First bear sighting

Finally, after hearing about numerous bear sightings this summer, I saw a black bear. A huge black bear. As I rounded the last corner coming into town from the float pond, the black bear was standing there and then began running down the road in front of the truck. I stayed a little ways behind it, wishing it would dive into the bushes instead of me following it into town. After a few minutes it did veer into the brush. I was able to get a good look at it as it ran down the road--long enough to marvel at its size.

While I have seen a few black bears before, this is the largest. As the bear was running, I estimated that the back of the bear was about four feet from the ground. A several hundred pound bear for sure.

This one might be a new sighting or a repeat of a large black bear spotted early this summer. There is a cinnamon colored black bear hanging around the area, especially the float pond. However, this bear was jet black---and big. 

A cool, rainy summer

While the rest of the U.S. had a sweltering July, we enjoyed a cool, rainy month. We didn't have the normal warm, sunny July but more typical August weather of clouds and rain. The high for the month was on July 8 with 79 degrees. Our hot weather came early, with the only 80 degree temperatures for the summer on Memorial Day weekend--and it wasn't even officially summer yet.

Amazingly, we had measurable precipitation every single day of July, with the minimum being 0.03 inches and the maximum being 0.10 inches. Not a significant amount, but enough to make it feel like a rainy month.

August was ushered in with a cool temperature of 39 degrees--the first 30 degree weather since May 21 and July 5. As odd as it may seem to want to wear a down coat in August, I was quite happy to pull it out of the corner and wear it most of the morning. The cool morning brought an anticipation of crisp fall mornings and snow.

While it isn't dark at night yet, the evenings are dimmer and the sun isn't as high in the morning. The sun is officially setting tonight at 11:38 PM and rising at 4:44 AM. We are losing over 8 minutes of sunlight a day! Autumn is just around the corner, with the possibility of a frost less than a month away.

Life in the arctic is perfect for those of us who enjoy cooler weather--summer temperatures in the 60's and 70's is perfect and the occasional cool morning is always welcome when a down coat is handy.

Arctic Strawberries

A rare treat above the Arctic Circle--fresh-picked strawberries. After keeping a close eye on a secret patch of wild strawberries, the first red ones appeared earlier this week. They are no bigger than the end of my pinkie finger but they taste delicious.

Wild strawberries above the Arctic Circle

While the wild strawberries were the first "produce" of the arctic summer, the blueberries were not far behind. I found my first dozen blueberries this evening, battling the mosquitoes for each one. These arctic blueberries are no where near as sweet as huckleberries--they are tart. But they will be abundant in a few weeks and will grace the table in many forms. Let the berry picking begin!

First Fireweed

Yesterday, I noticed the first fireweed showcasing its lower flowers. As summer progresses, the flowers will continue to open until they reach the top. Then autumn is only a short time away.

First fireweed of summer

Swallowtail butterflies and small yellows and whites have been frequenting the flowers and puddles. Also, two black bears have been seen out by the pond--one cinnamon-colored bear and a small black bear. 

Swallowtail butterfly

First Day of Summer

Rain clouds filled the skies this morning but eventually gave way to partly cloudy skies in the afternoon. The sun was determined to shine on the summer solstice.

Looking east at the Jack White Mountains from the gravel bar

Today marks the first day of summer and the day when the number of daylight hours starts to decrease. Since Bettles is slightly north of the Arctic Circle, the decrease in daylight will not be noticeable until August. 

Lower water levels on the Koyukuk River

Mosquitoes are thriving with the recent rain--can't even bike fast enough to get away from them. There seems to be several different sizes of mosquitoes buzzing around, some more bothersome than others.

Enjoy summer--mosquitoes and all!

Exploring the tiaga

With 24 hours of daylight, plants are flourishing and flowering. They have a brief window of warmth and sunshine to flower and produce seed for the next generation. The Labrador tea, cranberries, roses and cotton grass are all adding splashes of color to the tiaga.

Labrador tea in bloom

Labrador tea flowers

With the numerous ponds and small depressions scattered throughout the tiaga, mosquitoes, dragonflies and other water-thriving insects are abundant.

Dragonfly on spruce tree

Less abundant are the large critters that survive in the tiaga. There is the occasional sighting of a moose and bear tracks are seen more often than an actual bear--which I don't mind. Surprising a bear, even a small black bear, is not something I want to experience. I wouldn't mind seeing one--just from a good distance away.

Small black bear tracks

Still spring in the Arctic

While summer may be in full swing in some parts of the country, spring still reigns in the arctic. With only one week remaining until summer solstice, spring weather is still hanging on. Highs have been in the 60's with morning temperatures hovering around 50. Quite pleasant and perfect weather for mosquitoes.
 
Spring is a time of new life and with one week left, nature is flourishing. Today I saw my first swallowtail butterfly and dragonfly. I also startled a pair of Canada geese with goslings on the road by the river. As I rounded a corner, the adults flew off as the goslings ran into the brush along the road. From my brief glimpse, the goslings were still small, yellow fluff-balls.

Thunderstorms, mosquitoes and hares

The first good thunderstorm of the season rolled through last night. First a light rain, then lightening, thunder and a downpour that lasted nearly an hour. Everything smelled rain-fresh this morning. The rain didn't put a damper on the mosquitoes though. The mosquitoes are out in full force--finding you within seconds of walking outside.

Every now and then I'll see a snowshoe hare cross the road near our trailer. The other day, one happened to be eating greens right outside our kitchen window. There are two species of hares in Alaska: the arctic hare and the snowshoe hare. The snowshoe hare is more widespread than the arctic hare, which is mainly found in western Alaska. 

 

 

Snowshoe hare