Up the mountain

Today was the first day we both had off together since the snow has melted on the road up Montana Mountain. So, of course, we went up the mountain. The truck performed every bit as well as the jeep. I only had to adjust the truck's width inward on one short stretch. Most users of the road are ATV's so you can't keep a full size truck on the tracks unless you suck it in a little.
Unfortunately, it is a three day weekend for Canadians (Canada Day is 7/1) so too many people had the same idea. That means no bears or caribou to see. And some tight squeezes for passing. But it should come as no surprise that we found interesting rust and rocks to bring home. And we did see one bear on the way home. Traffic on the road was also heavy, and Skagway is full of Yukoners taking time off. We will both probably encounter heavy traffic on tour tomorrow as they all head back north. So, again, probably no animal sightings.
Everything that gets green is green. Flowers are outrageous, and the fireweed is just starting, so it will get even better. The lakes are at peak levels and the greens and blues in the water are really pretty. Today, visibility was unlimited, so a good day to be at altitude.

Happy Birthday, Becky

And that is the most important thing in the world today.

Apocalypse? Global Warming? You decide.

Clue # 1: The bears are scarce.
Clue # 2: It is hot here. (80's)
Clue # 3: Thunder and lightning in Skagway
        Ancillary: Locals say its been ten years since last time. (I believe that is anecdotal estimate,
        not actual data.)
Clue # 4: Thunder and lightning in Skagway, again,  after only 24 hours.

Clearly, the frequency of T&L is increasing at an alarming rate regardless of the accuracy of the locals' recollections. Clearly, the number of bear sightings by drivers of tours in the area has declined. (The data are irrefutable, ask any of us.) Clearly, temperatures in the 80's are extreme in a place where buildings are not air conditioned.

But, are these signs of The End of Times? Is it Global Warming? Is it a terrorist plot? Is it creeping Socialism?
We must each search our souls, ask our friends, neighbors, and acquaintances, Google it, pray about it, meditate on it, and arrive at a consensus.
WE MUST TAKE ACTION! Fewer bears is unacceptable. The rest we can live with.

Lightning and thunder.

We are having another adventure. A thunderstorm.
So what? Right?
Skagway doesn't have thunderstorms. The rain just falls here. No need for hot air to rise and form clouds, then raindrops. Nope. High humidity and water just drops.
A while ago we heard thunder. So we went outside and sure enough there is a thunderhead over the mountains. We actually saw a bolt of lightning strike the mountain. Thunder. Then thunderstorm rain. Big drops falling like they've been thrown by Thor. I expected hail, but no. The mountain across the harbor actually disappeared in the heavy rain. Now it is reappearing as the rain subsides. The clouds are so thick that it looks like late evening outside eventhough the sun hasn't set yet. As I write this, another flash and nearly instantaneous thunder. Just like at home. Except it was followed by a ship's foghorn announcing departure. Ships never depart in Tucson.
And just like a thunderstorm, it has passed. Lasted less than ten minutes and moved on.

But did Peggie go with me? Noooooo!

So today was Peggie's day off. She had the same dilemma I had the day before. But she chose to do all those chores that I blew off. So the Peggie & Bill show was cancelled. (she gave me a haircut yesterday) And I really appreciate that she chose to do the chores.
But she missed out. I saw five bears today. I don't believe, based on location, that I had seen any of them before. So, again, I am hopeful that they are just awakening later than normal and will soon be more plentiful. The cub we saw today was also tiny, supporting the late awakening theory.
But, alas, I finally got my camera out and ready, so naturally we saw no more bears. I would never reveal my complicity to my customers, they might want their tips back. What I want is for the counts to even out. Thirteen bears in three out of four days is not as good when you've gone eight days with none. I am putting in my request to have the bears even out, and throw in the occasional moose or caribou. A wolf, or lynx would be good.
On a sad, serious note:  I go to Caribou Crossing every day (almost) and pass the billboard advertising Moon Lake Outfitters (a hunting guide concession). The first was built and run by Chuck and Marilyn Buchanan until they sold it and retired last year.  The latter was owned by their son, Shane, and his wife. Ten days ago Shane and Chuck died in a fiery plane crash. Shane was the pilot. So everyday (almost) I take people through the museum that holds Chuck's life's work. Everyday (almost) I drive through Shane's concession land. Everyday I think about Marilyn's loss. I never met Shane's wife, so I am more removed from her grief, but they have two small children. Eventually I will get over it, but for now I grieve.

What to do, what to do?

I have the day off today, but Peggie has to work. Tomorrow is the other way 'round.
So what to do. There is a HUGE town party to celebrate the solstice. The laundry needs to be done. The trailer needs to be cleaned. I need a haircut.
I know..... I will ride with Peggie on her tours. She has two today that she has not done by herself before. Her voice is husky from the cold she has been fighting all week. So I will go be the voice on her tours. We will do the Bill & Peggie Show.
Okay, we did that. It was way fun. I got to tell the stories without worrying about driving. She got to drive without worrying about telling stories she hasn't told before. I got to look for bears without worrying about keeping the bus on the road. She got to concentrate on driving in pea-soup fog without having to remember what she was talking about. We make a good team. We might carry it over into our personal lives. Who knows?
And we did see a bear. One we both agree we have not seen before.
But one big question. Who gets to keep the tip money?

Ho Hum, Been There, Done That....

I saw seven bears on my tour today. So like my first year.
NOT!!!!!
It has been eight days since we saw a bear. All drivers are questioning what is going on. Where are the bears? Well, it has been hot (for here), that is one theory. But it was cold longer, perhaps they aren't out of hibernation yet, is another theory. It was a colder (or warmer) winter than normal, so many died, is another theory (or two). Peggie's theory is that they didn't hibernate hard enough, so their kidneys were not shut down and thus don't need the dandelions to kick start them.
But today, we saw seven. It was a sow with two cubs first. The smallest cubs I have yet seen. If I can learn how to, I will post a short video I took. Then we saw a big male doing what bears are supposed to be doing, eating dandelions by the road. Then we got a traditional viewing, ie: another bus was pulled over first. Another large male in a dandelion patch that had mostly gone to seed, so his face was coated in dandelion seeds. We were all very excited having seen five bears. We stopped at the Yukon sign and headed back, still talking about the five bears and wondering if any of them would still be there. So I quoted the official rule of bear counting, ie: on the return trip, all sightings are new bears and get to be counted as such. Within a mile, a large light colored cinnamon bear crossed the road and paused just long enough on the bank to look back at us, before going into the woods. (And everybody knows what bears do in the woods.) Six! People were giddy. Almost immediately another bear crossed the road going the other direction. He was running and the people in the back seat didn't get to see him. No matter, we still count seven.
None of the first five were still visible, so we stuck at seven. But that ties my record from '09.
Just after viewing number five, we passed Peggie going the other direction, so I called her on the radio to tell her about the bear. She would have seen him anyway, because he was out in the open, but it was fun to be able to communicate on the road.
Okay, you all know I name the bears I recognize. But as far as I know I may have seen number four or number five before, since they were both close, but in opposite directions from, a large black male I have seen before. But other than territory, I have no distinguishing way to I D them. So I think these were at least six bears I haven't seen yet this year. It is very cool, because of the rarity of bears this season, that perhaps more are actually appearing. I hope so.
Enough snow has melted, that we may have to go hiking again soon. This weekend, though, we have different days off. Just a fluke in the scheduling of ships.
Solstice tomorrow. Big local party on Saturday to celebrate it. It is the "official" start of summer, so you Arizonans can finally expect it to warm up. hahahahahahahahahahahahahahah...hahahahah....ha ha.
I make myself laugh.