Hello everyone!
I am so sorry this has taken a long time to update everyone on my summer adventures. I can not believe I have already been in Alaska for over a month! I have been staying very busy and learning so much!
I have been working 4 days a week at Deshka Landing here in Willow. I am very grateful for this job this summer. Not much to it, but it definitely supporting me being here which is a huge plus!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Deshka-Landing/211295875994
http://www.deshkalanding.com/
I started volunteering at Alaska WildBird Rehabilitation Center for about a month now. I go in once, maybe twice a week to clean mews and care for the education birds they have. I am so grateful for this opportunity as the wonderful ladies there have shown me how to handle the great horned owls, the red tailed hawk and Harlan hawk. I was able to observe and help with an owl exam as well. Such an amazing experience, I never thought I would be able to do something like this. I am not allowed to take pictures while I am there but please feel free to go to their website and learn more about what they do and the education birds I am getting to work with!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alaska-WildBird-Rehabilitation-Center/386864054722763
http://www.akwildbirdrehab.org/
I was also given the opportunity to volunteer with the Moose Federation/ Moose Mommas. This is an amazing program that rescues orphaned moose calves, raises them for the summer then will release them into an area that is less populated with people. I have grown such an amazing appreciation for the importance of moose to the Alaskan culture and ecology. I love volunteering here we all put in many 24 hour shifts feeding every 5 hours and now every 8. The two girls will be released next Tuesday! I can not wait to see how that goes! More exciting news about this will come in my next blog. Again I can not take pictures while here so please visit their websites and meet Sutton and Ahtna the two babies I've been helping to care for.
https://www.facebook.com/growmoremoose
http://www.akmoosefund.org/
That all takes up a solid 6 days of the week for me, but I have still managed to make time to join the Mat-Su Valley women's rugby team: Last Frontier Women's Rugby :
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Last-Frontier-Womens-Rugby/226408180898905
It has been so wonderful getting back into playing rugby! I have finished two games now without any injuries! (if you know my history of rugby you understand how huge this is for me) There are only three teams in Alaska and since Fairbanks is so far away we played the Anchorage team 3 times this season. Our last match against them we won! 47-27 I got my kicking foot back slightly still need some practice and strength back, but it felt great! I have been playing fly-half which has never been my normal position, but am starting to pick it up well. I was even named play of the game by the other team last match. I can not explain how great it has been to find a new rugby family all the way out here in Alaska. It truly is a one of a kind sport!
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| Alaska Rugby Grounds |
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| Davis Field |
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| The view from the Alaska Rugby Grounds field! |
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| I knew veggies were good for something! |
I'll have more pictures next post from the most recent game. Such an awesome team and even better group of ladies!
After all of that I have still been helping to care for all the dogs around the kennel here at Deedee's and do this most mornings during the week. I have missed these dogs, feels great to be working with them all again! My two huskies are fitting right in and loving their new home! Chase and Lucy are both free roaming dogs at the kennel now and are just loving life! Love love love having all four back together with me!
Somehow I have still managed to make time for some kayaking, fishing, camping, and hiking. huge thank you to some friends who took me out on their new boat for some fishing! Caught my first Alaskan fish with them! This is not counting that I have officially started my veterinary school application and am studying to take my GRE exam one more time before I turn in the application!
Summer here is incredible sunshine all day and night, though that is starting to end it gets dark out around 1am now. I have been grabbing every opportunity I can to discover more about my new home and enjoy every bit Alaska has to offer! I am so excited for my sister and bother in law to come visit in two weeks! Can't wait to show them around!
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| View is a lot different in the summer, Seward Hwy |
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| July 4th midnight drive home from work: Mt. McKinley |
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| Willow Lake kayaking with float planes! Start if Iditarod is on this lake! |
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| Kayaking South Rolly Lake |
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| Amber, Chase, and Cole |
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| Chase came with to help unload a trailer of hay for Dr. Jo |
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| Fishing Little Willow Creek |
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| Helped unload 8 tons of dog food with Deedee and friends |
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| Crazy spider bite |
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| My visitor while volunteering |
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| Amber getting excited for a hike |
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| Short walk and drive through Hatcher Pass |
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| Making my mini van dog proof! Fishing gear never leaves the car! |
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| Chase fishing with me at Willow Creek Campgrounds |
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| Fishing at South Rolly |
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| I got it... maybe |
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| My 4th pink salmon I've caught so far!! |
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| Red Shirt Trail hike 6 miles round trip with all my kids! |
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| Half way point great refresher! |
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| Bear shot 5 days before we were there, but I got some bear spray and a gun... Alaska living |
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| The lovely fresh bear print we saw on our way out of the trail |
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| Camping with the ruggers in Palmer |
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| Bonfire to enjoy the down time volunteering during the 24 hour shift |
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| Hatchter Pass Hike 2 mile round trip 1,000+ feet up to a lake |
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| Amber |
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| Beautiful lake at the top! |
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| Snow... So... Close... |
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| Cole |
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| We found some snow to play in!!!!! |
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| My first Alaskan fish!!!! |
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| Wonderful hike with a rugby friend! |
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| Add caption |
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| Hatcher Pass crew, Chase had to sit this one out. |
Please feel free to continue to share my story, more exciting news to come!! Can't wait to share it with everyone. Thanks again for taking your time reading my blog and following my adventure with me!
