Buford T. Porcupine's Wild and Wacky Adventures

Another year over

2010-12-31T09:15:00.008-09:00

Mintues to hours, days to months, seasons of change. Hard to believe here we are on the last day of the year. Happy New Year everyone! Let the fireworks fly! An ordinance was passed this year in Anchorge, AK to let everyone fire off fireworks from 6pm to 1am New Year's eve. And so we shall. Another way of getting outside to share with friends the ringing in of the new year standing by a roaring fire and setting off fireworks. And just where did this last year go for everyone? As I look back on the year, it had it's trying moments. Summer produced a lot of rain, and as I have said right along the midwest had a wonderful summer. Seems we are always opposite of each other, which means the summer of 2011 will hopefully be nice up here. Went Halibut fishing to stock the freezer for the winter months, though Destiny says we will have four halibut in the freezer for next year. This is fine tasting fish as well as smoked salmon. Halibut fish and chips for dinner last night as well. Still in the persuit of feeding my birds and looking for wildlife which includes one of my favorite subjects up here, the moose. Snow has fallen and the moose migrate out of the mountians down to lower elevations. Like right into our backyard.

I'm out the door like I was going to a fire. Spending as much quality time with them as I can - studying them while they're watching me! The odditys one does for pure excitment and of course being outside as well. As always I have many great conversations with people who love their birds and love watching the wildlife, just not as close as I seem to get. All good things to have in common with each other. Just days ago being out snowshoeing in late afternoon light in a open area I came across a moose antler that had already fallen from its host. I think this was one of nature's best Christmas gift to me I could find.

The outdoors blesses us all with so many gifts if we would just take the time to look about and see what it has to offer us. Christmas to me seems it has gone way to commerical, not like I remember it as a young boy. We have fallen away from gifts from the heart. My biggest gift is getting outside to spend time watching the birds, cross country sking through the woods, the simple peaceful quietness of the woods. Seeing a moose off in the distance. And taking those memories back to the cabin to reflect on while sitting in my rocker in front of the fireplace.

As we approach the New Year, and I don't make any New Year's resolutions, just take it as it comes, my gift to you all is that you make it the best. Don't get so caught up in what ever you do that you forget about the most important people in your life including you. Work will always be there. But please take some time out for yourself, hit the trail with a walk through one of your local parks. A long walk through the woods does the heart and soul wonders. Take a few pictures to share with with others to let them see what they might have missed along the way. I wish you just the best and a Happy New year. Let's be safe out there in your travels.

See you on down the trail,

Buford T. Porcupine

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T10:19:00.002-09:00

Merry Christmas everyone, tis the season to be jolly. Fa la la la and all the good tidings that go along with the present's under each and everyone's tree. Wishing you all just the best of the holidays. Spending it with family and friends I hope. Getting fat and sassy worrying about the diet after the holidays. Drink and be Merry in moderation. Keep the home fires buring. I will talk at you all soon before the this year is over.

Buford T. Porcupine

Adventures above treeline

2010-10-04T20:24:00.008-08:00

Hello all, are you glad the summer is over? Well I'm for it! It wasn't much of a summer around the ole cabin. Moose hunting for the month of September is now over. Though to be honest with you, not many were successful in getting their moose due to the area they were hunting in and warmer temperatures. Now that is over once again some of my trail buddies have decided to go and see if they can find and view the moose that did make it through the hunting season. Viewing should be easy now as the moose rut is about to start. This trip entailed collecting several of us with 4wheelers, one such 4wheeler being a Rhino. We picked an area we have been to before with some moderate success. Our trip down the road would eventually take us up to higher ground. After parking and unloading, adding the gear and rations we were off and running down the dirt road. From there we would turn off towards the higher elevations. Once turning off the road and onto the trail head, we had to go about a city block through water that came up and inside the Rhino floor. No problem here as others had to pick their feet up on the other 4wheelers that followed behind us. As we moved along over what we call a trail, leading us slowly up, the ride turns into a hysterically funny "hold on" rocky ride. It's amazing how the Rhino will move over rocks of many sizes, uneven ruts, valleys and what is left of some tree stumps with little to no problem. I hadn't once even thought about putting on the seat belt, though I did have several hand grips to choose from when we did lean - never once thinking I was going to fall out. As we slowly climbed higher up through the evergreens and various trees, the landcape opens up to a wonderful view down below.
What lies ahead of us is rolling tundra with peaks and valleys and a rocky trail left by many before us who have made the same trip up above treeline. There was a coolness in the wind that blew that day but all of us had dressed for the weather and came prepared. Our first stop at the top clearing we waited for the other 4wheelers to catch up and took a break stretching from the tretcherous ride. Ah it was nice to be up top again. It's always about the view looking down and across and as far as the eye can see when up on the mountains. Soon after our little break we were off and running again heading over more rocks that lie in the trail. Riding along I just soak in the view heading over to a ridge overlooking a valley where down below several of the guys had some luck in past years of hunting moose.

After several hours of riding to various spots and taking breaks searching mountain sides for moose, we were able to spot a bull moose and several moose cows. But as our luck would have it, they were on one side of the valley and we were on the other! Not as close as we would like though we did get to see moose which was our intention. Any day away from the cabin chopping wood for the winter months and the other required work is fine by me. One does not pass on a ride in a Rhino up above treeline. After a good day for all of us up on the open tundra we headed back across. My trail buddy I was riding with had the idea of taking a different route back down just to mess with the other guys on 4wheelers. The trail is rutty and lots of rocks lay on the trail in spots, with all the rain we received this year what trails we did follow were soft. We collected ourselves after our last break of the day and headed off. The tundra landscape is made up of scrub brush flat at times, roving hills and creeks all running down the mountain, of course. As we moved along approaching various parts of the trail, it was clear to me why we took this direction, mud, mud and more mud crossed our path! We stopped to survey several spots to see which would be the easiest route to travel. I got the feeling the guys thought this was no problem - until each of them started across the mud and found out differently! The end results would not be a pretty outcome.

One started across on his 4wheeler taking a direct route that would only bury his machine up to the bottom of his fenders. Rhino to the rescue for a pull out. Another 4wheeler turned over, and another almost getting stuck but did mange to get through the worst area of the mud. All meeting up again and deciding to make a new route in a different direction through a creek up a small hill and back to the trail that would lead us back to the route that brought us up here. Now of course, you have to go back down from where you came from. Only this time decending down the steep path required going over the same rocks (some I would call small boulders), crossing a moving creek and feeling rocks hit on the skid plate that protected the bottom, applying the brakes more than you would like, heading back through the evergreens and spruces slowly making our way towards the base of the mountain and back through all the water. Single file. Once down each of the wheelers took off down the dirt road to rid the build up of mud, better yet why not head to the neartest moving water, the Little Su River and run the wheelers through the water washing off the wheels and under the frame. All in all it was a great adventure up above treeline, seeing some moose, the openess of the tundra, guys having fun on their 4wheelers. As a passenger riding along in a Rhino, oh yes, you can bet there lies another adventure to the same area next year after moose hunting season is over.

Hope you are all having a nice fall and have winterized your surroundings!

See you on down the trail...

Buford T. Porcupine

Labor of Love

2010-08-30T20:48:00.006-08:00

Another summer comes to a end for us all. Hello all trail blazers, hope your summer has gone well for you where ever you might be. Disappointed in our summer up here in Alaska as we beat our record of nothing to be proud of, thirty two days of consecutive measurable rainfall. Sure was hard to plan for anything when the weather was mostly cloudy with rain always in the forecast. Ever had cabin fever in the summer time? My weather records show that we had this same kind of rainy summer two years ago. Oh well there's always next summer. As we bring a close to this summer being the end of August turning to September and closing in on Labor Day, the only weekend everyone tries to "get away" from labor-work, I found a bit of lack of labor due to all the rain we received this summer yet I still was able to travel and get in some fishing for Halibut, do some bird watching and photographing some new birds that I haven't been able to get before. In the latter part of my summer, i worked to record all the adult birds bringing their immature young to my backyard and watching them feed their young. Seems this year too, I was able to record more warblers than I've ever seen before both around the cabin and out in my travels. Labor Day is supposed to be spent with family either around the house or going off to somewhere to get away from what we know as our everyday routine. I know our local state campgrounds fill up fast to get that last camp outing in. Here our State fair is going, and I'm sure a lot of these people will be at the fair. Then there's the moose hunting season that's about to start at the beginning of September. Now one would ask for both the men and the women up here who for take in the huntng experience, is that realy labor? Ah the great outdoors - fish, hunt & camp! The labor of love, if you don't mind what you do, fishing all summer, getting ready to moose and caribou hunt, then it's really not work. I think back on all of the rain we have received over the summer, keeping us both out of our kayaks and off the trails heading up a moutanin side, all the work I put in looking for and patiently waiting for the birds, seems like all I did over this summer come rain or shine was my labor of love. And here's the thing - I would do it again and again, over and over. If you don't mind the work; whatever it is you do, then why complain about it. Labor Day if you're not working, do nothing! That's right, no labor on Labor Day! But remember those who do have to work and not because they want to (wishing they to could be off on Labor Day) but because they have to. I choose to continue to labor on looking for birds or searching for the moose and fall colors before darker nights settle us in for what's expected in the coming months. If you don't mind the work you do as I do, then why labor about it? I love my labor and it has given back what I have put into it over all these years.

So here's some of my love of labor from over this summer.

See you on down the trail....

Buford T. Porcupine

Life Goes On

2010-07-28T21:02:00.006-08:00

So it's been awhile since I was last here...
Hello everyone Buford T. Porcupine ready to make way again. A lot has happened since my March posting. Amazing how everyday life can take control and one can get so busy feeling ten feet tall and bulletproof. That's when life hits you and hits you hard with lessons to be learned. April brought warmer temperatures as well as the returning birds. Birds around the cabin in the spring are always so exciting with so many different varieties showing up daily. You know where I am - up early, outside watching and photographing as many of the birds as I can. I made several trips up to higher elevations trying to find a certain warbler, ole Mr. Wilson. After many missed shots last year in the spring, I was determined to seek out this yellow warbler with a black cap on his head. Finally in May I was able to locate and get several pictures of Mr. Wilson, many I would be very happy with and worth sharing with others. Spring comes and with longer daylight, Destiny and I tend to run hard on may of our adventures. With that being said, that ole tune, I 've been everywhere, can lead one up to exhausting. Yes we've been everywhere, from Willow to Homer for the spring shore bird festival. Went out Seward on a cruise on the big water looking for whales and steller sea lions and whatever else we could see and then back to Homer to fish for Halibut and back home to Willow. Weather to say the least, it hasn't been a good summer for us due to a lot of rain and grey skies. In June our life came to abrupt halt as Destiny was facing some health issues that we had no idea were sneaking up on her. Destiny was diagnosed with colon cancer as well as having gallbaldder issues. Not much time was lost getting her in right away for the surgeries to catch the cancer at a early stage. Had we missed one key piece of evidence, time would only hurt us in the long run. Sometimes feeling ten feet tall and bulletproof and feeling that this kind of thing won't ever happen to you can fool you and hit you hard with all sorts of emotions. Needless to say with many weeks off from our everyday routines, giving time for Destiny to recover has put a lot of rethinking about how we lead our lives here in Alaska. Do you do things differently? Change your routines? You heal from these experiences, live life a little fuller and life goes on. Lesson here no matter how busy your life is, make your health the number one priority so as you can continue doing the things in life you so much love to do. For us it's all the adventures we seek out everyday while living our dreams here in Alaska. Oh the weather hasn't changed much. A lot of grey skies and more rain than we would like but we're back and getting back into our way of life up here. Some days are slower than others, other days we're off to somewhere locating some sort of wildlife may it be birds or the moose, brown bears on a river as the fish still keep coming. Staying very busy and passionate about what you love most what ever that might be in your life is what living is all about. Forgetting and ignoring your health, putting things off until later may creep up on you and knock you down for a shock just as it did for us both. Everyday since Destiny's recovery is a blessing. We now look at everyday just a little differently, live like your dying because you just don't know in your lifetime when these type of illnesses are going to creep on you when you least expect it. Mean while we're still out birding, hiking and taking all of Alaska in - living our lives to the fullest. Lessons learned and life goes on. I look forward to showing and sharing with you all some of our pictures from what we did take over this summer in the next few posts.

Hey see you on down the trail somewhere,

Buford T. Porcupine

Spring has Sprung

2010-04-04T19:41:00.004-08:00

As I sit in my favorite rocker and ponder the memories of March, I think, with spring comes more light, warmer tempertures and new life. Hello all, Yes, March is behind us. The Iditarod is over with Lance Mackey mushing to a 4th consecutive win. Spring sportshows are running almost back to back, drawing people out to get them excited about this coming summer. Snow in town is for the most part gone except for the mountainous mounds of snow in the parking lots; slowly melting away. Snow still surrounds the cabin well into the woods and ice is still covering the lakes. To walk on the soft white snow is more of an ankle catcher than it is worth. Though some of my visiting birds have left for the north , the remaining birds are still free entertainment. And I am staying off and away from frozen rivers! Having said that, here's the story!! I had this great idea to walk the ice bridges on the Little Su River that runs through one of my favorite state parks. Snowshoes on, up and over a few snow mounds, making our way down onto the Little Su, I'm leading the way with Destiny following behind. All is looking good, weather nice in the high thirties to low forties and the sun shining bright off the ice - almost blinding without sunglasses. That next step proved different, because the left leg went down through the snow through the ice and that is where I stopped. OOPs! As well as a few other choice words!! To make matters worse, the snow fell in around my leg and foot making it very difficult to get my leg/foot loose. Now the scrambling started, digging the snow away to try to get my leg back out. As I am digging I am hearing the sound of running water below me. This is not a good sign! My snowshoe broke a hole through the snow and ice just big enough to go through but not large enough to get my leg, foot and snowshoe out. Mean while Destiny is helping get my pack off, lending me her snowshoe poles to poke around down by the ice hole to make it just a little bigger so I could get out of this hole before the ice decided to break. After some fast moving and some success I was able to free my leg and get back up on some solid ice and get the heck off the frozen river - that appeared to be pretty and wonderful looking. The appeal of blue ice and wanting to take a closer look does have its draw-backs. Yes it's Spring , and time to STAY OFF the rivers! Though those of us who are still bitten to fish are on the lakes fishing away as long as the ice is still thick enough. Good for them, after my short experience, once is enough for me! I will not to go out on the ice so late in the season.

