Sailing The Aleutians
March 1, 2010
Ulanah in SE Alaska
Back in January Matt the owner and captain of the Ulanah a 45 foot Ketch sailboat posted an ad on craigslist looking for a crew to sail from Unalaska (Dutch Harbor) to Russia and then down to Japan. I really didn’t have the time to offer myself for the entire trip but I was able to get a few weeks which would be long enough to sail down to Adak. We got together last week and came up with a plan that looks like it will work out well for everyone. I’ll sail for two weeks with him and his crew and when time permits we will get some diving in. It will give me a chance to learn more about sailing and to see if I’d like to pursue my plan to buy a live aboard boat myself. If all goes according to plan it looks like a departure date in the first week of June. It should not take two weeks to get to Adak but by taking it slow it will give him and the crew time get sorted out and comfortable with everything – and it will be one heck of an adventure!
If Opportunity Knocks…
February 24, 2010
then open the door! Over the past few weeks I’ve been given the opportunity to join a crew sailing from Unalaska / Dutch Harbor to Russia, down to Japan and beyond. While I’d love to join them for the entire cruise I’ve a few other things to do this summer and can’t commit to more the two weeks. In talking with the Captain he offered up a few
If Opportunity Knocks...
different scenarios – one being possible joining the crew for two weeks (or so) to Adak, then I could fly home while they continued on.
While the offer is tentative and technically unofficial I can’ t help but to share the news. Paul, one of our cooks at the hotel said it best. “Life is short, do it!” I called Matt (the Captain) and left him a message that said we should talk.
“If the opportunity is available, I’m in!”
I’ll keep you posted.
Frozen Harbor
February 21, 2010
Saturday the weather was still relatively good and I’d been wanting to get out on the water. With work and being sick I really didn’t get a chance until Saturday. I’m still sick and I probably shouldn’t have gone but – out here you should take it when you can get it.
I had made arrangements to pickup Levi at the small boat harbor at 4 when he got off of work. I knew the ice was in the bay but I didn’t know that it was solid in the harbor. As I made my way from the ‘Goose Ramp’ (PenAir sometimes takes off and lands the Grumman Goose there) out and around to the Unalaska Small Boat Harbor, I had to break through the ice in order to get to the float.
I was worried that the ice would crack and chip away the gel coating on the boat, so I went about as slow as I could. I left it in forward gear and idled through the ice until finally I made it and picked up Levi.
I took Levi on a two hour tour around the island then headed back. After I had pulled the boat out of the water I was happy to discover that no damage (that I could see) had occurred from the ice.
Pyramid Peak, Unalaska Island
February 18, 2010
Let me first just say, this crappy Panoramic photograph is coming at a significant personal sacrifice. I’ve been sick for two days now, and the weather has been fantastic for a week. I can’t hold back any more. Come hell or high water, if the weather is nice here I’m going to get out in it. (eventually) … and so I did, taking the time after work to climb Pyramid Peak instead of going home an curling up with a blanket, a book and some hot tea.
Pyramid Peak, Unalaska Island.
So, while the image is odd shaped and not stitched together very well, it is a view that you will not see very often. Only a handful of people climb Pyramid each year and only a few of us climb it in winter.
To the left of the image is the head of Captains Bay, to the right is Constantine Point and the Bering Sea. Unalaska Valley is in the lower right, Ballyhoo and Dutch Harbor are in the middle right. Now, for those really interested. Makushin Volcano is directly across and slightly to the left from the the tip of Pyramid. If you zoom in you can see plumes of steam coming from the volcano.
For other images of the hike, you can visit the Hiking Album under the Hobbies menu link above, or you can go directly there by following this link.
Free Trip Deadline!
February 17, 2010
The entry deadline for the second annual Almost Free Trip to Unalaska & Dutch Harbor is almost here. Were only accepting cards postmarked through March 14th 2010.
Send In A Postcard & Win A Trip
This years contest is pretty easy. 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 later 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 
)
Glenn Says Send 'Em In!
