We’re blowing through orientation like a freight train rolling downhill. Tuesday morning we practiced our stand-up “bear orientation” routine on each other. It was only slightly painful! “Welcome to Katmai National Park and Preserve! My name is Nina. Don’t run when you see a bear! Have a nice visit.” Well, there WAS just a little bit more to it but you get the idea.
After lunch we followed the park archaeologist around while he interpreted more on the prehistoric inhabitants of the area. Northern Archaic (interior) – Arctic Small Tool – Norton – Thule. From 5000 years ago onward, these are the names that have been given to the early peoples of the Alaskan Peninsula. Very interesting day. We slogged around for a few hours along the ancient river terraces that were long ago a submerged earlier post-glacial (≈ 10,000 years ago) Brooks River, emerging as dry land only as the glaciers gradually receded. We were looking for the depressions in the ground that would indicate evidence of another semi-subterranean winter dwelling.
If the road is clear and dry enough for travel, we will go on our Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes tour on Wednesday 5/26 and spend the night in the Three Forks visitor center. Updates to follow!
Sunrise 5/25 was at 5:34 a.m.
Sunset 5/25 is at 11:07 p.m.
There seems to be a lot of light in the sky in between these times. Tuesday afternoon the sky finally cleared of clouds after 5-6 days of southwest Alaska overcast skies and cold drizzly rain. I would really like to see where the North Star is at these latitudes. Maybe I will be able to have an unobstructed view at Three Forks when we go.
My Cabin at Brooks Camp