Warmer temperatures and longer light have kept me outside looking around watching Spring slowly make its way into Alaska, though it's an ugly time of year with all the dirty snow on the sides of the road and all the mud. But time is moving so quickly for us all, before you know it, the trees which are now budding, will have bloomed and a lot of the waterfowl I seek out will have returned. As well as that first sighting of the robin to let you know -Spring has Sprung. The kayaks can finally get uncovered. So I hope you all are ready for spring, whether you're out walking trying to get into shape for this Summer's adventures or you just need to get out of the house and feel the warmth of the sun on your face and skin, kinda feels nice, eh? Yes, it has been a long winter for us all.

Feeling the winter blues

2010-02-28T12:52:00.002-09:00

Hello all,

Is anyone feeling the winter blues? While the east coast is still dealing with a lot of snow, here in Alaska we have had recent snow fall as well. Snow is forecast through about the first week of March. Last week temperatures reached middle 40s and in a couple areas in the mid 50s. A few trees out back have even started to show buds. How exciting! Yesterday while hanging out in the woods, I watched two Hairy woodpeckers squawking at each other climbing up and down on branches across from each other prior to flying off. The squirrels are out and about more and are chasing each other hopping across the trees. Still winter is feeling a little bit long about now. Oh there is plenty of activity to keep us busy up here. The 75th Fur Rendezvous started in Anchorge this past weekend and as usual people from throughout the state will have participated and attended, although we opted to forego the festivities this year. The beginning of the Iditarod started downtown with the sled dog racers running a course through the city. The Running of the Reindeer is always a hoot. For those who so desire to run amongst the reindeer down one of the streets (similar to the running of the bulls!). Of course you can't have a festival without fireworks at nightfall! There was also the annual dog weight pull for all of the varieties dog categories. This entails pulling a sled and adding more weight each time. Lucky we just received more snow just in time for all of the events. Next weekend, first weekend of March is the restart of the Iditarod in Willow. All of our favorite mushers from across Alaska, the lower 48 and a few other places around the world, come to compete and race off to Nome, Alaska.

It's about this time of the year I start feeling the long winter blues. Thoughts of warmer tempertures, longer days, though I feel a little sad as some of my winter birds leave and head back up north. Not having to put on so many layers of clothing and being a little lighter in my step moving about is always something to look forward to. Those of us who love the mountains for their snowboarding, cross country sking, snowmobling, and snowshoeing (my favorite), are little hard pressed to see the snow leave for Spring. It's just that we have been in the snow for the past 6 months. Mother Nature teasing us with warmer tempertures is a way of slowly telling us that the snow will go, spring will arrive and once again each of us can dream up new thoughts about what this summer will bring for new adventures. So I guess for now I will toss another log in the fireplace and watch the remaining birds that come to my feeders. Dream away as to what I want to accomplish this summer. I know spring hits early for the lower 48, but when it does arrive I will be ready to look for returning waterfowl, spring song birds, hiking on a dirt trail instead of snow without the long underwear.

Well make the best of your March - April won't be far behind.

See you on down the trail,

Buford T. Porcupine

Some New Stuff Some old

2010-01-31T20:38:00.005-09:00

Hello all fellow trail blazers,

Yes, I am back after taking a few months off. Well, for all the pictures Destiny and I take around this ole cabin as well as our adventures out and about, time well spent has once again paid off. One of my pictures of a red male grosbeak on our christmas tree set outside and put to good use for the birds landed a spot on one of the many calendars I submit to.

Yeah! Destiny's picture of her fox was picked for the cover of our local phone book which has a large coverage area. Our calendars seem to be quite a hit over the holidays making their way out of the state for the Lower 48. With that being said, January allowed us to slow down a bit and catch up on some much needed rest. One practice we have found oursleves doing the last couple of years, rather than discard the christmas tree, I haul it outside and set it up for the birds to land on. I shovel a lot of snow onto the christmas tree and instant shelter as well as another bird feeding station for our visiting birds that come daily. Winter here has been a long cold one, temperatures ranging from sub zero's to the teens. It still dosn't deter me from getting out to watch the birds just a little closer. Moose have once again moved down out of the mountains with tracks around the cabin and seeing them throught out the area we live in. What a thrill I might add, to get up and see cow moose on the edge of the woods nibbling away at willow buds. Just the sight of this big magnificent creature outside the cabin is wonderful. Get a cup of coffee and come sit by the window and watch the birds dart about from feeder to feeder. Downy woodpeckers both the male and females make their apperance, always annoucing themselves before they fly in. The variety of birds making their visit throughout the day is both relaxing and pleasing. Chickadees arriving at first light followed by the red polls. A couple of times we have had birds fly into the windows thinking they were heading towards the woods. One hit hard enough to daze itself and landed in the snow though still alive. The female red poll's body temperature surely would have dropped had it lay there much longer in the snow. It's off to the rescue, picking up the red poll holding it in my gloved palm. I brought the bird into the house and placed it carefully in to a box with a cover. The heat coming from the fireplace over a period of minutes must of been just enough to warm it's core back up, eyes looking responsive. As I peeked into the box to check on the red poll, in a split second, the bird had flown out of the box. Bird loose in the house, bird loose flying and flaping against the window trying to get out. Well the fish net didn't work as the bird was able to get through the net. Next was a small kitchen towel. I was able to carefully surround the bird with the towel and capture it only to let it go outside for another day. Yeah! Another new discovery for our cabin just the other night, while heading around the backside of the cabin with the headlight on my head as I was going to fill the bird feeders after dark, Destiny had heard a noise coming from the outside of the wall thinking it was me. The yard light came on and I thought to myself gee that is kinda odd to have a red squirrel on the wall up towards the peak. Suddenly the squirrel leaped and floated like a bird going across the yard towards the woods. That is not a normal squirrel, but a flying squirrel! What a sight to behold. Have not seen a flying squirrel in quite sometime. Never knew that they even existed in the state of Alaska. Well yet another new discovery as these type of squirrels are nocternal, only coming out at night. Still the visual sighting of the flying squirrel while it flew past me across the yard to a tall evergreen was yet another one of those experience's you get for living a lifestyle you believe in and love living...cabin in da woods. Febuary and still no snow anytime soon. What snow we do have is dirty looking along the roadside. Most of the trails are beat down from over use. Mountain tops in spots are wind blown from lack of deep snow. Though it is still a lot of fun to go to the mountains and snowshoe at higher elevations. Makes me wonder and be concerned for spring and lack of snow. Winter isn't over yet for us.

So I hope you all are staying busy over winter where ever you are. I'm sure we all are looking forward to spring. In the mean time keep the outside adventures going to stay fit for a active lifestyle that many of us lead. Even on my wooden snowshoes, they read: seek wilderness. Umm I like that.

Hey take care all, see you on down the trail somwhere.

Buford T. Porcupine

Home is where the heart is

2009-11-29T20:16:00.003-09:00

Hello all fellow trailblazers,

Yes, there are no excuses for me being away except I love what we do. Funny how life can get so over whelming for all of us. With so much going on around the cabin and the area trying to take care of business as we say it, the monthly report just kept being put on the back burner. Too much and too little time. How many of us can identify with that one. Home is where the heart is for me. Summer ended, fall came and went and then winter set in. Making sure enough wood was stacked for one of the winters heat sources as well as getting other projects closed and wrapped up before the snow hit the ground. Phew, time to sit down in my ole rocker and stoke up the fireplace and catch my breath. Isn't that how we all feel after Thanksgiving came and went. Now to get back to giving the monthly report from the cold north. Several weeks ago we had again record cold temperatures. The coldest so far and this is only November was minus 27 degrees. Highs only getting to 6 above. Didn't make for wanting to get out in the cold and work but one just has to suck it up as we're living in Alaska. Snow has fallen with more expected in the next 24 - 48 hours. Winter storm watch in effect. Glad the pantry is stocked and the freezer full. What breaks I did get? I was off for a walk on the frozen lake, walking close to the edge of the shore. The quiet silence has brought only the sounds of crispy snow as I put one foot in front of the other. Stopping every so often to take a look around and scan the woods for any activity. Only a foxes tracks cross the lake leading to the other side and who knows where. Here sunrise is now about 10:36am as the sun peeks over the trees and the sun is setting around 3:30pm. So we get used to the dark a little earlier. In relaxing and taking care of inside business. Gosh does it ever stop or even slow down. Only if you want it to. It is very nice being inside where it's cozy and warm. One has to love the cabin ambiance. The smell of a wood fire, warmth filling the room. Listening to the crackling of the fire. Just relaxing as the rocking chair creaks every once in while. Don't we all wish this could be it. We just need to relax. Oh the work will still be there. Being away off on adventures, scouting and looking about, taking pictures as always and thinking how nice it would be at home. Listen to our hearts they're talking to us as we head into the busiest month with Christmas right around the corner. I know families are scattered with alot of distances in between. The thoughts are still there, remembering when all the family is under one roof and everyone comes together. But we still can't wait to get home. Home is where we can relax, slow down pause for a brief moment. Never forget what home means to each of us. Pause for a moment and look around your surroundings, be glad as to what you have as others are less fortunate. So with that in mind as the fire slowly dies out and the room gets darker, another day comes to an end. I will have to share with you next month some favorite pictures taken over the year of 2009 as we put a close to this year.

Hey take care all you outdoorsey trailblazers that don't stop just because it's winter.

Buford T. Porcupine

A Fox Tale

2009-08-27T19:17:00.006-08:00

Hello all trail buds, seems like summer just started here and we are down to the last remaining days of August. As always if we don't find ourselves out on a road adventuring off to somewhere, I am always up early and scouting out what lies down the trail around the cabin. Earlier at the beginning of the month, I found myself up early and out of the cabin just after sunrise. I decided to check out an area close to home that I have neglected so far this year. Driving this particular road at sunrise, I have always been lucky to observe some sort of wildlife. I drove all the way back to South Rolly Lake seeing just a few birds along the way thus turning around and heading back towards the front, slowly scanning both sides of the road for anything of interest that might catch my eye. Over the hill around the bend just off in the distance laying on the shoulder of the road was...wiping my eyes in disbelief because I had just came through this area not more than a few minutes ago, was a small red fox kit.

Yes, the adrenalin was flowing and I was pumped as to how this situation would play out. Slowly driving past the resting red fox I pulled over off the road as far as I could. Got out of the truck thinking to myself the red fox would retreat into the woods. It did the opposite and stood up as I approached for a closer view. I had noticed a large kill spot on the road where it was obvious something had been hit just in front of where the red fox was laying.

The red fox slowly approached me as if to say "What do you have for me?" I found myself taking as many pictures as I could just in case the fox would run off. After quite some time had passed and several cars, driving rather too fast in my opinion, had passed between the fox and I not even noticing the fox, yet another fox kit appeared out of the woods. I was in fox heaven - this was a cross fox!

Cross foxes have darker colors of black and tan and red through out their body colors. These two little fox kits were all of about 2 pounds and were away from the den where ever that might be in the woods . Immediately the cross fox ran over and jumped on the red fox as if wanting to wrestle, show me what you got sibling red fox! Then he turned, checking me out coming while walking closer. Again I could not take enough pictures of this cross fox.

I had just been in Denali National Park in June and had taken pictures of several adult red foxes doing their daily wandering out on the road, but these were fox kit babies born not too long ago, out exploring their new world outside of the den. As the morning past, the park ranger had stopped to both say hello and tell me about the kill spot where the fox vixen had gotten hit by a car (probably going too fast through this area). I had observed several times, the red fox as well as the cross fox would go over to the spot where the vixen was hit and would lick the road. Knowing something about red foxes from my readings, they were licking both the blood scent and scent of the vixen. I had taken several pictures of the red fox laying just off the road looking down the road waitng for the return of the adult vixen. As the morning grew later yet another cross fox had made it's appearance as well. This day was getting better! I had to quit as the light was getting too high and dull for me. I drove home very fast to tell Destiny of my discovery and see my results of the pictures of the foxes I just had taken. Several weeks later of monitoring the situation, I have counted five fox kits, 2 cross fox and 3 red foxes. Sometimes finding them in the same spot just off the road, other times finding them farther down the road but still in the same area. Even Destiny had to get in on some of the action watching and photographing these little cuties. We did observe one adult fox that came in at a distance but didn't stay too long. The fact that the foxes are hanging around by the roadside told me several things, in my observations I have witnessed people driving way too fast in this state park heading towards the back to South Rolly Lake. Second, people passing by these little guys can't help but toss the foxes a little something to eat. I have tried not to get too emotional about these fox kits and let nature take its course. After the 3 weeks of monitoring the foxes and some 530 pictures later, I think we have covered every angle and fox personality as they moved about, sniffing and poking around along the roadside, always looking back and wondering when and where the fox vixen would return. I thought the whole idea of going camping was to leave your world of hustle and bustle behind you and slow your world down to a crawl. Maybe catch some glimpse of some wildlife as you passed through their world. It's way to obvious to me that on this stretch of five mile road that anyone is doing this. As I learned while talking with the state ranger in this park, so far some of the animals that have been hit include: moose cow, black bear cub, the fox vixen and lord knows what else that hasn't been reported. People do us all a favor and slow down. What is the hurry? You will have a more harmonious outcome. And your family as well as yourself just might get to see a part of nature that you miss by living in the cities. I guess this is why I live where I live. Right smack dab in the middle of da woods to observe nature at its best everyday and take some pretty neat pictures along the way to share with those who don't get to see as much of the wildlife that is a part of our everyday lifestyle. And as for the fox kits, watching them over that 3 weeks, we count our blessings that for such a short time, we got to be part of their lives as we were a part of theirs. So nature takes its course and we can only hope for the best that these 5 little fox kits will survive and go forth into their new world and grow into adults and carry on as most foxes will do. I hope where ever you might live, in your everyday travels, that you might slow down when in nature's yard and give the wildlife a chance instead of driving way too fast and regreting after the fact that you hit a deer, moose, bear or whatever it might be. Plus the damage it will do on both parts. It's just not worth it.

