Lupine Are Up!

Things are looking pretty green around here – finally. Slana looks like summer but here at the end of the road we are still more spring like. The wild flowers are starting to show up with lupine, and some dwarf fireweed the most obvious from the road. The Memorial Day weekend was busy. Of course that’s relative. There were probably around 10 campsites in use over the course of the entire road!

Note: The next Nabesna Road update will be on Sunday, May 31, 2009.

Road Conditions As Of Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at 3:00 pm:
Nabesna Road is a gravel and dirt surface and is in good to fair condition.

Mile 15 – Mile 17.5: The road is rough in this area with numerous pot holes.

Rock Creek is still very rough with one lane traffic only. DOT is moving fill in so watch for heavy trucks and other equipment in the area.

Trail Creek (Mile 29) is dry.

Lost Creek (Mile 30.8) has shallow water flowing across the road.

Boyden Creek (Mile 34.3) has shallow water flowing across the road.

Mile 36 – Mile 42: Conditions deteriorate and are rough but still passable by any vehicle.

Insider Tips:

It’s always a struggle to describe Nabesna Road conditions. Lee and I drive the entire road round trip at least six times per week. We drive full size four wheel drive pickups. We try to describe conditions so that you realistically know what to expect without discouraging you from driving the road. In the end, you are the only one who knows your vehicle, driving ability and comfort level on gravel roads. We see everything from small sedans to large Class C motor homes that go all the way to the end of the road. We have also pulled four wheel drive vehicles out of numerous creek crossings. Write us a comment if you would like to see more details or additional information. We want your visit to be safe.

Wildlife Sightings:

Moose x2 (5/27)

Snow Shoe Hare (Daily)

Arctic Ground Squirrels (Daily)

Trumpeter Swans (Daily)

Goshawk (5/27)

Yellowlegs (5/27)

Barrow’s Golden Eye (5/27)

Moose Independence

I am still having major problems posting to my blogs. Please be patient as I try to work this out - Thanks, Vicki

We are seeing a lot of moose, mainly yearling calves. Moose calves stay with mom for a full year, greatly increasing their chances for survival. But each spring mom and calf go their separate ways before she gives birth to a new calf. This leaves these yearlings looking dazed and confused about this unexpected and maybe not welcome independence. This pair of calves had a good mom. It is unusual for both twins to survive their first year but they aren't getting any special treatment now. Standing out in the open like this is very un-moose like behavior. Moose are solitary animals and rely on stealthy behavior to avoid predators. Before long, these two will start acting more like mom taught them and start spending most of these long days filling up on the rapidly greening willows. These twins may stay together all summer.

Note: The next Nabesna Road update will be on Monday, June 1, 2009.

Road Conditions:
Nabesna Road is in good to fair condition.

Mile 15 – Mile 17.5: The road is rough in this area with numerous pot holes.

Rock Creek is still very rough with one lane traffic only.

Trail Creek (Mile 29) has shallow water flowing across the road.

Lost Creek (Mile 30.8) has shallow water flowing across the road.

Boyden Creek (Mile 34.3) has shallow water flowing across the road

Mile 36 – Mile 42: Conditions deteriorate and are rough but still passable by any vehicle.

Insider Tips:

If you decide to take advantage of this beautiful weather for a little hiking, keep in mind the north facing areas and canyons will still have a lot of ice. Night time temperatures are still below freezing.

Wildlife Sightings:

Moose x4 (5/20)

Trumpeter Swans (Daily)

Boreal Owl (5/20)

Connection Interrupted

Be Ready for any Season When You Visit Nabesna

First of all, let me appologize for the lack of updates. I've been experiencing some technical problems which I think I have worked out.

This morning for the third straight day, we woke up to snow. It's not unusual at this time of year but it can sure be a spirit breaker. Summer seems so close and the bushes and trees look they will have leaves any day, but Mother Nature reminds us that she's the one making the weather calls. It's days just like this that are the reason we tell our visiting friends and families to be ready for any season when you're here.

