Alaska, Take 2!

October 9, 2011

            Hello everyone!  After a few months away from this blog, I’ve returned with the approach of a new season at sea!  I maybe should have kept this blog going over the summer, but I wasn’t sure if it would be as exciting for others to hear about as life on a crab boat. 

I’ve spent the last few months working for the USGS in Oregon.  We were collecting data on vegetation recovery after wildfires in the Great Basin.  It was similar to my Alaska job in that our work sites were in the middle of nowhere, there was often no phone service, no internet, and I was stuck out there with the same couple people until the work was done.  We worked only every other week, so that was a bit of a relief.  In some ways my living conditions were more extreme; the work sites were so remote that we had to camp.  Meaning tent, sleeping bag, no showers, and either a bush or a hole for a toilet.  The main improvement: no seasickness!  Oh, and amazing stars at night!  (The bright lights on the boats usually wash out the view of the stars from on deck.)  I’m making it sound mostly bad…It was a good job.  I enjoyed it.

My time off back in civilization was pretty great too.  I lived in Eugene, and spent some time in Corvallis as well.  The main reason I liked coming back each week however was seeing friends and family again!  Even though both sides of my family are originally from Minnesota, I have quite a few aunts, uncles, and cousins in Oregon.  I was lucky enough to be able to live with my aunt Pam, getting to know her and all the other family that I never got to know growing up in Minnesota.  I am so thankful for that opportunity!  

So this is going to be Alaska adventure #2.  I am returning to Alaska to be an observer during the red king crab season.  I’ve been told that the season starts on the 15^th, and lasts somewhere between 3 and 6 weeks.  This all depends on which boat I’m assigned to, how big their quota is, and how good the fishing is.  I arrived in Anchorage today, and in the next day or two I will be given my sampling gear and flown out to Dutch Harbor where I will learn which boat will be my home for the next few weeks.

            I’m feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness, but trying to keep the later down to a minimum.  I’m supposed to be a seasoned veteran at this, after all.

            Sort of a side note: My dad has asked that I take more pictures this time out.  Is there anything specifically that I should take more pictures of?  For that matter, is there anything I should be writing about that I’ve skipped over so far?  Of course, the same confidentiality rules as last time will still limit what I can show or write about, but I’ll try to share as much as I can!