See you down the trail somewhere,

Buford T. Porcupine

Ptarmigan

2009-07-28T21:07:00.004-08:00

Hello all trailbuddies, hope your summer adventures are going well wherever they may lead you. When I lived in another part of the country prior to moving to Alaska, U.P. of upper Michigan, I must admit I didn't even know what a ptarmigan was or knew the word existed. Now living here in rural Alaska continuing my advenutures, watching and monitoring the birds seems to be part of my everyday life style. In my travels over the years up here, I've seen the male ptarmigan both in summer and winter plumage. Back in the spring, driving a dirt road I had some luck on in the past, I came upon both the male and female ptarmigan still in their winter plumage, just starting to show spring changes in their feathers with snow still on the ground. Let me pause for minute, can some please explain to me how the P in ptarmigan even comes in to play. It makes the word Ptarmigan look funny like it's spelled wrong. there's no p sound in this word when you pronounce it. Just seems odd to me. I have spent a lot of time watching the ptarmigans when I could locate them and getting good photographs of them made it all worth while. The more I read about the ptarmigan the more intrigued I seem to be. Here in Alaska the ptarmigan is also a game bird for some; hunted in the fall and well into winter. While I don't have any interest in hunting as you would think of it, I stictly hunt with my camera. I love the end results when I can reflect back on the good memories I have captured. The ptarmigan is the smallest of the grouse family that lives at the sub-alpine level in the mountians. Over the winter months the ptarmigan is pure white with a black beak. In my reading about this bird in my rocking chair, yes by the fireplace, this is the most thermally efficient of all birds. Late spring arrives and the male ptarmigan takes on a whole new apperance. The female ptarmigan on the other hand goes from a pure white in the winter to a disruptive camflauge in the summer.

It displays a jumbled pattern of colors and tones that breaks up its outline to make it simply disappear into its surroundings. And this same pattern is displayed on the ptarmigan chicks as well. I was fortunate enough to be in the right spot at the right time to catch both the male and female as well as five ptarmigan chicks and record the summer camflauge.

Thus winter arrives and they turn back to an all white bird matching their winter environment. Truly an amazing bird that requires more in depth reading to fully understand it. Maybe you have a favorite bird that has captured your interest, my suggestion is to pick a detailed book on birds and learn all that you can while enjoying the beauty of birds wherever you may find them.

See you on down the trail,

Buford T. Porcupine

Doin' Denali

2009-06-29T20:34:00.005-08:00

Rise and shine trail buddies, it's 4:00am in Denali National Park. On the road patroling by 4:30am. Once again this year I was offered another opportunity to camp and ride along with a old friend (a video photographer) on a film permit. A solid week of scouting for wildlife along the 90+ mile road that runs out to Wonder Lake. On a typical day, we rose at 4:00am and were on the road by 4:30am drinking our coffee and having dash board muffins to go. As sleep was optional, we put in 20 hour days. Some mornings we might encounter brown bears right alongside the road early in our day. Other mornings maybe a little later in the day. Maybe catching a red fox running with morning breakfast, heading for the den at the Polychrome Pass overlook area. Scouting along the road looking for brown bears with cubs, maybe catching a view of a wolf running not to far off the road looking for its morning meal as well. June is an exciting time to be in Denali National Park for a variety of reasons - from wildflowers blooming to the many brown bears both single brown bear boars and sows with cubs ranging from the smallest cubs weighing in at about 5lbs. Some of the brown bears would have just one cub while others would have two. Ranging in size and weight. Catching a view of a golden eagle soaring overhead, looking for an opportunity to snag one of the many snowshoe hares we encountered. When you are out here, you're looking for anything and everything along the road as well as far off the road that might prove to be photo worthy. If you have enough patience and are willing to wait for that chance. On one such morning in the Toklat River area along the road, a couple of magpies lead us to a lynx about 20 feet up in a tree sitting waiting for just the right chance to take a snowshoe hare (gallery picture in previous post). Taking several pictures of the lynx I'm sure that his dislike of the magpies sitting just above and below on the branches was enough to persuade it to move on. Some areas proved to be very good on the wildlife settings while other areas just didn't pan out. Move on . Midday sun, high in the sky was time to catch a catnap and refresh the energy we would need to finish out the rest of the day. Seeing Mt. McKinley (Denali) out in full glory is always a reminder of how big and beautiful this mountain is when you do get to see it. For many of you that have traveled up here to Alaska and making it to Denali National Park, it's a lucky day if you even get to see the full mountain. More times than not it is hidden in the clouds, so if you do get to see it - good for you! So, yes, I took another picture of Mt. McKinley from Stoney Hill overlook. Mid-afternoon when the sun is at the high point and light is dull, we found ourselves along the roadside somewhere sharing good conversations with other film/still photographers working the road on permit as well.

In conversations with many people I meet out in the field where ever I might be, work ethics on the amount of time spent in the field looking, searching, finding and waiting to photograph many of the wildlife is always an eyebrow raiser. Call me CRAZY! Odds of seeing and appreciating the wildlife you choose to view are far greater if you get up early, as we did all week. That's before sunrise for many of you who are still in bed (although sunrise at this time of the year in Alaska is about an hour or so after sunset!). Birds are calling, wildlife is out there moving, eating or searching for their morning meal. And yes, they do take mid-morning naps just like we did. On one such occasion, we parked beside the road and watched two brown bears, a sow and her cub take a nap not to far off the roadside, so we did the same, keeping one eye open just in case any action started to take place. Which later proved us right as the cub went to mom to start nursing (see picture in gallery). My list of wildlife subjects grew the very first day of being in the Park. Up early in the mornings, riding and scouting, going back to areas of the park I have previously been successful. See Buford's list of subjects below. All week, a lot of hours on the road, eating on the run, catching mid-afternoon naps, evening coffee, heading in just before midnight, with a lot of light at that hour it was hard to go in and catch a few hours of sleep. All of this proved to me once again why I continue to come back to Denali National Park at every opportunity I get. Don't over look your state and national parks by just merely going there once. Many wildlife opportunities are right out your back door. Your odds will increase dramatically by getting up early and going to your favorite park. Walking your favorite trail more than once. I constantly remind myself that my style of photography is always an education, learning about the world in which I live. From the time of morning/late afternoon well into after sunset, the subjects I am out to locate and photogragh are all about being out there in the peace and solitude that I seek. I hope you do the same.

Among the wildlife I saw on this trip were: brown bears (adults and cubs), snowshoe hare, caribou w/calf, golden eagles/nest, dall sheep (ram, ewes & kids), wolves, foxes, ptarmigan, ravens, northern harrier, bald eagle, lynx, magpies, Wilson's warbler, white crowned sparrows, wolverines, rock ptarmigan, long-tailed yaeger, moose cow, merlin/nest - just to name a few and I'm sure there are some that I can't remember!

As mentioned a couple times in this post, I previously posted some pictures from this Denali trip in a gallery. Take a look!

See you on down the trail somewhere...

Buford T. Porcupine

Doin' Denali Gallery

2009-06-29T18:36:00.005-08:00

Hello all trailbuds, not going to beat around on the trail, pictures from my work week in Denail National Park. Enjoy!

Wild Ride on the Little Su

2009-05-30T17:28:00.003-08:00

Hello all trailbuds,

Hurray!! Summer is here and that means more adventures of the green kayak. Canoe or kayak, it's a boat and that means water fun. Whether you prefer to canoe endless lakes or like Destiny and Buford, kayak the many lakes and rivers both for adventure and seeking out waterfowl. Kayaking is a great way to to excerise the upper body and get away from it all for some peace and solitude on the water. Another kayak I hadn't thought much about until I actualy saw it in use, is a little short sporty kayak used for running fast rivers especialy in the spring as melting snows make their way down out of the mountains running into a river in one of my favorite state parks. On this paticular day I was sitting on the edge of the Little Su River observing a pair of harlequin ducks resting on a rock in the middle of the river. Eventualy spooked off as a young man walked by along the roadside dressed in a short style wet suit. I knew right off what he might be doing as I found out through conversation with him, kayaking the fast Little Su River. Really!

And he was about to start just a little ways up from me. Umm this ought to be interesting as the ducks had flown off, why not get some pictures of someone actualy kayaking down the Little Su while it's high from melting snows. Thus the show began and for the next couple of hours I was able to observe and photograph a young man enjoying himself in his kayak on one of the wildest rides I have ever seen. The entertainment was so good following this kayaker down the river taking only pictures from the edges, then quickly hopping into the truck and speeding down to another spot to catch him before he passed me. When the run was over I had asked the young man if he was tired? No, he replied and I had offered to take him and his kayak back up the river to start again. This time I was more than ready to capture twice the pictures from the first run down. Watching this young man at work, how he picked his path through the rocks and the white water was amazing. I had watched from shore how he started down twisting and turning dropping down hitting the splashes, the power of the river engulfing him and spitting him out.

This looked totally fun, though this type of kayaking is only for those who are a bit of a risk taker and adrenaline junkies. Both runs down through the rocks and white water was just stunning since I have never watched anything like this before. The results of shooting very rapidly captured intimate moments that even in a blink of the eye and you would have missed how this young man rode, bobbed his way in an out of the white water. When the river is this high in the spring it is considered a class 4 river to run.

Somehow I could see myself doing this type of kayaking but then reflect on memories of the way I choose to kayak on a calm lake early in the morning, maybe listening to the call of the loon and the sun rising - feet kicked up on the kayak deck just drifting along soaking in my surroundings. I would have liked to capture more of this kind of kayaking and may do so in the future. At one point in my life I did have a canoe - Oldtown 17 foot and it had to be a green canoe! This canoe took me on many adventures and I wish I had it here with with me today. Most of the people I know who have had a canoe then a kayak don't go back to the canoe, simply said the kayak is much nicer to ride in, with good lower back support from the seat and you are able to pack some gear both in the front and back of the kayak for that weekend adventure get away. Thinking on the shorter, sportier kayak, where you must think quickly while bobbing down the boiling, churning white water avoiding rocks and drops that could turn you over and make for a not so pleasant kayak adventure. Umm, I think I will just stick with my style of kayaking adventures, cruising the lakes and rivers and still getting some darn good photos along the way. If you have never been in a kayak or tried one you just don't know what you are missing, as it is very popular here in Alaska. Next will be sea kayaking, trying for pictures of seals and floating sea otters and well whatever the sea adventure produces (whales). Give it a try I'm sure you too will like it as much as we do over the summer months. Well it's off to the next adventure, Denali National Park to work the road for 10 days of adventure seeking out the wildlife that roams through out the park. I hope all your summer adventures are just the best, taking pictures along the way to record and share with others who are not as lucky as you!

Hey see you down the trail somewhere

Buford T. Porcupine

Scouting Signs of Spring

2009-05-05T20:34:00.008-08:00

Hello all springtime trail buddies.

I thought winter was just never going to leave us up here. When spring finally did arrive, everything was just a buzz with activity. It only took about a week for the buds on the trees to start popping and turning green. Much of April was spent scouting out old locations, and of course timing is everything right now. Trying to be in the right spot at the right time is a difficult thing to accomplish when there are so many places to look! While scouting along the Little Su (a river that flows out of the mountains), I suddenly came across a great find – a pair of common mergansers resting on some ice along the river.

I pulled the truck over and exited quickly, grabbing the “big lens” and took off on a fast walk to get whatever pictures I could. It has been my experience in the past with these ducks that the only time you get to see the male is strictly in the springtime. The male, as well as the female, are very skittish and don’t really like the company of the two legged variety, whether you want to just watch them through binoculars or take photographs of them. Many times they will fly off well before you even get remotely close enough to get a good shot. So one just has to use all their instincts and sneak up to get as close as you can before being detected. When I have been in my kayak I still encounter the same problem, trying to float in as quietly as possible before they fly off. Well, as you can see, I was successful this time and was extremely happy with the end results.

Another scouting adventure led me up into the mountains. Though there was still a lot of snow on the ground, I was hoping that a few of the beaver ponds would have some openings in the ice. Turns out, my timing was just about right! Approaching one of the beaver ponds by way of the bumpiest road that one could possibly find, I could see a pair of ducks. As I drove closer I was ecstatic to find they were Barrow’s Goldeneye ducks.

These ducks are bottom-feeders, diving underwater to capture prey on the bottom of lakes and ponds. A good practice to get in is to research the wildlife that you are going to photograph. This will let you know where to look for them, their behavior and other important things that you might like to know. Also knowing how to photograph the Barrow’s Goldeneye is a big advantage. I drove past the beaver pond and turned the truck around and headed back toward the pond so I could shoot from the truck window. Now, like I said, this type of duck is a bottom-feeder, so I took a few shots from the truck window for identification purposes then I would watch and wait until they would dive underwater and I would move quickly as possible from the truck to get in closer for a better shot. Once the Barrow’s Goldeneye returns to the surface, if you have planned and worked it just right, you should find yourself in a much better position. I find these ducks are much more acceptable to people than the common mergansers, but restricting your movement is still a good practice. This pair of ducks performed wonderfully for me as I continued to record their every movement. After some time well spent observing each other, the show was over and the ducks flew from the pond. I, too, left – grateful for the opportunity they had given me.

So back to the truck and on down the road I went, searching for more signs of spring. Moving into higher elevations, snow still covering most of the ground with some signs of brush poking through the snow, I once again came upon another great photo opportunity. When scouting, it always helps if you drive slowly and listen to the sounds of nature. As I rounded a bend in the road, there to my right was a pair of Willow Ptarmigan just off the road.

This is the time of year when the males are chirping for the females to try and find a mate. Both the male and female still had their winter plumage with signs of spring feathers coming through. The male was still mostly white, the neck had changed to brown and he had the red eye patches above the eyes. The female, was a little further off the road, but still within good shooting distance was still dressed in her white winter plumage with a few brown feathers coming out around the neck. Once again, I had the opportunity to record more signs of spring. Slowly moving from the truck and laying my lens across the hood to photograph this wonderful sight. I chose the male first, shooting off several frames. Then angling toward the female – which I actually found more interesting, took many shots of her. Then it was time to really work these birds; I went back for the tripod, mounted the lens and shot to my heart’s content. After about 20 minutes with these birds, the male pushed toward the female, moving her back, too far for me to get anymore good shots and eventually flying off in another direction. I always tell myself, “Count your blessings”! The fact that I even got to see the ptarmigans was amazing, as I didn’t see any all winter long.

Well, the sun is getting high in the sky and the light is getting too flat for me – time to head home. I slowly made my way down off the mountain, riding alongside the swollen Little Su (from the melting snow), searching for maybe another waterfowl opportunity or signs of any other birds. Bouncing down the rough weathered road that had been covered by many months of snow and ice, I reflected on what a wonderful morning I had just encountered on my scouting adventure. With the longer hours of light that comes with the spring, I always seem to get up early. As was the case on this day, I rose at 4am and was out of the cabin by 5am to go on my early morning scouting adventure. The early mornings are a great time to get out and listen and watch whatever wildlife I can find. I hope all of your springtime adventures are keepers like mine. In the end, the memories in the pictures you bring back to share are well worth the effort and knowing that those people who can’t get out and get into the wild will appreciate the work you have done (they may not be as dedicated to getting up at such crazy hours as I am!!)!

