hanging in Hatchers this week..

 it's been hot as Haiti as they say.  I'm spritzing like i was in Mexico.  it's hot!!  that means for us Alaskans we are near or over 80 degrees.  there is no way to explain how 80 in Alaska feels like 115 in the desert.  it just does. trust me.  :-) 

 it has also been terribly smokey here as all the smoke from the Swan Lake fire on the Kenai seems to have blown north. 

 i picked up a new inhaler and actually had to use it today.  before i headed to Hatchers for day two we did a loop at the University Dog Park.  i took it easy but my lungs were still rebelling a bit.  can't believe how many people are still smoking when the sky is brown with smoke...ick!! not a fan.

 yesterday the dogs and i did the Reed Lakes trail just over to the beaver ponds.  it was super hot and the biting flies were biting for sure...but so pretty!!

 today we headed up Gold Cord trail to the lake/tarn there.  just a clear, beautiful high elevation lake.  so both had water for the dogs and i poured ice cold water on my head both days.  the dogs helped me by shaking repeatedly right beside me after each swim...so refreshing!!

 i had never done the Gold Cord trail.  family friendly.  the last little bit is thinner trail with some uphill.  the dogs are supposed to be on leash.  thankfully, mine are good at pulling to the side so folks can pass. i did have them on leash for that last steeper/rocky bit.  they assisted in pulling me up. on the way back i took them off leash fearing i would be dragged down. 

 they are much better off leash as am i.  i would have been anxious and cranky with them pulling and possibly dragging me down the hill.  we got a later start so there weren't than many others coming and going when we were there thankfully.

 Hatchers was packed with others who no doubt were avoiding the Kenai and Anchorage this weekend. 

 never had time to do the proper mine trek.  this would have been a great place to take P & B, and B and family when they were here if it hadn't been raining that day.  one of these days...lots of great hikes...you would all love it!!

 the dogs entertained all with their swimming skills and the fact that they tend to take turns chasing the tennis ball.  i did not really teach them that...at least not knowingly.  people are always noticing it.  it is pretty cute.

 heck, they are pretty cute. 

 had to refill my water...

 this was the smoke haze before i headed to Hatchers Pass....supposed to be a mountain range back there.  below was when i returned.  more mountains showing. still smokey.  that is midnight below....still pretty light out.

 it's nice outside now.   i think Tusker just went out to enjoy the cool evening....i realize it's almost midnight, but this time of year, that is evening.

 the pictures are a bit mixed up from the last two days hikes.

 above is at base of today's hike and below is the tarn/lake at the top

 at the dog park there was a moose chilling in the water by the bridge. i had leashed the dogs to assess the situation.  when we got to the bridge the moose started moving towards us. that moose went right under the bridge and walked up the creek a bit before heading back up and out.  i didn't get my camera out in time really but still got a few fun shots. 

 no big animals sightings other than that the last few days.  one day last week i think the dogs woke me up barking...when i looked there was a moose walking down the street.

 Tusker is now being called King Tusk at times.  he really is the king of the household.  need to work on some words for that song that was on the Steve Martin record that came out when i was a kid.  i asked for it and oddly, i got it for Christmas one year. i remember us playing it in the living room that morning.  it was funny....not sure if my parents approved or if they had a discussion later about it.  the record wasn't banned.  i don't think it was all that bad, we did all laugh.  there is that king tut song on there. i will have to revise it for Tusker though. 

 Ivy has always had "Sweet Ivy Rose" a revised rendition of "sweet Carolyn". 

 today i drove the up and over road out of Hatchers over to Willow.  nice out, seemed a waste not too.  not much spotted.  still enjoyed it.  there is killed bark beetle trees all over that back half.  if the folks camping out there aren't careful that place will light up!

 4th of July is coming up.  i think fireworks and fires are under ban as the sun plans to grace us with her presence for some time to come. it would be a good week for rain though.

 the iitoo ( idiot in the oval office) if this is unclear to you. he's had a great week in that he got to play with the other dictators...it's really the only time you see him smile.  he just loves him some dictators. so first he joked with Put about not messing with our election..wink, wink, nod, nod.  go ahead i'm sure he said in their 1+ hour meeting...probably attended by nobody else and with any transcripts of what was said destroyed... 

 now he's off to see his other buddy for NK. 

 actually grabbed my macro lens....not too many of my flower pictures actually turned out.  there are some nice flowers up there right now. 

 fireweed is being sighted all over. 

 love all the wildflowers. 

 love how they are all talking about Mueller and the Mueller report on Faux News and the right wing media even though none of them have actually read it.  even the GOP senators and congressmen admit they haven't read it.  why would they...better to make up your own version than read the truth. 

 a forest fire up north of Fairbanks now appears to be coming close to some homes.  many have been given notice to be prepared to evacuate at any time. 

 the Swan Lake fire is all in the refuge thus far...still over 40,000 acres i think by now.  that one was a lightning strike. 

 there was a plane crash out of Seward the other day.  the pilot and a couple were killed. the couple was just moving here from Michigan.  they leave behind 5 kids sadly. 

 above is paintbrush....now i need that app.  haha. not sure it covered Ak flowers anyway.  i could get out the book.  aww...Verna Pratt.  so happy we got to meet her and take a weekend class with her in Denali.  she wrote the books on Alaskan Wildflowers.  she passed away a few years back. 

 have gotten a few other things done these past few days.  i ended up on  call for two nights and never called in...that is not normal.  i enjoyed the extra sleep though.

 our own mini trump governor has decided to massively cut funding to the elderly, the homeless, education....not big oil of course, they get the same generous tax breaks and subsidies...

 soon all our tax dollars will only go to pay for the iitoo golfing trips and visits to dictators. it's all pretty depressing.  the state the federal. the GOP is successfully dismantling our nation.  they have abandoned the ideals that built this nation and instead are giving in to corporate greed and those who are pushing hatred and fear. 

 we really are powerless in many ways.  trump and his henchmen with Put's help are just destroying us.  it's shocking how rapidly things can be dismantled. 

 the rest are a few more from the boat trip.  whales....who doesn't love whales...

 mom and baby

 the dogs are down for the count.  haha.  great to wear them out.  Tusker went back outside i think to enjoy the cool deck.

 there is so much bad news it's impossible to keep up with it all.  i guess that is the plan, create chaos and keep destroying the nation in the shadows of all the madness.  the iitoo and his insane ways are the perfect cover for the GOP to find a way to control a nation that is moving forward.  that is no longer the bastion of old white guys. 

 can't read any more depressing news tonight.  it's almost midnight and I'm thinking of calling it a night.

 the dogs have the right idea. 

 not sure where I'll walk tomorrow.  wake up and see if i can see the mountains again. 

 a few sea lions enjoying the day

 and back to humpbacks...

 good night.

grateful for: A.  a place with less smoke to enjoy the beauty of AK in.  B. that so far it's not a fire that has taken structures...will keep those up north in my prayers though.  C.  high mountain lakes that are so refreshing.