55 Degrees and Melting Fast!

We knew it would happen. Spring run off has started. Night time temperatures are staying above freezing and day time highs have been above 50 for the last three days in a row. Pussy willows are out in force and the cottonwoods are showing signs of life. The caribou are still around and the snowshoe hares and ptarmigan are busy changing color.

Note: The next Nabesna Road update will be on Friday, May 1, 2009.

Conditions:
Nabesna Road is in good to fair condition. The road is mostly dry but there are some muddy patches that are slick.

Mile 20 has water crossing the road in a greater volume than the culvert can handle. This may cause erosion of the road surface.

Rock Creek (Mile 20.5) has a larger volume of water than the culvert can handle and is running down the drainage ditch. If the ice in the culvert melts, this could correct the problem. As it is now, watch for erosion of the driving surface especially close to the ditches.

Trail Creek (Mile 29) has shallow standing water.

Lost Creek (Mile 30.8) has a moderate flow of water across the road and has begun to form a channel. Low clearance vehicles should use caution.
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.

Intermittent Drainages beyond Jack Creek (Mile 35.3) have shallow water crossing the road.

Insider Tips:

This morning there was no water crossing the road at Mile 20 or at Lost Creek. In just 4 hours the water came up significantly. Use caution and remember that just because you made it across in the morning doesn’t mean you’ll get back across at the end of the day.

Wildlife Sightings:

Caribou x45 (4/27, 4/28, 4/29)

Moose (4/27, 4/29)

Arctic Ground Squirrel (4/27, 4/29)

Boreal Owl (4/27)

Junco (4/27)

Snow Bunting (4/27)

Ptarmigan (4/27)

American Robin (4/27, 4/29)

Sandhill Cranes (4/27)

Swans (sp?) (4/27, 4/28, 4/29)

Mallard Ducks (4/29)

Yellow Legs (sp?) (4/29)

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)

Caribou on the Move

If the caribou traffic was heavy on Monday, today it was the equivalent of stop and go traffic. Seeing these beautiful animals is just one of the perks of an April visit to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. Most of the animals in these photos are cows and calves. They look like they came through the winter in good shape.


Road 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: Another bonus of caribou traffic - wolves follow these migrations. So if you've never seen a wolf in the wild, this migration might be a good opportunity. The bottom line is - get out there. You can't see it from the recliner.


Wildlife Sightings:
Caribou x200 (4/15/09) Northern Hawk Owl (4/14/09) Bald Eagle (4/14/09)