Hey, take care all, see you on down the trail somewhere…

Buford T. Porcupine

End of an Era

2009-03-28T18:45:00.003-08:00

Hello all trail buddies,

End of an Era. All good things must come to a end sometime. Homer, Alaska down on "The Spit" is where a lot of photographers from the lower 48 as well as abroad have made many trips to see and view bald eagles at their best. With that being said, the lady everyone knew down on the spit, Jean Keene, also known as the "Eagle Lady" passed away in January due to failing health. She was in her mid 80's. Jean started feeding the eagles over 30 years when she first arrived in Alaska. She lived in a very small house trailer off a campground that over the summers was used for the return of the summer RV'ers. As the season ended and winter set in, bald eagles from all over would return for the winter where Jean would provide daily feedings for many eagles each day. Feeding shortly after sunrise. She was licensed to feed the the bald eagles up to the year 2010, but due to her failing health and her death, the feeding has, as of the end of March, come to an end. I first read about the Eagle Lady in a book written about her and her life by another photographer (The Eagle Lady).

Chances are that many of the pictures that you see of bald eagles were taken up here in Homer, down on the spit. Year after year the eagles would return to Homer for the winter months. Jean was quiet about her life, preferring to be left alone and go about her business of feeding the eagles over the winter. Over time I'm sure, as word got out slowly over the years, photographers from all over would make the trip up to Alaska visiting Homer with one thing on their mind. To photograph all the bald eagles that would make their daily visit waiting for herring to be tossed out to the waiting eagles.

If you were one of the lucky ones asking permission prior to the feeding, Jean would grant you permission to photograph the ealges from within her fenced area, placing you very close to the action once the feeding began. For all other's you would have to stay in your vehicle and take picture's that way. Many photography groups from all over have come up for some of the best viewing that there will ever be. I personally made the trip down to Homer serveral times. As morning would break, eagles magically apprear sitting on everything from lamp posts to many of the buildings waiting - knowing when to fly in once the feeding began. Imagine seeing upwards of a couple hundred bald eagles all up and down the beach as well as sitting on many of the stumps placed waiting for the daily feeding to start. Once the feeding begain, eagles flew in from every direction. Eagles of all age groups would be in a frenzy to get their share of the herring. Many times I witnessed eagles fighting over a fish, chasing each other out over the ocean trying to get the fish from another eagle.

The eagle feeding would last about one hour after that one could take advantage of up close eagle portraits sitting on many of the parking stumps. Some days you had good light other days came with the overcast morning and you would just have to make the best of the situation. So, Destiny and I had to make one more trip down to Homer and take in the last best premeire viewing of bald eagles that will ever be. Rules were a little more relaxed with Jean gone, as we were able to stand off to the side in a line of many, many other photographers from all over. I met a younger man named Rene', who came from Holland, first time ever to Alaska, I'm sure he will come back for more adventures. Thirty years later, eagle feeding as most of us have known it, has come to a complete stop, never to be repeated. Sadly, throughtout the Homer community Jean will be missed and mixed emotions felt as all the photographers that visited over the 30 plus years brought money to the restraunts and hotels over the winter months when tourism was at its slowest. Jean's trailer is being moved and all remaining fencing and some of the stumps many of the eagles sat on were to be bonfired on Friday the 27th of March. Over the four days of, we shot every morning and into late Saturday evening well into sunset - totaling 2844 images of the bald eagles. It was extremely hard to find just the right pictures to go along with this story with so many taken. Well to say the least it has improved my eagle stock of pictures. Jean will be sadly missed, though I'm sure after 30 years, she found all the photographers to be a odd bunch of people who came to see her feed the bald eagles.

I hope all is well for you all and that your Spring is well on its way, as our Spring will not be far off either.

See you down the trail,

Buford T. Porcupine

Breaking the Ordinary

2009-03-07T18:45:00.005-09:00

In the midst of our present situation I feel perplexed sitting in my rocker by the fireplace listening to all of what this country is going through. If you are one of the fortunates and still working congratulations. For others their future seems bleek with no direction. Though many of you are seeking to stay afloat by whatever means. As bad as these times my be, taking a little time out of your ordinary day for yourself might be just what the doctor ordered.

Hello all trail buddies, Febuary now past us, winter from here looks like it will go on forever by the amount of snow I have around the cabin. Try shoulder high lined on both sides of the drive going out. Over this winter it has seemed all I have done around this cabin is photograph the birds with little venturing out anywhere else. The birds over this winter since the beginning of snow fall, which was back in October, has been something more than spectacular. Now into the first few weeks of March, the few red polls that came for a daily visit back in the beginning of the season have multiplied into outragous numbers that have made the other varieties of birds go else where. Although I still photograph the red polls I just got to a point I couldn't take another picture of them!

One sunny Sunday at the tail end of Febuary, I just had to take a break out of my ordinary day and go on a road trip out of the area for the day. Packing the camera and snowshoes, we were gone. The problem is in any direction adventure awaits you, depending on what it is one would like to do. So as always, head...north. On down the road we went. Making our way towards and into the bounaries of Denali National Park. The more north you go the deeper the snow gets. What a sight to see Mt.Mckinley on a warm sunny day at 26 degrees. Days like this one seemed to go on forever. We came upon the only "real" rest stop on the Parks Highway and at this point in our venture it was a good place to stop and photograph some of the landscape and experience some of the deep snow. So one can only wonder why you would bring snowshoes and not use them right away. This was my experience following what I thought was a trail past the outhouse slowly creeping out only to suddenly find snow giving away, sinking waist deep in snow. We had a good laugh about it and Destiny tho't it was picture worthy. I retreated for the truck with snowshoes on my mind. Once back out onto the snow, taking pictures of the lanscape, Destiny moved around me over by the visitor building where she stood, her head higher than the roof line. Most of the time I don't miss a beat, this time I did as Destiny's eyes had lead her to a white birch tree where she noticed an owl of sorts up at the top. Oh! look she says: an owl, well now, how do you know that's an owl? How many birds do you know where the head turns almost all the way around? Well at this point I had taken 3 shots of Destiny, so more shots of Destiny or the owl? Sorry, but you all know where I headed - back to the truck to check out the previously unnoticed owl. Binoculars in hand looking at the owl, to much amazment it was a Northern Hawk Owl! Oh was this exciting - the first time ever for seeing such an owl as this. The fact that the owl was out during the early afternoon with a slate blue sky (a little windy) sitting in the top of a birch tree - was beyond anything I could have wished for on this day. I dared not to miss a second. Getting the camera out and get everything I could to record this wonderful owl opportunity. Long story short, some 145 pictures later from 3 different spots I was just ecstatic! So as bleek as our present situation may be, maybe taking a day out of the ordinary and conditioning your mind and body both mentally and physically, somewhere out of the area just might put you in a better frame of mind. He did for me. And spring isn't that far off with new opportunites as each month passes.

Wishing all you trail buddies a glorious Spring, with many outdoor adventures to come.

Buford T. Porcupine

Minus 22 Degrees

2009-01-26T20:24:00.005-09:00

Burrr...the last week of December well into January left us with very cold temperatures. I suppose I should be used to it by now. One sunny afternoon I just had to go out for a walk, watch a few birds as well as take in some scenery. Everything at minus 22 degrees is frosted including myself.

Frost seems to attach itself to everything when it is well below zero; making the landscape a sight to behold. The farther north you go, the colder it gets - temperatures reach minus 50s in Fairbanks to minus 60s in remote villages in Alaska. When does one ever get used to it? I guess it's something you have to deal with if you choose to live the Alaskan life. Life goes on though, one blessing I can count on at these temperatures is the birds. They have to eat more but don't move too much, rather sitting on the branches puffing their feathers out to stay warm and there I am out there in the cold taking a few pictures. Honestly camera batteries at those temps don't last that long either, changing out the battery every half hour placing it inside a deep pocket to warm up and pulling out another one to get a few more shots of the birds. Is it worth it - standing out there, experiencing those temperatures? Na, but I have done it repeatedly.

Sparky the Alaskan snowman, born at the end of November, helped us feed our birds until a recent weather warm up, in which he was partially lost. The full moons in December and January made the night-time look like daytime. The moonlit landscapes at night almost come off as eerie, casting long shadows drawn out from the trees as the moon moved throughout the night. The moon in both December and January was the closest that it will be to the earth this year. So naturally I just had to go out at night, mind you - full moon, stars out, temps well below zero and get a few moonlit pictures of Sparky the Alaskan snowman. Now all that cold weather has left us (for now) and you all have it down in the lower 48, as well as the snow hanging out in the Midwest area. I must admit it sounds comical listening to people from Chicago to the eastern states complaining about the wind and weather at 3 degrees and the amount of snow. Try visiting Alaska when first snowfall is in October, staying well into April with snow still on mountain peaks. People - it's winter for heaven sakes. What ever complaining you should do isn't going to change it. Living here in Alaska at some of the coldest temperatures I guess has toughened me up around the edges and one just puts up with it even at minus 22 degrees in my neck of the woods.
I hope all of you are staying warm and surviving your winter where ever you may be. Throw another log in for me as I love the smell of wood burning in the ole fireplace.

See you on down the trail...

Buford T. Porcupine

2008 My Year in Review

2008-12-30T19:19:00.005-09:00

Hello all trailbuds, I hope you all had as wonderful a Christmas as I did. Now on to the next one - about to turn a new year. Giving much thought as to what to write about ending this year and looking forward to the next year about to arrive, I threw another log into the fireplace and sat back down and drifted back and thought about what 2008 was all about for me here living in Willow, Alaska.

Looking back at all the adventures I went out on and reflecting on those memories through all the pictures taken. Some great memories as well as some great times. Over winter, as always, there are my friends I feed daily as well as watch and observe, photograph...the birds. Then spring came and I was allowed the opportunity to watch and move with 2 of the biggest bull moose, well into their spring antler growth, over several days of hanging around the cabin finding them both in the woods and again out in the meadow. Although I never felt endangered being so close to these big bulls, I found by talking to them in a quiet voice seemed to disspell any harm they might have felt by my presence. At one point following them out in the meadow, one of the bulls had turned to look at me as If I was lagging behind and needed to catch up to them. A great experience, well remembered. Spring into summer also brought a lot of rain for us up here in 2008. Which was disappointing, thus keeping us off the lakes pursuing the many variety of waterfowl, from the loons to other types of ducks. We did get some breaks here and there where I was able to catch up with the loons, both common and pacific loons, and get some darn good pictures out of them. Other adventures lead us down to the Valdez area and into a National Park larger than Denali, a place called Wrangel-St. Elias Nantional Park. One could realy get lost down there as the town of McCarthy has no goverment. More land than one could imagine. Still most of the summer up here was more rain than we cared to deal with. And with all that rain, the leaves stayed on just a bit longer before falling to the ground. Denali National Park was nice to drive the 90 plus miles seeing the interior of this park as well as some of the caribou and dall sheep along the way. With all the rain I knew we would be getting early snow and we did the first week of October. 2008 I could honestly say was about all the rain we received as well as the amount of snow, judging the snow depth around the cabin - snowshoes should seriously be considered before venturing out for the day's adventure. I have encountered friends diagnosed with prostate cancer to losing an aunt to cancer as well. I count my blessings everyday with living my dream here in Alaska. While the lower 48, as well as the Nation, seemed to have its own set of problems, I am sure it will slowly catch up to us up here in Alaska. These past couple weeks around the state of Alaska have been hit with some very cold record temperatures. As always, I record the daily temps and compare them to those from last year. It realy isn't that much fun at minus 18 degrees, waiting to minus 11 degrees to go out and photograph the birds.

Ah yes, it too may be about the birds in 2009 as well! Since October the birds up to now have been a lot of fun to work and watch. Now as I put my thoughts into the remaining day of 2008, the temps are dipping down into the minus 25 and minus 30s range around the cabin, thus putting more logs on the fire, umm...the warmth. Well I hope for all of you, the ringing in of the New Year will get better for each of us.

I have to apologize to all my trail buds as I have kept a secret from you! Over the past 3 years I have been sharing many of my adventures with an Alaskan gal who also has the same interests and love of the outdoors as I do. Her name is Destiny! There are now 2 rocking chairs by the fireplace. Destiny and I finally took the leap and got married after 2 adventure filled years and as of August we have been married just over one year. Here's to more fun and outdoor adventures down the trail.

Wishing you all just the best where ever you might be. See you on down the trail...

Buford T. Porcupine

The Color Red

2008-11-29T20:41:00.009-09:00

Hello wintery trailbuds. Now that the over-stuffed feeling that too much food, too many desserts and loud conversation associated with the family getting together this time of year, also known as Thanksgiving, is behind us, we all can look forward to the next holiday...Christmas. Sitting in my favorite place, where else - the rocking chair by the fireplace. Staring deeply into the fire, the color red comes to my mind. Thoughts of the color red put me into the Christmas spirit. Red, I'm sure represents to many of us Christmas, Santa Claus in his red suit, his sleigh, the many bows and ribbons we put on so many things around the house for decorations. I also associate the color red with the great outdoors. My thoughts collect many images connected to many situations I go back and think about.

For instance: one of my favorite red hats I wear over winter, making my red hat a portable bird feeder that the black-capped chickadee's like to land on grabbing a sunflower seed. It's an interesting sound as they land on my head, almost like being in a tent listening to them poke around for just the right seed then flying off.

I think of the color red and drift away to the thoughts of the red cranberries I just photographed,

the common red polls that come to visit my bird feeders.

Though the hairy and downy woodpeckers are similar, smaller bird species from the pileated woodpecker, I see and photograph almost daily are black and white, males have a red crest on the back of their heads. They are still an interesting bird to watch, listening to their calls before they show up.

This year has been as in 2008, somewhat interesting as far as a new bird to my cabin. I have fallen in love with the male pine grosbeaks. Too many pictures I could show you on this bird. I find the pine grosbeaks somewhat comfortable with my presence watching them. The color red coming from this bird is just vibrant. I quite honestly cannot get enough of this bird, both viewing and photographing both the male and female pine grosbeaks.

All of the color red I see connected to the great outdoors is just inspirational to get me as well as you into the spirit of Christmas, which is just around the corner. Enjoy the holidays where ever you spend it.

See you down the trail somewhere,

Buford T. Porcupine

Bird Time

2008-10-30T19:38:00.003-08:00

October is over; the dull, drab, lifeless woods that once were all dressed in fall golden colors are now quieted by the snow that has fallen - leaving everything white since the beginning of October. I knew with all the rain we received over this summer we would get early snow. My walk through the woods leaves me with only a few sounds of falling leaves hitting the ground in the ruslting of the wind. Distant sounds of chickadees calling out brings music to my ears. Since I love watching and photographing birds, I know how a lot of my time is going to be spent over this long winter.