Note: The next Nabesna Road update will be on Wednesday, May 20, 2009.

Conditions:
Nabesna Road is in fair condition. Thanks to the snow, Nabesna Road is very muddy and slick. The road is rough in places, especially beyond Mile 36. There is shallow water crossing the road in numerous places. Low clearance vehicles should use caution. Four wheel drive is not required but may be helpful when going up hills.

If you have four wheel drive use it. Help is a long way away.

Insider Tips:

There are a lot of moose around right now, mainly cows with yearling calves. Soon these calves will get the boot from dear old mom so that she can give birth to this year’s calf. At least half of the moose killed by cars in Alaska are calves. Remember when you see a cow moose cross the road, there may be a couple of calves following behind her.

Wildlife Sightings:

Caribou x8 (5/13)

Lynx x1 (5/13)

Moose x12 (5/13, 5/15)

Porcupine x1 (5/13)

Trumpeter Swans x4 (5/13, 5/15)

Harlequin Ducks x5 (5/12)

Hawk Owl (5/11)

Migrants that have arrived:

White Crown Sparrows

Yellow Crown Sparrows

Yellow Legs

Barrow’s Golden Eye

Yellow Shafted Flicker

Snipe

Slopo Glopo

I don't know if those are words or not but they sure do describe Nabesna Road today. We got any where from four to six inches of heavy wet snow last night so gone is the mostly dry road we had been enjoying. This morning when I left the house it was still snowing lightly. Now at about 1:00 p.m. there is a light breeze and the partly cloudy. Things are melting so every thing you see in these photos will be much muddier now and probably all weekend.

The really wonderful thing about mornings like these is that mine are the first vehicle tracks on the road. I could see the tracks of all the animals that had crossed the road since the snow let up. There were lots and lots of caribou tracks but also Snow Shoe Hare, Red Squirrels, lynx and moose.

Note: The next Nabesna Road update will be on Monday, April 27, 2009.

Road Conditions:
Nabesna Road is in fair condition. The entire 42 miles of the road are wet and muddy. Snow pa

tches are slick especially around corners.

Trail Creek (Mile 29)

has shallow standing water.
Boyden Creek (Mile 34.3) has shallow water flowing across the road. Most of the ice is gone so the crossing is passable by any vehicle.

Insider Tips:

Keep in mind that as this new snow and winter’s accumulation melts, conditions at the three water crossings can change rapidly. That includes Trail Creek, Lost Creek and Boyden Creek. In addition, intermittent drainages between Mile 35 and 42 can also carry high volumes of water across the road. Things will start melting faster now as night time lows hover at the freezing mark.

Wildlife Sightings:

Caribou x45 (4/23, 4/24)

Lynx x1 (4/22)

Moose x5 (4/22, 4/24)

Great Gray Owl (4/22)

Great Horned Owl (4/24)

Golden Eagle x3 (4/22, 4/24)

Northern Harrier x4 (4/22, 4/23, 4/24)

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

Honestly I love Alaska and especially Nabesna all the time. However, if I had to pick a time to be away from the state, it would be mid-April through the first part of May. Things around Nabesna are pretty muddy and that can make the road just as slick as ice. But the willow catkins are coming out - that's pussy willows for us non-botanist types - and that is a sure sign of spring.

Note: The next Nabesna Road update will be on Friday, April 24, 2009.

Conditions:
Nabesna Road is in good condition. Most of the snow is gone from the road. There are some muddy areas. Be sure to carry a spare tire.
Boyden Creek (Mile 34.3) is building up ice and has water crossing the road. Low clearance vehicles should use caution. Breaking through ice can be hard on vehicles and get you stuck (see 4/13/09 entry).

Insider Tips:
The ptarmigan and hare are starting their spring time molt. The white that hid them so well all winter makes them stick out like sore thumbs during this transition period. Ermine, or short tailed weasels, will also change from white to their summer brown. Arctic fox also change from white to black/brown but we don't have them in the Wrangell's.

