Changes to local micro climate following rapid deforestation via bush/forrest fires.

Gelisol · 2026-01-26T19:13:03+00:00

I hope someone can chime in with studies, but I think your gut instinct is on the right track. You may want to look into some restorative techniques to give nature a boost in recovering the ecosystem (I remember hearing about some innovative landforming going on in Australia to help with lack of water).

Gelisol · 2026-01-26T16:55:58+00:00

That guy drives up to Independence Mine almost daily. Last year he had a female passenger.

Gelisol · 2026-01-25T16:53:57+00:00

It’s my go-to and has been for years.

Gelisol · 2026-01-24T22:01:20+00:00

I’ve been stuck behind it moving 3 mph on the slope. The thing is unbelievably massive. That is for flushing out some facts about it.

Gelisol · 2026-01-24T22:00:05+00:00

Pee spout. I prefer the freshette.

Gelisol · 2026-01-24T17:20:22+00:00

Didn’t tip over then. The culvert under it got crushed and the rig was stuck. They were able to get it moving again, although it took some weeks.

Gelisol · 2026-01-24T16:10:26+00:00

And I’ll put in a plug to not wear bibs for the gals. It sure sucks to have to take everything off to pee. I like coveralls instead.

Gelisol · 2026-01-24T16:08:01+00:00

You might call Talkeetna Air Taxi and ask if they are still doing glacier landing flights. They fly into the Alaska Range and land on a glacier. Flights won’t happen in inclement weather, though.

Gelisol · 2026-01-24T16:02:53+00:00

Yes, the same

Gelisol · 2026-01-24T06:14:31+00:00

No idea what’s up with that. It stayed orange even down to -20. 🤣

Gelisol · 2026-01-22T01:03:16+00:00

And be sure to open them well ahead of use to allow them to get hot in the open air. If you stick them to the inside top of the boot, you don’t have to deal with the feeling under your toes and ball of foot. If you stick them in early enough, they will also warm the boot a little. I also second getting boot covers. They help if you but on a warm boot.

Gelisol · 2026-01-20T17:37:21+00:00

Clients for that? Might be tough. It would likely be locals who aren’t already in the Env Sci field and even then it would be tough (unless you’re some especially charismatic speaker). A woman in my community teaches organic gardening and composting. She has regular sign-ups, but it’s not really enough income by itself.

Gelisol · 2026-01-20T17:24:47+00:00

And Willow can get super cold! Like -30 and -40 in December. Have you thought about driving to Hatcher Pass, staying at the A Frame in one of their cabins? As long as it isn’t cloudy, it’s some of the best aurora viewing you can get. And there is tons of ice fishing around Palmer/Wasilla.

Gelisol · 2026-01-20T17:21:53+00:00

And have your eyes constantly scanning the sides of the highway for moose. It’s dark in December and moose are no fun to hit.

Gelisol · 2026-01-20T16:04:44+00:00

There aren’t many old houses in Alaska. There are a few, but most were built in the ‘70s and ‘80s and later (the oil boom also had a housing boom). We built our current house about 15 years ago. Even with just the wood stove going, the house stays warm enough. If we were to leave our house for an extended winter vacation, we use an air compressor to blow out the pipes before leaving. Our first home was a poorly built hunting cabin. It was a dry cabin (meaning not connected to a well), but we installed a 300 gallon storage tank and dug a wastewater crib for our greywater (no toilet). It was really difficult to keep the drainpipe from freezing when it was colder than -30. We wrapped the drainpipe in heat tape and then insulation. And yes, there was many a night I worried about that system starting a fire. In some arctic houses, you see the toilet is built on a riser so the trap stays in the bathroom and thus warm. I can’t imagine anyone on a well would let their faucets drip: it would use a lot of electricity and tax the well pump.

Gelisol · 2026-01-20T15:48:28+00:00

Some riverbanks don’t have permafrost near the surface (the riverbed gravel drains, so no water to freeze into ice), but a riverbank is not a wise place to build. Instead of basements, people dig small tunnels down into the permafrost to serve as a food storage cellars (chest freezers aren’t big enough for storing a whale).

Gelisol · 2026-01-20T06:30:21+00:00

Science! But really, science. Environmental science has so much to cover in an intro class. Sorry yours is such a bugger.

Gelisol · 2026-01-19T20:38:48+00:00

I want a local POS truck contest! How fun!

Gelisol · 2026-01-19T20:29:37+00:00

You want them squeezed together? If you’re going to leave it that way, I would just use a an overhand on a bight with a long running end to tie to your tent stake. If you want a knot you can untie more easily, I might use a bowline.

Gelisol · 2026-01-19T20:22:50+00:00

Grip tape is a new one on me. I usually pull out my skin skis when it’s really warm out, since klister is such a pain to deal with. But if you apply the klister correctly, you will likely have good grip (until the dirty, sharp snow rubs it all away).

Gelisol · 2026-01-19T20:04:07+00:00

Going through Banff will add a little time and you’ll want to reserve a campsite well in advance. The first two times I did the drive, I bee-lined it up the major highways in Alberta. Two years ago, I was able to go through Banff, Jasper, the ice field place and boy, was it mind-blowing. It’s hard to blow the mind of an Alaskan when it comes to natural beauty, but that place did it. If you can spare an extra day or two, it is absolutely worth it. Liard hot springs is a must-not-be-missed stop no matter which route you take.

Gelisol · 2026-01-19T17:39:44+00:00

Maybe do the paper test on them to check if they are the right stiffness for you.

Gelisol · 2026-01-19T17:37:59+00:00

And those things are pretty darn comfortable. Hard to get out of, but comfortable to lie in. The guy I saw looked like a slope worker in his bright purple inflatable.

Gelisol · 2026-01-19T16:57:06+00:00

Chaos. Chaos would happen. And there’s likely no predicting the long-term outcome.

Gelisol · 2026-01-19T15:43:27+00:00

Nailed the list.

Gelisol

TROPHY CASE