One of my daily routines is to top off all of my bird feeders, fill the holes in the birch trees with suet for the many woodpeckers that visit the cabin. It is now bird time for me until spring. I, like many of you all, enjoy the beauty of watching and identifying the variety of birds that visit my cabin in da woods. It's free entertainment. The joy I receive watching them fly in and poke around either on the ground or off the feeders is sometimes overwhelming. Chickadees, always one of my favorites - as they are not shy and will feed right out of my hand, fly in fast grab a seed and off they go. Where as new to the cabin this year are the Pine Grosbeaks - both males and females. I find if I remain still I am able to get rather close to them to get a decent picture to add to my bird gallery. I get both types of woodpeckers to my feeders; both the hairy and downy woodpeckers, the only difference between them being their beaks and the size (the hairy is bigger). Still to get up close to them and watch how they peck away on the birch tree seeking out the suet I have left them, could almost leave you with a headache the way their heads hammer away at the holes to get their fill. I find I spend on the average about 4 hours outside observing and photographing the birds that choose to visit on a daily basis. After that I am ready for the warmth of the fireplace and my rocker.

Not a day doesn't go by that I don't watch the visiting birds. How many of you know that the birding hobby and everything that goes into that; from the bird books we all purchase to binoculars, bird seed we buy to suet cakes, all the bird feeders and bird houses we buy is a billion dollar industry. True fact. My grandparent's were big into watching the birds everywhere they traveled. I kept all of their bird books containing their field notes as to what birds they saw and in what states they visited. As a young lad growing up I did not realize this is what my grandparent's were bestowing upon me. Many years later I have their bird books as well as the binoculars they both used, reading their field notes dating back to the middle 1940s. I am so grateful for this gift they both have left me. Now I to carry that very same passion for the birds. Whether here in Alaska or in New Mexico, North Dakota and from Upper Michigan to Florida over the winter months, watching and identifying; photographing the birds is so very much a part of my life as it should be yours as well. Think of the pleasure it gives you when your favorite bird lands on the feeder. Quickly reaching for your favorite pair of binoculars to bring you in close for a better view. I suppose it is like anything else we are all into whether it be sports - mountain biking, hunting, hiking out thee ole trail to our favorite place. What each of us puts into our passion, is what we get back in enjoyment that much more. So I hope you all enjoy my bird gallery that I have put together for you, just some of the many varieties of birds I see daily at my feeders. I would hope all of you are keeping your bird feeders full for your visting birds over this winter where ever you are. As always I enjoy talking about the birds with many of you I know here locally, as well as sharing the bird pictures each of us have taken. Keep the birding passion going my friends, our season is just starting.

See you on down the trail somewhere...

Buford T. Porcupine

Bufords Bird Gallery

2008-10-29T16:33:00.016-08:00

Oct 5th- So it begins

2008-10-05T19:42:00.004-08:00

Hello trailbuds, well I don't know how the weather is where you're at, but let me tell you as of October 5th @ 5:00pm down came the snow in some of the biggest flakes I've seen in a long time. Yes here in the north...winter has started. But I know I will still use the ole firepit well into the middle of our winter. Just something about sitting at a roaring fire. Feeling the warmth, staring into the fire and feeling the cold as well. Bring on the winter I'm ready. Wood is stacked for both inside and out! Well I hope where ever you all are, you're getting ready for winter. Here we're just a few steps ahead of you all. Hey see you down the snowtrail somewhere.

Fall Slipping Away

2008-09-30T20:18:00.003-08:00

In my youthful days as a teenager, I would recall my grandparents as well as my mother always making comments about how as you get older time seems to slip by. The seasons seem to pass much faster with every year. With that being said, here we are once again...Fall. Out of all of the seasons I would have to say Fall is my favorite. I love the smell that is in the air this time of year. Though I must admit, I do miss the mix of fall colors back in upper Michigan.
Here in Alaska we have the golden aspens, Birch and Evergreens that combined, make for a wonderful mix of colors. Although summer has past, it doesn't feel as if it even showed up this year. We received a lot of rain that kept me from getting out in my kayak to check on the loons as well as other waterfowl I love to photograph. Adventures did lead me to knew areas of Alaska I had never been to before. With all the rain that we received, I have said right along we will get an early start to winter. In my travels our first snow appeared on the mountain tops middle of September.
Fall time for me means early rises out looking for the spruce grouse as well as moose. Waterfowl of all kinds are flying south. Song birds know it's time to head out as well. Stacking wood for the winter use. Bon fires under a coolish night looking up at the stars. So much seems to be happening this time of year, a variety of mushrooms spring up around the cabin. Leaves are falling getting covered with morning dew droplets. Moose are just going into the rut. And of course that means hunting for the moose as well.
Making a trip up to one of my favorite areas to record the first snow on the mountains gets me excited about winter coming soon for us. I suppose then maybe I will slow down a bit. Finding myself spending more time in the rocker by the fireplace reflecting back on the adventures over this so called summer and the misadventures as well. I guess until the last leaf falls I will still treat everyday as a adventure chasing fall colors looking for the wildlife what ever that might be. So trailbuds I hope you are doing the same where ever you are. Making the effort to get out in what remains of...Fall. Maybe taking a trip north to view the fall colors. Getting with loved ones for a walk and taking in the variety of colors and that particular smell that is so fragrant out there right now. Soon the white stuff will be working itself down mountainsides and winter once again will be upon us. Another season will have passed. So trailbuds I hope you make the best of what is left of your fall as I am too.

Buford T. Porcupine

Absence of Summer

2008-08-26T20:44:00.007-08:00

Sitting in my favorite chair by the fireplace, thinking back to the early days of spring where there was such excitement of all the adventures the summer months would bring; many of us now wonder when or if summer is ever going to start. As of today, summer has never really showed up for us here in Alaska. This summer will go down in the record books as the most off summer as far as cool temperatures and just a lot of rain and too many cloudy days to count.There are very few days that actually got up to 65 degrees. The days hitting 70 degrees I can count one hand. Now closing in on Labor day weekend and saying good-bye to August, the arrival of summer is fading away as a mere memory from previous years. Though I still got out and traveled on road trips to certain destinations and hiked to a few mountain tops for the view. Even the adventures of the green kayak were minimal, with just about 3 days I can recall. That in itself my trailbuddies is highly unusual for me.

The weather just didn't cooperate for any of us up here. In my travels around the area of which I call home, people still got out and fished. Hiking up a slippery trail to the top of a mountain is just not fun at all because decending was a slow process on a well worn, steep muddy trail. It was hard to avoid falling, which I did anyway! One should not make excuses just because of the weather going afowl. After all, to many of us and anyone who loves the outdoors, I revert back to the code I live by and have said time and time again: no such thing as bad weather, just inadequate dressing!

With high gas prices many of you I talked to on my road trips just bit the bullet and didn't let that keep you from going on those adventures where ever they lead you to. To jump forward here a bit. Denali National Park has a road lottery every year that we all put in for hoping to get our names drawn to be able to take our vehicle and drive the 90 miles of dirt road in this wonderful national park. Well, this year I got lucky and Buford's name was drawn. Ya-Hoo, now there in itself is an adventure. Passes are good for 1 day- 6am til midnight to be on the road. Looking forward to the drive, creeping along so as I don't miss any of the wildlife that one might see along the roadsides. Cameras are ready! What summer reports I did get from around the lower 48, you all had the sunny hot days and humidity to follow. I guess I do love the cooler temps now that I come to think about it. With just days to go, Labor day weekend will be here. Many of us flock to our favorite state park trying to get in the last campout before the kids head back to school. Head north to the cabin one last time before fall color hits. Families come together for one last outdoor picnic. Here our State fair has been a happening thing. All the food you wouldn't normally subject yourself to, and free entertainment if you like to go and just watch the people - along with rides, music, barn animals and all those other frills to take in. Well, I decided to go on the day that was supposed to have the biggest fireworks display in fair history. I think everyone in ALASKA decided they wanted to be there as well, it was just too much for me. Trying to get out of the fairgrounds was a test to my patience to say the least and about 3 hours later, I was finally at home and ready to hit the hay! My Labor day adventure will be heading north on a uncharted adventure well off the road for some backpacking fun into new territories where I've never been before. Peace and quiet abound with mountains surrounding you and whatever wildlife I can seek out. You?

I must admit though, over this so called summer here, I did run across a variety of wildlife such as: snowshoe hare, which are in their high cycle up here, Pacific Loons, scrub jays visiting me on a daily basis, even had a couple black bears come a calling around the cabin. One I sweet talked to, actually climbed the tree in front of me and posed for me awhile, he was a yearling and just about as curious about me as I was of him. Got to love those kind of neighbors. So I hope for you all over this Labor day weekend, you are all safe and in the good company of family or friends, maybe doing one last adventure before settling into September. Next stop fall color hunting!

Hey see you down the trail somewhere.

Buford T. Porcupine

Yakity, Yak

2008-07-22T19:16:00.006-08:00

I suppose in everyone's travels we all have come across something that has totally bewildered our mind. In one of my adventures over the month of July out to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, the road I had pursued lead me by a farm and I just had to stop and look in amazement. There out in the field were a group of the most god awful looking creatures I have ever seen. Now as much as I like viewing all kinds of wildlife and spending as much time as I can studying and photographing to learn more about my subject, this animal was right up there with other strange odditites I have come across. What the heck is it? I pulled down the drive that lead me into the farm. As a young man approched the truck I lowered the window and about to ask , I certainly wasn't the first to ask such a foolish question, his response: they are Yaks!

Yaks I said ,as if I knew what they were? Certainly I had never seen such a strange looking beast. Or maybe call it a cow of some sorts. As I asked more questions and gained this young man's interest, he politely asked if I wanted to take a closer look? Oh yes, with a big smile, oh and by the way would you mind if I took a few pictures as well, never hurts to ask. With just a little sound of grain being rattled, out from the field came a stampede of...yaks towards the fence line. As they approached closer the curious little boy came out in me wanting to know more about these creatures of which I certainly have never run across. Taking pictures left and right as the young man proceded to inundate me with information about the yaks. So here is the low down on ...Yaks. Yaks are a stocky shaggy-haired ox that comes from the Tibetan highlands, they stand six foot at the shoulder and can grow to a length of up to 14 ft. with a 3 foot tail. In the wild there are less than 100 yaks. In the U.S., about 2000 and a population of over 2 million in other countries. They are still used in Tibet for their meat, the hair is used for making clothing and the monisteries make candles out of the fat. Very interesting for living in Alaska seeing moose, bears, eagles as well as other alaskan wildlife. To be on a road out in the middle of nowhere traveling to a National Park with over 3 million acres headed for adventure, and I come across yaks from Tibet. I thanked the young man for his time, packed it in and...on down the road I went. Just when you think you've seen it all, Yaks from Tibet!

Well, I hope all your summer adventures are as interesting as mine have certainly been. And can anyone tell me when summer is supposed to start? That my friends is another story. Hey take care, make your summer last where ever you are.

See you down the trail somewhere,

Buford T. Porcupine

May/June

2008-06-23T20:14:00.003-08:00

Hello all stopping in to see what I've been up to. Yes, that's right, up here in da woods where I reside in Willow, Alaska, wearing one of these bug shirts is an everyday fact of life. Sorry for neglecting my duties, it's been a busy 2 months since my last report. Where do I start? Well, spring came late for us here. Just when we thought we were out of the snow, one last blow had to fall. Which made tracking the moose easier to find. While most of you down in the lower 48 might have the experience of a whitetail deer coming into your yard, here it's the moose we get so excitied about. A male moose with posts protruding from his head. We named him...Bob. That's because his brother, in close resemblence...Bill, wasn't to far behind him in the woods as well. So over the next few days in early May when we had the last snow falling , I was able to spend time with these two big guys. Following them around the ole homestead. I found if I just talked to them in a low calm voice and told them my intentions, they allowed me to get some pictures of them. Worked out well I thought. Call me crazy, I have no problems of standing, watching and observing the moose. As always check for your nearest tree for a safe retreat if need be. As May moved through the month, I began scouting some of the old areas as well as some new territories. As I have said in the past, every spring has produced new subjects, better finds and opportunities to see and view much of the wildlife I persue in many of my adventures and daily routines. Still spring came late for us, so we are about a week or so behind in where we should be. So now into the middle of June, fishing is started at a slow rate, birds have all returned and wildlife is abundant! You just have to go for an early morning hike or late evening walk to view wildlife just as I do. Sit, be still; listen, let the woods talk to you. Your busy life can wait. The work day will be there tomorrow along with its stresses.

In many of my travels around the area, I was able to find and capture such wondeful images such as: the spruce grouse, snow buntings - one of my favorites, the moose, another the harlequin ducks, both male and female, why are these duck so special to me? All the reports I have read on the harlequins come from Norway/Greenland, Alaska has little information and data on these ducks, so every spring so far I've located them, watched them and recorderd what I could on them. And it's been darn right fun watching and getting the pictures I have so far. Then it's off to higher ground, sub-alpine, to find and locate Arctic ground squirrels and Pika's, listening for the marmots as well. So, you see, I stay very busy. I like to view the wildlife and educate myself, as anyone should who loves the great outdoors. I, truly with good intentions, try to stay on top of my life here. But sometimes, like many of us, I get side-tracked and the last two months have been busy ones for us here in our adventures. Well, I hope that I might have inspired a few of you to go to your local State Park or National Park to catch a few glimpses of the wildlife. It just rounds your life out that much more. Hey create an adventure, go out and have fun! That's what I do in my daily routines in...Willow, Alaska! I hope you all stop in and enjoy some of my pictures in my previous post. There's more where that came from!

Hey, see you down the trail somewhere...

Buford T. Porcupine

May/June Gallery Report

2008-06-23T19:33:00.016-08:00

Hello all wery trail buds, I hope you all enjoy this gallery I've put together for your viewing pleasure. This is just some of what I have found in my daily adventures out and about.

May all your adventures be great ones!