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
Something To Remember
February 15, 2010
Udamak Cove
Almost all of you know I’m an adventurer. Some of you know my last adventure of trekking across the island didn’t quite go as planned. Even less of you know I was rescued by the Coast Guard on that adventure and even less of you know that the pilot of the helicopter that hoisted Dakota and I up and flew us home is an amazing Uke player.
Shannon and I exchange sarcastic e-mails now and then but at the end of the day her and her crew did a fantastic job and I’ll forever remember them.
Shannon Jamming
The image above was taken almost exactly above the point where they hoisted me up in Udamak Cove and the other is at a Open Mic night at the Cape Cheerful Lounge in the Grand Aleutian Hotel. She has joined us several times on stage and again is an amazing musician. Hopefully I won’t need to call upon her assistance this June when I try the trek again.
Shannon has a great collection of images online. Please visit her Shutter Fly site and say hello.
Valentine Panoramics
February 15, 2010
Sunday our good weather experience continued with a slight breeze and some blue skies. I headed up the hill behind the Unisea Complex and took a few more pictures. I’m still working on taking horizontal panoramic photographs. Here are two more for your viewing enjoyment.
Unalaska Panaoramic - Click for larger image
Unalaska Panoramic - Click for larger image
For larger (almost too big) versions of all the panoramic photographs I’ve taken, visit the Other category in the photo gallery. The panoramic images are in the gallery for unsorted and other random images.
Jam Night & Two Pictures
February 14, 2010
Unisea Fleet
I think tonight went really well. The whole band was there (I think I was late though) Everyone sounded great. The vocals from Shawna, Wendy and Sharron were excellent, both Jim on drums and Chris on guitar sounded real good. I had a great time again and I think I played well. I was caught off guard playing some songs we hadn’t practiced for almost a year though. Lots of applause’s after the songs, people dancing and yeah I got to sing again.
Ok, moving on…
I can’t say enough about the weather this weekend, I had some obligations to attend though (and not to mention my truck is in the shop) or I’d have some photos of being out on the water. I did manage to get some quick hikes in and of course I took the camera. Here are two taken this afternoon. The image to the left is of the docks at Unisea Inc. The boats shown are mostly Cod & Pollock boats. Some of them pull double duty also fishing for crab. The image below is looking northwest towards Broad Bay, with Devilfish Point to the left and just above it is the entrance to Nateekin Bay.
Bay & Pack
Pink Seal Killer
February 14, 2010
What constitutes cruel and unusual?
Mexican Walking Fish
In a valiant effort to celebrate Valentines, Deb decided to spice up Seal Killer (that’s the Pomeranian’s name) by adding a little color. Now were all witness to the rare Aleutian Pink Seal Killer.
Giant Coconut Crab
I guess better the dog than Jeff her husband! For some real rare, and exotic-ness take a look at the Mexican Walking Fish and a Giant Coconut Crab.
Friday At The Cape
February 13, 2010
Getting to perform with a band is so much fun. I’m playing with ‘Our Band’ again and last night we got together to
Our Band, Shawna & Sharron
perform a short set at The Cape Cheerful Lounge for Open Mic. These images were taken from video captured on my iPhone by a fellow musician. He wasn’t able to get all the band, and not all the images are clear but I picked a few that I thought might come out.
Our Band, Wendy Hladic
We opened with Save Tonight by Eagle Eye Cherry, next was Firecracker by Ryan Adams, then Shut Up And Kiss me by (Oh I forgot). To close we performed The One I Love by R.E.M and I’m The Only One by Melissa Etheridge.
Our Band, Dan Young
The Band as we performed is Wendy Hladic on Harmonica, Piano and Vocals, Chris Hladic on Guitar, Sharron O’Malley on Guitar and vocals, Shawna Rudio on Vocals, Jim Morris on Drums and I played the bass and sang The One I Love.
I’m sorry I was not able to pull any images of Chris and Jim off the video, but I’m sure there will more opportunities soon.
For those of you here in Unalaska, were going to get together tomorrow at the Harbor View Bar & Grill for Jam Night from 5pm to 10pm. Hopefully we can get a good recording or two and some more pictures.
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Random Photo