Wildlife Sightings:
Lynx (4/20/09)
Moose x2 (4/20/09)
Caribou x15 (4/20/09)
Merlin x1 (4/19/09)
Northern Harrier x1 (4/20/09)

There's No Place Like Home

It's great to be home. Five days in Anchorage is plenty. The weather was great while I was there - always a bonus. It was even nice enough a couple of days to sit on a park bench and eat my lunch. Thank goodness for good friends like Dean and Joan who provided a place to stay and a desk with computer to check e-mail. Pearl, our Corgi, injured a disk in her neck necessitating the unplanned trip. She's doing better and we are back into our familiar routine.

I took this photo this morning from Nabesna Road, mile 36 looking southwest toward the Skookum Volcano Formation. The north sides of the mountains still have a lot of snow. Our day time temperatures have been in the mid-30's but night temperatures are still dropping to zero or lower. So, the melting and thawing are slow but none-the-less coming.

Road Conditions:

• Nabesna Road is in good condition. Slana had about 2" of snow last night so there may be some icy conditions in that area.
• Boyden Creek, mile 34.3, has some water crossing the road and freezing at night. As of noon today, the water and ice are shallow but this could change as temperatures continue to warm. This photo of the Boyden Creek road crossing was taken this morning at 10:30 looking south.

Insider Tips:

Time is running out for making it to Tanada Lake or Copper Lake for ice fishing. Snowmachine trail conditions are still good.

The Mentasta Caribou herd's migration route may not be exactly what you would expect. They travel north in the winter where the snow isn't so deep, making foraging for moss and lichen, mainstays of the their diet, easier. Then in the spring the cows and calves head for calving grounds to the south on the slopes of Mt. Sanford and Drum.

Wildlife Sightings:

After a week of no caribou sightings, they were back in force today.

• Caribou x60 (4/10/09)
• Moose x2 (4/10/09)
• Snowshoe Hare (daily)
• Snow Buntings (4/09, 4/10/09)
• Lapland Longspurs (4/09/09)

Winter Hasn't Let Go Yet!

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We woke up this morning to a chilly house. Granted, we hadn't stoked the fire too much last night because it has been staying right around zero. This morning we had -20F! Certainly a reminder that in Alaska, winter, or at least winter-like conditions, last through April. High overcast has moved in this morning and the forecast is for snow showers.






Road Conditions:

• Nabesna Road is in good condition
• Watch for ice at Skookum Creek (Mile 40.5)
• The Alaska Department of Transportation (DOT) is working on the road at Skookum Creek.

Insider Tips:
As the days warm up into the 20's and low 30's the snow develops an icy crust. So while the snow isn't as deep, it gets more difficult to get around on. Even though we are still below 32 degrees, on a sunny day moisture is evaporating. Still, there's a little time left to enjoy the snow and long days before it gets too crunchy.


Wildlife Sightings:
We are seeing quite a few moose right now. They are beginning to move from winter feeding areas to calving areas. The caribou seem to have moved on toward their calving grounds on the slopes of Mt. Sanford and Mt. Drum.

Moose (4/2, 4/3)
Snow Buntings (daily)
Snowshoe Hare (daily)

April Fools (If You're Not Here!)

What a way to start April. It is in the upper 20's in the Nabesna area with mostly clear skies. There's nothing like a few days in Anchorage to make you fall in love with this place all over again. With Mt. Redoubt erupting or spewing ash and steam on a regular basis, Anchorage seemed even less appealing than usual. Thankfully, very little of Mt. Redoubt's ash has made it out here. This is a nice view of Mt. Sanford looking south from Nabesna Road. Lee took this at 10:30 this morning.


Road Conditions:

• Nabesna Road is in good condition.
• Watch for ice at Skookum Creek (Mile 40.5).

Insider Tips: Most of the road is still snow packed but there is a lot of dirt and rock showing through. That means flat tire season isn't far away. Make sure you have at least one spare tire in good repair with you (as well as a jack and lug wrench). We usually keep two with us.







Wildlife Sightings:
Moose - 4/1
Spruce Grouse - 4/1
Snow Buntings - Daily