Buford T. Porcupine

Late Winter Adventures

2008-04-15T20:16:00.004-08:00

Hello fellow trail buddies, when I think back in my youth as a boyscout, the idea of even trying winter camping seemed utterly crazy. Camping in the winter was always done from a cabin with the rest of the scouts mostly sitting around by the fireplace, with a hike out to do some sledding, practicing fire building skills outside in the cold and then feeling cold enough to go inside to warm up by the fireplace. The idea of sleeping out in the cold in a canvas tent where one would feel the temperature that much more - well, didn't set in with me in my youth. As I grew older and bolder in my outdoor skills, reading and seeing pictures of winter diehards that were actually doing the winter camping appealed to me many years later. Now here living the Alaska dream, the experience has played out and was well worth it. The first thoughts going through my head were both filled with excitment and craziness. Through educating ones self on proper equipment, such as, sleeping bags that go down to below minus 20 degrees, self-inflating sleeping matts, to winter clothes, has made my experience all that much more memorable. Camping with others supports this winter adventure that much more. From March on into early April, the weather isn't as cold, yet still cold enough up in the mountains that it still feels like winter. You can have the best of both worlds. Down on the flat lands snow is all but gone, yet retreat to the mountains and winter is still alive. As the sun sets over the mountains the temperature drops. The fire crackles and pops and there is no other place to be. If you're lucky the stars will come out in their full glory. There's something about a roaring fire, seeing your breath and looking up at the stars while having great conversations, it all seems well worth it. Needless to say, it's quiet, cold and you're snug in your sleeping bag staying warm.

Another side of the outdoor camping experience you might not have even considered is digging out and making a snow hut . Of course you will need some deep snow for this adventure. Remarkably, trying this wasn't as bad as I thought. The air matress insulates you from the ground as well as the warm bag. Crawl in, light a candle - home sweet home! It's these types of experiences that define each and everyone of us who choose to live the outdoor experience. Though I must admit, I wouldn't pass on my rocker by the fireplace. Now I can sit, stay warm and reflect on my outside camping experience. Soon for us break-up will be here and once again, I will be in a very busy mode, with all that spring produces such as birds and waterfowl returning. I hope whatever late winter adventure you choose, it will be something that you have never tried before or maybe you have always wanted to test your abilites - go for it!!

Hey see you down the spring trail somewhere watching for wildlife,

Buford T. Porcupine

Mush On

2008-03-09T19:12:00.009-08:00

Mush on! Mush on! Hello all my trail buddies, Buford T. Porcupine here. The 36th Iditarod sled dog race is underway! What Nascar means to you all who watch it in the lower 48, it's the Iditarod to us here in Alaska. Sunday, March 2nd was the Iditarod restart in Willow on Willow Lake. The last great race, 95 mushers, with 16 doges per team (1000 dogs), all heading out on the adventure, with 26 checkpoints and over 1150 miles on the race to Nome. Temperatures for the running of this Iditarod have been substantially different than races in the past. With temperatures running into the low to mid 40 degree range there have been issues with the dogs running in the "heat"! Nine teams have scratched out of the race and one has withdrawn. These dogs are born and bred to run and do it very well, but not in the warm temps we are seeing up here. The dogs like it COLD! All of us here have our favorite dog mushers and the support for each and everyone of them is overwhelming. The last couple of years I've been on Willow Lake in and around the starting gate. Going to such an event, one would go just to soak in the amount of people that come out in all their outdoor attire, from the snowmobiles, to the latest fashions with their sleds, to the rugged fur wearing outdoorsman, such as myself, oh it's a sight to see. But you also have to like being in and around so many people and feeling like a sardine in a sardine can. This year I moved farther down the trail about 5 miles out on Lake Vera. Ahh, now this was truly a nice place to view each and every dog mushing team coming by.

With such names as Lance Mackey (below), who ran the race in 2005 & 2006, and 2007, in which he won. He also mushed in the 2007 and 2008 Yukon Quest and won both years. Lance's dad, Dick Mackey was one of the founders of the sled dog race which was offically organized 1973. Dick Mackey also won the iditarod in 1978.

Other names in this year's race, such as Martin Buser (below left) and his son Rohn Buser (below right), for the first time, are mushing in the same Iditarod race.

DeeDee Jonrowe (below) began mushing in 1979 and has won many awards throughout her racing career.

Jeff King (below), is recognized as the winningest musher in the world! His victories include 1993, 1996, 1998 & 2006 Iditarod and over 2 dozen first place finishes in races across Alaska!

And the names go on with a long list of mushers from all over the world. At least once a day I find myself checking where the teams are in the race, listening to the reports and positions. Let me tell you, it looks like this is a Lance Mackey-Jeff King race. Lance holding in 1st and Jeff king 2nd. Winner's Purse is a brand new truck along with big money. Lance gave his truck to his wife last year and is well on the way to getting a truck for himself this year! It's a wait and see race. I don't know how many of you follow this "Last Great Race" down there, but it's the highlight up here, with a lot of people and growing in popularity every year and growing in purse money as well. You just don't know what you're missing! So with that in mind, check the pictures I've included. Wow, what a great time! Hey see you down the trail - spring isn't that far off.

Buford T. porcupine

Cold Arrival

2008-02-10T19:11:00.000-09:00

January's arrival was a cold entrance to a New Year. From January up today's date, it's just been down right cold around the cabin up here. Though I find the cold weather doesn't bother me, since I dress for the weather. Digits sinking well below the zero mark. One of the many oddities I do is record the temperatures everyday when I get up. And so far the coldest temperture has been minus 30 degrees. Toss another log into the fireplace! On this paticular morning, knowing full well how cold it was going to be, I dressed and packed what extras I would need to record the sunrise. Temperatures minus 15 degrees! I had traveled by this area too many times before and knew what I was looking for. The snow was deep as I made my way in and around these tall evergreens, looking for just the right postition to capture the morning's sunrise. Traveling in I saw many moose tracks so I knew they had passed through on the way to thicker more remote parts of the woods. Daily tempertures never rising much beyond the single digits. After about 3 hours of being out in those cold temps, I could think of nothing better than being back home sitting in my rocker by the fireplace and warming up. I must admit my adventures are lagging for the month of January. My daily routine has been making sure the bird feeders are filled and scattering some extra sunflower seed on the ground. With cold temps birds have to eat twice their body weight to survive such frigid cold. What little moving out and about has been through the woods on snowshoes looking for moose tracks or any other tracks I might find. It's just down right cold and and not a lot is out there moving around. I guess that is a blessing for me as what few birds that do show up daily, don't fly very far as they are trying not to waste any precious energy warding off the cold.

I always love spending time with the chickadees, whether feeding them or taking pictures of them. I can never get enough of this bird. The red-poles around the cabin have been just as much fun as well. So recently most of my time has been spent around the cabin watching and observing these birds that come daily to my feeders. I hope for all the bird watchers out there, that each of us are keeping those feeders full and helping the birds through the winter months. Think of the enjoyment each of us get by watching the birds that come to our feeders. And as always, I find reading about the birds and educating myself on them is just as much fun too. I guess the birds are right up there on my list of subjects I love to photograph. Though I must admit, in these zero temps, I don't stay out too long and the camera gets cold real quick, I would just prefer to stay inside move my rocker over by the window and watch from inside when temps are just this frigid cold. I hope all your winter adventures are going well with great memories, taking some pictures to share with others who choose not to get out or just can't for whatever reasons. February is here and I know these cold temps will pass and I too will be back outside seeking out more wintery adventures. Looking for the moose and observing more of my birds that come to visit me outside once again.

See you down the trail somewhere,

Buford T. Porcupine

Saying Goodbye 2007

2007-12-31T14:31:00.000-09:00

Hello all trailbuddies, Well here we are once again saying goodbye to another year. I am sure each of us wonder where the year has gone? Busy is a understatement at least for me, though this time of year around the cabin life slows down. Christmas cheer came and went along with all the food treats and celebrations. Winter is also a time of celebration. My hike through the woods reveals only the quietness of the woods, the sound of the wind swaying in the tree tops. I would stop and pause, my eyes scanning in between the aspens and evergreens all clumped with snow. Every branch covered in the white fluffy stuff that comes this time of year. My imagination runs wild as tree stumps encased in snow built up over time have now taken on the apperence of someones face or that of an animals head. From a distance a moose cow makes her way crossing the openness of the meadow heading for good browse and protection the willows offer. The afternoon hike draws to an end as the evening sky grows darker. Evidence from tracks in the snow left days earlier show a fox or coyote has passed through this area. As I continue to hike back towards the cabin in what remains of the light, all my thoughts ponder what this year has meant to me. Where the year has gone? What will the next year disclose to me as far as new adventures, undiscovered territories. All the chickadees have left the bird feeders, still heading for cover for the night, as I should do the same. Saying goodbye to the cold from my afternoon hike, saying hello to the darkness settling in. Tossing a couple of logs in the fireplace and bathe in the warm firelight, resting in the ole rocker is where I intend to celebrate saying goodbye to this years end. I wish you all happiness, Happy Holidays and new adventures for the new year to about to begin.

See you down the trail somewhere,

Buford T. Porcupine

5 Degrees

2007-12-06T20:51:00.000-09:00

Hello Trail buddies,

Life around the cabin here in Alaska has been quiet so far this winter. What little snow we've had has kept the moose up in higher elevations. The end of November has been cold. On this paticular morning, the thermometer read 5 degrees. Glancing out the window I could see frosted adventures dancing in my head. With that in mind I scurried to get ready for the cold, thinking of the macro possibilities I would encounter. With my camera, lens and tripod - out the door I went, slowly walking through the woods, looking in every direction and checking every little nook and cranny. I always ponder at each stop, scannng up and down trying not to miss anything.

One of my favorite berries is the high-bush cranberry. Always a treat to grab a shot of these red berries, which grow in shrub form. On this particular morning, these berries were frosted heavily and a perfect find to start the cold morning off right. Dressing right for such a cold occasion has never bothered me. My unwritten code that I live by is: no such thing as bad weather, just inadequate dressing and a motto anyone who truly lives for the outdoor adventures should adhere to. Making my way farther down the trail searching, a lone leaf lay just inside the snow, covered in frost. So far as the morning was moving along, there were endless opportunities and still more to stumble across. Sunrise comes later for us being this far up north, above and away from the rest of the lower 48. Sun was rising low through the trees from across the meadow, casting its golden light into all the right areas. Scanning sections where the sun was hitting I found an area of frosted field grasses encompassed by snow. I always seem to be taken away by such captive moments, totally emersing myself into whatever the subject might be I've stumbled across. As the morning burned away and the good light was now gone, with the cold still nipping at my exposed skin, mostly my face, I headed back to the cabin. Tossing in a few logs, sitting in my favorite rocker by the fireplace, I warmed up to the memories of this very cold morning. I hope all your winter adventures are good, warm experiences, even though it might be awfully cold out there. What fun would it be sitting inside, looking out at winter, letting it pass you by without some sort of adventure?

Well have fun this winter. See you down the trail,

Buford T. Porcupine

Southern Adventure Photo Gallery

2007-11-09T11:29:00.000-09:00

Hello trail buddies, hope you enjoy this little photo gallery from my Southern Adventure. Gives you just a hint of the variety of subjects I encountered and photographed.

Buford T. Porcupine

Southern Adventure

2007-11-06T20:00:00.000-09:00

Hello all, Are you ready for settling in to a long winter's nap? Life up north here in Alaska quieted down after September. Wood had been collected over the summer months between adventures and piled for the winter. The camper, home away from home, was put to bed. By the end of September all of the golden fall colors are gone, laying on the ground. Cooler temperatures arrive. Mountain tops are all covered with a blanket of snow, letting you know it won't be long before our winter around here starts. Life just slows down. It's that in between stage, fall has come and gone and winter isn't quite here yet. Off to a Southern Adventure! Florida is a destination to escape the long winter months. Not so here. Life around the cabin can get a little dull doing the daily tasks of everyday life. That is when one must get creative. A change of scenery is very necessary! It was a day of traveling for Buford. Three planes to get to my southern adventure. From the cold to the warmer temps. I was ready for new adventures. Southern Florida is always nice if you know where to go. In my adventures, being passionate for the great outdoors, means once I walk out the door everything counts. I absorb all that I come across. Take pictures of subjects that interest me and later go back and educate myself on these subjects to understand the wildlife that much better. Being away from what I am used to up north, I found that I'm still the early riser. Not much has changed with me over the years. Love the early morning light. Birds making their way back from the north hadn't arrived yet. And was quite suprised at the variety of birds as well as other wildlife subjects I was able to locate. Ding Darling wildlife preserve located on Sanibel Island is always a must to do stop. As always being there at first light, that's when birds are the most active, hungry and feeding. It was low tide and the amount of birds I witnessed was unbelieveable. There was just about every kind imaginable. From egrets to herons, storks, pelicans, ibises and spoonbills and more. At low tide a lot of the long-legged waders as well as the short are all wading, scanning and poking for the mornings breakfast. It was truly a spectacular morning for viewing southern birds at their best.

Here a American Egret comes up with a pretty good size fish that I witnessed about to gulp it down.

Roseate Spoonbills are a very colorful interesting bird. This pink wading bird has a flat spatulate bill, swung from side to side while feeding. This was a fine looking group of Roseate spoonbills all grooming and preening just after the mornings feed. By late morning all the action had slowed down to a crawl.

Off to some new location to look about. It seemed no matter where I went, I would always come across these little lizards either running for cover or resting on a rock or a side of a palm tree. Interesting these little creatures are called: Anoles. Their many color variations from greens to browns to black, almost like tree bark. Some would run for cover as soon as they saw you coming for a closer look while others would just hold their postion, which was fortunate for me, as this Anole let me get a much closer look. Upon observing this anole the throat flap expanded out along with some head bobbing, a way of defending its territory or displaying for a possible mate.

With all the variety of subjects I saw and photographed, I was just over-whelmed at the amount of pictures taken and the work load that would follow once I got back home. Why is it your adventures always end to soon? Well, towards the end of my stay I knew it was time to head north, back to surroundings more suitable to what I'm used to. Palm trees vs. mountains? Ah, I will keep the mountains! I do believe everyone of us should, at least once, step out of our normal life and challenge themselves to a different and unique adventure. Maybe something they've never done before or thought they would never do. Good to be back home and see the mountains, resting in my rocker by the fireplace and thoughts of a good southern adventure with lot s pictures to share and write about. In the following days I will post more pictures from my southern adventure to share with you all. Are you all settling in for a long winters nap? I wish all of you the best in your winter adventures.

Hey see you down the trail somewhere...

Buford T. Porcupine

The Colors of Fall...

