...that would be perfectly fine by me. I'd gotten spoiled by my entirely moose-free glacier-maroc-glacier month and running in Kincaid this morning was constantly irked by the forgotten presence of moose scattered throughout the trails. They're such nuisances, like over-sized rodents that can seriously obstruct your forward momentum. And I'll tell you what's wrong with moose these days, they lack respect, that's what. Fear me, moose, FEAR ME. I probably spent a solid five minutes this morning yelling at moose. I was only successful at getting them to move about half the time. No respect for their human elders, that's the problem. I come from the species that harnessed FIRE, invented the WHEEL, walked on the MOON. I am IMPORTANT. This is a fact that those moose don't seem to appreciate. It deflates my ego and it pisses me off. If you're not Alaskan and think that moose are a novelty; if you think, "oh, let's take a cruise up to Alaska and buy a cute little stuffed animal moose to bring home as a memento." Don't think that, come up to Alaska, bring a gun, and take home an entire full-sized moose. Better yet, take home a couple. Because I am so over moose.

Labels: alaska, animals

I've seen these guys a couple times now this summer. Little furry puff balls scuttling along the bike path. Going in straight lines and sharp corners as fast as I can imagine them being able to go. They must be shrews-- about the size of bouncy balls with feet. If I was an owl they'd look like popcorn.

Labels: animals

I have a guest from the lower 48 so I'm getting into the tourist track for a couple days and watching the polar bears play at the Alaska Zoo...

(but I'm still training, don't worry, especially with a uphill skate time trial Thursday morning!)





Dall Sheep

Amur Tiger

photos by Alan Schmitz

Labels: animals, photos