just  saying hello and to check out what was going on.  If he was staying over night we would often have a beer or two and tell tall tales at the bar.  If he was just in for the day we would get breakfast or lunch  just before he left to fly back out to the ranch.

Today was such a day.  This morning my friend Reid and I were out in Unalaska Bay fishing, I heard the unmistakable sound of the helicopters making their way through Captains Bay towards the airport.  I called him on channel 18 to say hello and to see what was going on.  He said they were picking up groceries and supplies.  Specifically Jalapenos to make cream cheese stuffed jalapenos wrapped in bacon.

I told him I’d meet him for lunch after he was done shopping and we were done fishing.  Sure enough we met up a few hours later at the grill, Lonnie, Josh his new son in law and I had lunch, told stories, laughed, shook hands and said goodbye.  I didn’t know that would be so final.

I’m happy to have called him a friend, I’m happy I shook his hand before he left today and I regret that I’ll never get another call or email from him saying hello or checking in.

So Lonnie, goodbye.  Your Friend On Unalaska ~ Dan.

King Crab Wrangling

June 16, 2010

Yup….. it’s that time of year where us divers can get in the water and chase ‘em down.  Yesterday a group of us got together and headed out to the

channel in hopes of having a good ‘old fashion crab wrangle.  It didn’t take long before we found them.  There were a lot of females and juveniles (that we can’t keep) but amongst them were some legal males.

The thing I’ve learned about crab wrangling is that it is impossible to really set and follow your dive profile.  When you get down there and start following them, you end up going every which way.  About the best you can do is keep near your dive buddy, protect the visibility (yeah right) and make sure you get your safety stop in.  Other than that it’s a controlled chaotic free for all.

The video below was taken the day before and it gives you an idea of what crab wrangling is like.  It’s fun and if done correctly no one gets hurt and everyone gets crab.  Sometimes though things get a little goofy and you start loosing track of people and the crab your holding and it’s possible you come up empty handed.  That don’t happen very often though.

Abby & Wild Eyes

June 11, 2010

I think everyone is their own Ultimate Adventurer simply  because everyday people are out in the world doing the things they love.  One persons ultimate adventure might not interest anyone else and that’s OK, they still do it right?.

So… following Abby Sunderland’s amazing adventure and her recent troublems I felt like posting about it for those of you not familiar with  her solo sailing adventure around the world.  At 16 years old I believe it  is amazing.  Her Brother Zac did it a year ago at 17, and 16 year old Australian  Jessica Watson the official record holder for the youngest sailing solo & unassisted just finished last month.   Although block by the government there were plans for a 13 year old Dutch girl to make the attempt as well. (that’s a good story by the way)

My interest in sailing isn’t much, but my interest in adventures is undying, I’m always dreaming of the treks I want to do and it’s been said by many that I am most happy when planning out my next adventure.  Abby has been sailing alone on the oceans of the world since January when she started her solo bid.  That’s a long time to be out on a boat by yourself.

There are some that say it is child endangerment, reckless and irresponsible for her to have been doing this.  I disagree!  She had everything she needed in equipment and more importantly knowledge, confidence, experience and support.  So right on Abby!

Fly & Help

June 8, 2010

For the past few days I’ve been emailing with the crew from Fly & Help.  If your not familiar with them, please take a moment to check out the site and what their projects are all about.  You can visit the site by clicking on the logo to the left.  If your German isn’t so good, click this link to get a crude translation courtesy of Google Translate.

Last January Reiner Meutsch and Arnim Stief started flying around the world.  They expect to complete the flight in November 2010, with their small twin-engine Piper Cheyenne.  They will cover more than 100,000 air miles, fly over 77 countries and cross five continents.

Last email I received indicated they will be passing through Unalaska / Dutch Harbor around June 16th, only staying for a night (weather depending I suppose) before heading to Anchorage.

Most of you might be scratching your head wondering why I have an interest in this project of good will and humanity.  It’s just for the adventure of the flight.  I do care about the world and the young people and the future, but really what interest me about these guys is how they are drawing attention and raising awareness (and money) for the project.

Climbing Ladders

June 7, 2010

Fire Fighting is turning out to be something that is giving me a real charge.  I really like forcing myself to learn things (if they interest me) and

being held accountable for them.  Fighting fires and providing EMS/EMT services is only possible with excellent training, knowledge a team and a very organized, straight forward command system.  Learning that system has really been interesting and rewarding.  So I’m happy to report the FF1 is going well and although mentally and physically challenging (usually at the same time) it’s one of the best things I’ve done for myself in a long time. Last week we climbed up the telescoping ladder (stick) on Truck 2.  It was an exercise that challenged people in both their mental and physical abilities.  I am fortunate enough not to have a fear of heights, others have to struggle with it.  Hooking in at the top of the ladder was interesting, as stable as the apparatus looks, once extended it really starts to move -

almost enough to make it unnerving  We all got a turn climbing up, hooking in, unhooking then climbing back down.

This past weekend we worked on deployment, taking and repeating commands, establishing water supply, running hose and setting up a monitor.  The style of of this course is great with lectures, skills and demonstrations.  Sections at a time, then putting them together in scenarios for fundamental assessments.  It’s a lot of work and a lot of fun.

Tonight we have a fire behavior lecture and then ropes & knots.

Hunting King Crab

June 7, 2010

I guess that’s not really a fair title, there are a few of us in a unique position to actually find them.  For the past few years I’ve been diving with friends for Alaska King Crab.  In the summer time they come shallow then when winter comes around they head back deep.  So from June to January King Crab is open for personal subsistence fishing and were able to use our scuba gear to dive down and grab crab.  The State of Alaska considers Scuba gear to be acceptable subsistence fishing harvest gear.  Here is an early video of me diving for crab.

This year I’ve decided to try my hand at pot fishing for King and Bardai crab.  I borrowed three pots from friends and set two of them yesterday.  These first two are set for Kings and the last one will be set much deeper for the Bardai.  I need to get a little more line because of the depth and hopefully I’ll get it this week.

I’m still going to dive for crab but with the summer season here and the Fire Fighter Academy in full swing – my time isn’t as free as it used to be.  So I figure why not.  One of the biggest considerations for using pots to fish crab is getting them out of the water.

Most boats fishing pots have a ‘pot puller’ or a block with an electric or gas motor and wheel used to pull up the pots from the bottom.

I’m not really interested in adding anything to the boat and the exercise wouldn’t hurt me – so I’m hand pulling the pots.  Takes a few EXTRA minutes to pull them from 60 to 80 feet but they get eventually get up and when I’ve worked out all the the cramps in my arms – I check and set them back.

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