2007-10-02T21:11:00.000-08:00

Hello trail buddies, fall has come and gone in Alaska. Many of the colors, as well as the adventures, were all too memorable. Up in the early morning's as usual, pre-dawn for many of the sunrises, I finally, with some patience and persistence, was able to get in close to the spruce grouse. In my travels around the area, I've seen this bird along the back roads, always having the worst kind of luck coming upon them as they suddenly flew up into the nearest evergreen or running for cover. With a little luck being patient, I found more than enough opportunites to creep up on this bird throughout this fall season. In my last encounter with the spruce grouse, not only did I get in close enough to grab all the photos I felt I needed, I pursued this game bird into the woods. As in many of the wildlife I come across, I try to educate myself as much as possible. In my reading about this bird, they are pretty tame bird, as well as kind of stupid. I was able to maintain a distance about 25 to 30 feet between the grouse and myself.

Occasionally, the bird would fly high up to a evergreen to poke around for food. Mostly just leading me through the woods, poking around the fall leaves, grabing the evening's dinner - whatever that might be. Still, the male spruce grouse is a pretty colorful bird to watch. Many outdoors enthusiasts I talk to that choose to hunt in the fall, find this bird easy hunting as well as a nice meal. My hunting is just with the camera, as I can always go back and look at my trophy shots later on. Now into October, I'm off on a real distant adventure across the United States heading for warmer weather. Work is all done around this ol' log home, wood piled and waiting for the fireplace and the rocker awaits for me on my return . So trail buds keep at it with all your adventures.

Hey see you down the trail somewhere.

Buford T. Porcupine

Crazy for the M's

2007-09-03T13:45:00.000-08:00

Hello all trailbuds, hope all your summer adventures were just as exciting as mine. Crazy for the M's. Thats right, Mountains, Moose and Mushrooms. Summer is over and on into fall. Leaves are turning and some are even falling. August was a great month of adventure up here in Alaska. One place I always make a visit to is the Matanuska Glacier. Though, as I found out this year due to the global warming starting to happen, the glacier has shrunk in width and height but still retains its length. Sure can't tell from this picture, as the glacier dwarfs these 2 climbers. Still it is awsome to be out on this massive ice flow and to take a look about. Seeing this big ice mountain, all the ridges and cuts and the different grooves made by time. It's always worth making the visit to.

Moose, I can never get enough of this big deer. Though it is moose hunting season here now, I always hope for a sighting of them where I am traveling to. These 3 just showed up one afternoon along side a road I was traveling on making my way to the mountains. Had to stop...and so did everyone else. I got my share of pictures of them before they moved back off into the woods. And I'm sure as fall gets here, there will be many more opportunities to find and photograpgh more moose. Still to be in their presence and see the size of a moose up close. Wow are they big! When you come across the moose, time is well spent just watching and observing whatever time you are granted.

Mushrooms! They're everywhere! Always makes me feel like a big kid crawling around in the woods trying to photogragh every type I come across. From singles, to doubles, to groups of them. Though I never pick any of them, due to not knowing which is good for you and those of which are bad for you. Still the many varieties are fun to toy with, taking only pictures and leaving no footsteps. So now as we move into September, catching up on all I've put off around this ole place due to the adventures, it's time to get ready for fall. Because winter is not that far off and with that comes the shorter days of light up here. So I hope you all will get out and enjoy the fall colors where ever that might be. Get out get some fresh air to the lungs, hike for the health of it. Enjoy your surroundings as the seasons fade all to quickly.

Hey see you down the trail somewhere.

Buford T. Porcupine

Waiting for the Good Light

2007-07-31T21:08:00.000-08:00

Hello trail buddies,

When I think back about my early years, I remember quite vividly, any one of my adventures with what few diehards I knew, off backpacking to remote places such as South Manitou Island on Lake Michigan, Isle Royal, an island located out in Lake Superior, the Porcupine Mountains, located on the west side in Upper Michigan, as well as many other places we would trek off to. Having great trail buddies who shared such enthusiasm and passion for the great outdoors are a rare find. Though we did all these trips and had a lot of good memories as well as laughs, I always found one small difference amongst us - I was the early riser out of the bunch. Wouldn't matter if we stayed up late around the fire sharing wonderful memories from our trips we had taken both together and separate. I would rise early and be off down the trail persuing some adventure within the adventure. Finding myself at the edge of a lake waiting for sunrise. Looking for and watching wildlife - sitting and observing. Others would rise and ask where the heck is Buford now? You got to know Buford, he's off looking for something before sunrise. While others were rising at a normal time, I was just coming in from my morning trek.
Sharing with others my great finds over breakfast and what I witnessed while they slept in was always a treat. Better yet, when pictures were passed around later of our trip and the reactions to what was missed by sleeping in! Now years later and many of us scatterd to other parts of the U.S. , I find I am still the early riser. Getting out before sunrise to some remote location and waiting for the "good light." Taking in the sights and sounds of the wildlife I encounter early in the morning; sharing with those who would seem interested and weren't as energetic as I. Though the pictures would always later be shared with envy from the ones that didn't come along. I would hope to any of you early morning risers, that you would take a moment and share with other family members or trail buds those special moments they missed while they decided to sleep in. That's OK, the early morning rise isn't for everyone. It is for Buford, a quiet moment standing alongside a pond watching and waiting for the good light, as seen here in my picture.

Enjoy!

Hey see you down the trail somewhere,

Buford T. Porcupine

Mountainside Memories

2007-07-04T18:18:00.000-08:00

Well, Happy 4th of July everyone! Hope your summer adventures are off and running. Mine...well, they are just getting better and better with each adventure I make. I've spent a lot of time hiking up the mountain sides looking for whatever I come across. The higher I hike, the better the view. And as always stopping to spend some good quality time with some mountinside wildlife. Yes, call me crazy, but how many of you know what a hoary marmot or a collared pika is or have ever seen one up close. Both of these animals I find farther up the mountain side above the tree line. Now why would anyone in their right mind hike up, stop and spend time with these creatures? Because you're in their neighborhood and they deserve a closer look. Hoary marmots make their home in and around large groups of rocks. The rocks provide shelter as well as a look out for any predators. So this time of year they're out and about eating and looking for a mate as well. You will hear them call before you spot one. Then as my curiosity peaks I find where they are calling, scanning the rocky groupings and make my way slowly over to them. And, as always patience and persistence pays off, coming away with some spectacular mountainside memories to share with others who don't get that kind of experience. Or just plum wonder why anyone would want to get a closer look at these creatures, let alone spend any kind of time with them .

As I continue hiking up never maintaining a steady direction, yet another shrill call comes out. Looking in the direction I see out of the corner of my eye a small creature running around another pile of rocks. Why, yes from my travels before as well as educating myself, it's a Pika, or Collared Pika. This little creature is part of the rabbit family. The large ears are a hint. Grey in color with white on their chest and belly with short legs. Fur covered feet but bare toe pads. Their sharp curved claws help them climb from rock to rock. They let out a shrill bark about every 6 seconds, advertising their boundaries and warning other colony members of intruders. Naturally, I've learned in obsevation how to respond back, thus standing in one spot with the pika running in and out of the rocks around me, calling and playing a game of hide and seek. To me this is time well spent. Pika are found at higher elevations. These little rock rabbits are most active during the morning and late afternoon and do not hibernate like marmots. I've spent alot of time watching, observing, photographing and learning about marmots and pikas

in my travels up to higher elevations.

It's just part of the experience of hiking out there, watching and observing, and educating ones self. Sharing the end result, getting the best picture I can to share with my trail buddys who stop in for a look to see what I'm up to. As always, out and about and very busy over the summer months. It's the thrill of the adventures. I hope in all of your adventures you take the time to watch, observe, learn and listen to the natural wonders that are out there for all of us. Hey, it's free entertainment! But more than that, it just makes for a wonderful experience at a higher elevation leaving good mountainside memories. Lord knows where Qulibert has wondered off to! Hey see you up high somewhere.

Buford T. Porcupine

Adventures of the Green Kayak

2007-06-03T11:52:00.001-08:00

Just a little loonie for loons. Well I am back at it again monitoring several lakes, sitting in my green kayak. Ideally it would be nice to have little to no wind but unfortunately on this afternoon the wind was blowing 5-10 miles an hour. After locating the loon on her nest, trying to align for the best photo was near impossible. Seems just as I would get lined up, the wind would drift me over past where I wanted be. I would turn around, reposition and try it again. After a few hours of drifting and realigning, I was happy with what results I had gotten. I headed back to shore with thoughts of pursuing another kayak adventure another day, looking for more loon opportunities through this summer. Hey...go kayaking. You to will find as I do, how close you can get drifting up on the waterfowl, taking only pictures and memories to reflect back on.

See you on the water somewhere...

Buford T. Porcupine

Spring Waterfowl Hunting

2007-06-03T10:38:00.000-08:00

Welcome to spring- waterfowl hunting but with a camera! Oh it's been a busy spring up here for me. Lots of ducks returning. Seems like every spring produces new and more interesting opportunities with all the waterfowl. Some I have seen before and others with a little patience and perseverance have given me great results. Being an early morning riser helps in my dedication to my passion for photographing all of the great outdoors. But, I must admit, I do love the challenges of trying to get the best photos I can from all the wildlife I encounter. So far this spring, hunts have produced a lot of new pictures of the many different types of ducks I have encountered. Though the time spent can be ridiculous, sometimes producing its own set of stresses that makes even the wary person wonder why one would put himself through the chase.
Though one cannot eat its take at the end of the day after the hunt, only look back at the wonderful memories spent viewing the many varieties of waterfowl taking home only pictures. I hope in all of your summer adventures you too will have such wonderful memories and good opportunities as I have so far this spring. And summer is just starting for me. Wait patiently my trail buddies there is more to come.
Hey see you down the trail somewhere,

Buford T. Porcupine

May...The Adventures Begin

2007-05-13T16:59:00.000-08:00

Hello to all anxious outdoor enthusiasts about to start their summer adventures. I'm off, out and about and so far May has jump-started my adventures. The return of song birds and waterfowl have kept me busy scouting out my favorite areas. On one particularly overcast morning heading to the base of the mountains, I stumbled across an early find of these Alpine Azalea's growing in small groups on a rocky bluff side. This flower has been the first I've seen of any flower coming up so far. In my daily routine of watching certain rivers still with ice either along the shore or frozen up around the rocks in the rivers, there is one type of duck that is a tell-tell sign that spring has arrived. The Harlequin duck. Most people I've had conversations with about my outdoor adventures and being a bit of a bird enthusiast, aren't familiar with this duck - let alone having heard of one or have ever seen one - know how excited I get to see them early on the rivers, both male and female, through binoculars. Better yet to get a good picture of one.

In my experiences, I've found these ducks resting on rocks in the middle of fast moving rivers. This unique little duck is one of the most beautiful species of ducks in North America. In my opinion these ducks are very wary when approached for a closer look. Yet I had the rare opportunity to view and finally get not only a picture of the male, but the female as well found resting on separate rocks in the middle of a fast moving river close to the road I was traveling. I spent several hours watching and observing the pair, educating myself on the Harlequin Duck. I couldn't have asked for a better opportunity. Truly a rare experience up close. I hope all of you will have good healthy adventures going into this summer and share them with those who crave the outdoor lifestyles as I do.

May all your adventures be rich and memorable ones.

Buford T. Porcupine

April flew by

2007-05-13T16:28:00.000-08:00

Hello all curious trail buds, Well I knew this was going to happen. Always does this time of year with me. Up here in Alaska come March into April we get the longer daylight and I just got to get out and forget my duties around the cabin and the desk. April came and went. Most of my time was spent out and about looking/scouting. Lakes and rivers I frequent were still frozen and no such luck seeing anything. It's that transitional period between the leaving of winter and the arrival of spring. But I still get out and fill my lungs with fresh air. Kinda makes me glad I'm alive. Still the month of April was just quiet out in the woods with just a few sightings of moose and of course my favorite bird calling off in the distance the Chickadee.

Well I'm off down the trail somewhere, find me if you can.

Buford T. Porcupine

March Mid-Winter Break

2007-03-24T20:26:00.000-08:00

Well hello, thank you for stopping. Feeling the winter blues. In like a lion for March. Winter seems to want continue to stay with us up here in Alaska. Temperatures never seemed to get past the teens. With cold, blowing winds and minus degree temperatures early in the morning, it's kept Buford in and around the cabin over the past several months. Wonder if spring is ever going to show itself? Bit of the cabin fever I feel setting in. So I just had to create an adventure and go off to somewhere different. Take a mid-winter break. Homer, Alaska, I hear is nice this time of year in March. Watching the weather, it's just a little warmer down off the coast. It's also a winter residence for the bald eagles to hold out until spring gets here and the creeks open up for fish to travel up. So off I went. A wonderful drive down through Turnagain Arm, up through the mountains and the passes you travel. Baby blue skies, I couldn't of asked for better weather. A short stay to say the least, 4 days was enough to feel rejuvinated. Down on what they call the spit at the end resides an 82 year old lady known as the "Eagle Lady". A book has even been done about her life and she is the lady who has fed the bald eagles for many years over the winter months until spring arrives. I am always attracted to these wonderful birds. The National Bird and the symbol of freedom. As I arrived down on the spit, I found the eagles everwhere perched high and low. Into the evenings just before sunset, the eagle lady proceeds to feed them. To any photographer this is paradise for getting good flying shots as well as a mulitude of other eagle pictures. Work is never done. Early to bed early to rise, I found myself back down on the spit just before sunrise. Just after the sun rises over the mountains, the eagle lady again feeds the eagles. Only this time in the company of many other photgraphers.

I never expected to see and count upwards of 150 bald eagles, all perched out in every direction at their chance to get a piece of fish tossed to them. Wow, this was all just too absolutely overwhelming. I witnessed some of the most spectacular acrobatic flying out of these bald eagles chasing each other. There were many photographic opportunities of course, in that early moring light until about 10:30 am. Mid-afternoon break and it's back to work in the evening until sunset. A bird watcher's paradise for these wonderful birds. Four days of eagle watching and and taking some pretty neat pictures, I was ready to head back home after a rested stay. Oh, you can bet I will be back next year for more bald eagle watching. Just an awsome time to witness so many of these big birds gathered together out at the end of the spit in Homer. I hope your mid-winter break's are an adventure to somewhere neat as well.

Hey see you down the trail somewhere.

Buford T. Porcupine

Brrr its cold outside

2007-02-24T19:10:00.000-09:00

Burr it's cold! Hello all, it's hard to imagine why each of us lives where we do. While those of you that live in the lower 48 states, wonder why those of us choose to live so far up north in the land of frozen tundra and such cold temperatures. It's all part of the Alaskan adventure. Feeling rugged and remote from the rest of the lower 48. The trade off as we near the end of February, is that we're up to 9 hours of light and gaining.

Anyone who is into the great outdoors, whats the motto? "No such thing as bad weather just inadequate dressing!" You got it. I managed to get outside, dressed in layers, early this morning well after sunrise and found Fred bedded down close by the cabin. The outdoor thermometer is on one of the birch trees close to the cabin, and it read minus 40! Oh but what a day it was for me in my daily adventures around the area. Saw a total of 5 moose today as well as birds at the feeders as well as many other wonderful wintery situations I look for. You? Doesn't matter if it's cold, I still find I look forward to the days adventure. With a full day of sunshine, I've over looked at how cold it is and just managed to get on with the day. Ah to top it off, a finish resting back at the cabin in my favorite rocker by the fireplace feeling the wamth and the wonderful memories of todays adventures. Enjoy the day!

Hey see you down the trail somewhere. Buford T. Porcupine

I call him..Fred

2007-02-03T09:15:00.000-09:00

Good Morning all. Well this big guy is still hanging around the cabin. And that's ok by me. How else are you going to get to know your local moose? His visit over this winter has made my winter just alittle more interesting. I decided to call him...Fred! He dosn't seem to mind me at all. Acknowledging my presence with a look at me as if he were saying: can't keep up with me in this deep snow? Now it is unfortunate that our local news up here, has reported 169 moose have been hit since July off our highways. Asking only of the drivers to slow down and give the moose a break! Makes sense. Since alot of Alaskans hunt here, moose is at the top of the list for putting meat on the table. Yet we're all so very busy and drive way to fast, leaving for somewhere way to late. What's the answer? I am all too excited to have spent as much time as I have with Fred, knowing in a world that goes way to fast and won't even slow down for such a wonderful creature that we choose to view and even hunt. Well some things just never change. I am all too glad for the memories I've been able to capture of this moose who hasn't been hit yet. Well I'm off down the trail to see if I can't spend some more time with Fred.

Hey see you down the trail somewhere. Buford T.Porcupine

My New Pet

2007-01-27T20:46:00.000-09:00

Hello trail buddies, For sometime now adventuring into the woods, I've been seeing moose tracks crossing back and forth through the woods behind the cabin. Though my trail is packed down, off the trail snow is deep. I stand 6ft 3 and off the trail without snowshoes, snow is up to my upper thigh. I've also seen new tracks around the cabin as well, which is exciting for me because I know the moose are around here.
Well traveling home yesterday I had a new visitor show up. And what a afternoon I had spending some good quality time with this big guy, 3 hours to be exact. It was obvious that he was very comfortable with my presence. And noticing the scabs just above his eyes, he must have dropped his antlers not to long ago. Moving slowly through the woods browsing off the willow tips, the deep snow didn't seem to even bother him. Like any animal I've ever pursued trying to photograph, I have a great deal of patience and persistence trying for the best ideal photos I can get from my subjects.

As always I pay a great deal of attention to ear and eye movement. Watching their body for any kind of stress that I might be creating. Now funny as this might be, I found talking to this male moose in a calming manner seemed to help me in this situation. As he made his way through the woods, I just crept along at a safe distince watching and educating myself as to how they browse. To be so close to such a magnificent creature that can weigh in up to 1800lbs and hear him muching on his willow treats - I was in heaven.

To see the muscle structure of an animal of this size up close was absoultely heart pounding. Towards the end of my 3 hours with him, he had made his way to a spot that must have suited him as he laid down for a nap. I, in turn headed back to the cabin to warm myself in my favorite rocking chair by the fireplace and reflect on the wonderful memories I just was granted and better yet, got in pictures. I think for anyone who loves the great outdoors and watching wildlife, memories like this experience will linger in their mind for quite sometime. Hope all your adventures are wonderful experiences and better yet capturing those moments on camera.

See you down the trail,

Buford T. Porcupine

Tea Time Anyone?

2007-01-17T20:10:00.000-09:00

Tea Time anyone? Hello to all stopping in for a look around. Well snow is deep around the cabin with signs of a visiting moose through the woods. Saturday, January 13th was just a wonderful morning after the sun rose about 10:00am. So nice I sat outside in a chair with my friends that come for a daily visit. Temps were in the 20s. I sat there watching the chickadees fluttering about going after the sunflower seed I had laid out around me. Having a cup of tea enjoying the sights and the sounds of all the visiting birds. Well, I had one of these friendly little chickadees land on my teacup as if there were a treat inside for him. Which gave me a idea, why not put alittle seed inside and keep them curious. With a little luck and lot of patience for the birds, one landed right inside of my teacup! This was just too cute. And to say the least it was a wonderfully spent mid afternoon with the birds. As always one cannot be outside without a camera as you never know what you will be able to record with any adventure you choose. I hope all your adventures are as fruitful as this one.

Hey, see you down the trail somewhere,

Buford T. Porcupine

A Shout Out

2007-01-16T16:08:00.000-09:00

It has been a little while since I posted here at Buford's site but I thought I might stop by to let y'all know that we are switching this page to the new Blogger. As we get used to all the new, fancy controls I am sure we'll be adding some cool stuff to make your visits more comfortable.

By the by, I know Buford is getting ready to post some great photographs he just captured.

Bird in the Hand is better than...

2006-12-30T19:51:00.000-09:00

December 30th 2006,

Well here we are again, finding ourselves down to the last day of the year before another one is about to start. Hello to all of you that stop for a visit to see what I've been up to. The month of December around the cabin was the usual chores; getting ready for the holidays, dressing up the ole place in christmas cheer and the preparations in the kitchen of all the holiday treats. Needless to say I was in the way and taste testing just alittle to much. Being kicked out, of course, I ended up where else...outside, which is fine by me. I can always find something to do outside, like feed my friends that come for their daily visits. Now with winter here and shorter days of light, in the evening I'm in my favorite spot - the rocking chair by the fireplace.

Reading is always educational and I find the older I get, especially over long winters, I read subjects that inspire my passion. Birds are just one of the many topics. Did you know that birding is a billion dollar industry? All of us who enjoy the birds I bet spend money on such things as bird feeders, sunflower seed, bird books to binoculars to view our favorite friends. One of many that come for a daily visit around here are the chickadees. Michigan even tried to change their state bird from the robin to the chickadee. If you stop to ponder the robin only flies up north for six months to find a mate, nest, help raise the newborns and then return south for the winter months. And it isn't even a friendly bird at that. Though I must admit the first sighting of a robin the northern regions means spring isn't to far off. Everyone can identify with the friendly chickadee. We all have our favorite memories of this bird, from a walk in the woods listening to their calls, to well into the fall hunt sitting at the base of the tree landing on the end of your gun barrel. They dart around our daily lives sometimes without notice. Not a day doesn't go by that I don't look for my friends at the feeders. Maybe you ought to just sit awhile and watch who shows up at your feeders and get to know the bird that calls out his name: chickadee chickadee chickadee eeee! But I take it one step more and like to go out and be with my friends. Once you've had the experience of a chickadee landing in your hand or on your hat, your life will be forever changed! These are cool little birds worthy of my time. To feel the flutter as they fly around my head, watch them land on my hand, be able to see the intricate details of this small little bird up close is absoulately wonderful!

Well, until next time those of you watching the birds, continue to enjoy them and maybe you too will get the experience of this fine little bird.

Buford T. Porcupine

November Chill

2006-11-30T19:02:00.000-09:00

Hello to everyone who stops in for a look around. Well November was here and now gone. Seems like last year this time we got a cold snap that kept us all inside being so cold. Temperatures bottomed out to minus 20 to 30 degrees in the wee hours of the mornings only rising to the low teens. If one was into star gazing this was the month for it as they were out everynight just as bright and full along with the northern lights. Of course at those temps the layering of the right kind of clothing is always a must to brave the cold. Have yet to persue photographing in those cold temperatures at night as the comfort of the rocking chair by the fireplace is so much nicer.
But I do get out for sunrises right along with that cold nipping at my nose. Though it always seems I try to brave the cold for a few minutes hand holding that cold lens barrel. Then wonder why the fingers are so slow to warm up. Thank goodness for hot hands that one can put into your gloves as well as your boots. Ah relief. Being this far north though the sun won't show itself over the mountains until around 10:30 am. And then with a early sunset hope for the best by mid afternoon. The more north you go the less light you get - to no light at all for 6 months up in Barrow. Wow no light for 6 months. Darkness and more darkness followed by...darkness.
Still all this cold paints the many landscapes up here. Frost covering trees like icing on a cake. Just takes some looking around to seek out those wonderful frosty snowy early morning scenics worth getting out of that warm bed and dressing appropriately for. Only for the diehards who are passionate and crazy enough about their photography.

Well all, hope you are staying warm and getting outside for the winter adventures. Remember there's no such thing as bad weather just inadquate dressing. Well at least that's the code I stand by for doing the things I love persuing - even though the cold is here to stay for awhile.

See you down the trail somewhere.

Buford T. Porcupine

Tundra Medicine Dreams: A Response to California Medicine Man

2006-10-28T13:55:00.000-08:00

Tundra Medicine Dreams: A Response to California Medicine Man:

"Last night I was reading through the many excellent posts included in this week’s Grand Rounds (yes! It’s up at Health Care Law Blog). I clicked on a blog I had not visited before called California Medicine Man, written by Dr. John Ford, a physician in southern California who is on the faculty of the UCLA Medical School. I was stunned and amazed to see his post “Regarding Tundra Medicine Dreams”:"

Bird Treatment and Learning Center Anchorage, Alaska: A Snowy Day

2006-10-28T13:53:00.000-08:00

Bird Treatment and Learning Center
Anchorage, Alaska: A Snowy Day:

"Today was a pretty good day. The weather man predicted 4 inches of snow. Well, we didn't get it but I did get to spend the afternoon with the snowy.

Cindy (my mentor) had a presentation at Mears Middle School and I went along to observe. This is only the fifth time the snowy had been out and it handled itself very well. Cindy is very good with him also."

Up in Alaska: mmm ... slippy

2006-10-28T13:52:00.000-08:00

Up in Alaska: mmm ... slippy:

"Well, it's not quite that time of year yet. But it is approaching that time of year when nightly freeze-ups and a snowline down to 1,000 feet means it's not a great season to take the roadie up to a ski resort. But, like I said, snowline has crept down to 1,000 feet, and I love snow. I wanted to take some crunchy steps through the frosted grass and wrap my fingers around an dripping early-season snowball. So when I woke up to a blindingly clear morning, it seemed a no-brainer to ride up to EagleCrest. And I did get my feet on some snow. I also had the opportunity to do plenty of walking down the ice sheet that had once been a canyon road. 'Tis the season to keep roadie at sea level.

When we finally did hit the thaw during the descent, I amped up to 30 mph and received my annual lesson in the degrees of windchill. I've never learned the math, but I do know that my odometer screen begins to black out when the temperature drops into single digits. My odometer screen blacked out. I nearly did too, by the time I reached sea level with frozen tears still clinging to my face. 'Tis the season to dress in many layers. Why must I relearn this every year?"

Signs Of Winter

2006-10-24T18:37:00.000-08:00

Oct 24th - Trees are bare, all the waterfowl has headed south. Temperatures rise and fall with each passing day. Snow covers the mountain tops and higher elevations where we go to play. Snow blankets the ground around the cabin. Lakes are covered in a showy white saying goodbye to memories delight. Tis that time of year when we turn back the clock. Dig in get comfy throw another log on. Winter soon enough will be here once again.

Buford T. Porcupine

Surreal or just plain wierd?

2006-10-13T20:43:00.000-08:00

In the end, there just trees! Art can be expressed in many forms of nature.
Buford T. Porcupine

Abstract in Nature - Pushing the Boundries

2006-10-12T19:20:00.000-08:00

When the creative juices are flowing, one can use your camera just as if it were a paint brush. More extremes in the coming days. Have fun out there.

Buford T.Porcupine

More Abstract In Nature - day 2

2006-10-10T16:55:00.000-08:00

Like brush strokes to a canvas, a painterly pattern of light and lines mix with emotion.

Abstract in Nature

2006-10-09T20:39:00.000-08:00

Well thanks for stopping in and seeing what I'm up to again trailbuddies. Here around the cabin all the leaves have fallen, color is gone. Everything looks dull and drab waiting for the coming wintery months. But I still take off into the woods for a look around. One more hike off to somewhere. I always carry my camera with me heading down the trail. It's been my experience in the past as some of us have found out, that we will always come across some scenic or a wildlife subject we want to take a picture of and yet we don't have our camera with us. Now that we are past the fall colors, do we put the camera away until it snows? Since there's no more fall colors do we just give up looking or even trying ?
I guess it's one of those moments coming from sitting in my rocker deep in thought again. For one more look around in the woods to find something of interest. And there's always plenty for me to find! I've done just that! I wandered off into the woods just before sunset the other day and creatively looked at the woods in a differently than I've ever looked at them before. Seeing lines and shapes and the light coming from between them, aroused a new sensation in me I never thought I had.

Definition of Abstract: expressing a quality or characteristic apart from any specific object or instance.

When we can look deep inside ourselves and find the true artist. Being able to see past what is right in front of us, then only do the creative juices start to flow. In the coming days I will try to post more of my pictures from my hike off into the woods before sunset. What you will see are lines, shapes and patterns. Paintbrush strokes of the of the existing light that I had to work with. In the end you will know as I did, they're just trees - white birches and evergreens. We go by them everday and just take them for granted. I however, can sit back in my rocker and look at the results of these creative juices. Don't put the camera away just yet! So I hope this picture will only tease you to stop by again to look at an abstract way of seeing our trees.

Look forward to seeing you down the trail somewhere.

Buford T. Porcupine

Fall in Motion

2006-10-02T20:14:00.000-08:00

Well, here we are once again trail buddies. Fall is upon us. For many of you the colors are just starting where as ours are just about done. What has helped is all the rain we got this year to keep them around just a little longer. Why is it always this time of year we scramble to get ready for the coming winter months? Flying by all that color that is out speaking to us. We're all just too busy it seems to slow down for a real good look while it's there for our viewing pleasure.
I myself finding around the cabin, chores that I've put off as the result of trying to take in all the fall color I can. One last minute trip away - out of the area. Stacking of wood needs to be done, kayaks need to be put away, wishing there was just one more adventure seeking out returning waterfowl. And all those cloudy days and the rain that follows. And what about the garden? Days are getting shorter, sunrises are later and sunsets sooner. But we still are buzzing around in our busy lives. We speed by the various colors that are calling us to slow down, hey come take a look, while the tall trees still have it on display. Some of us get the message while others wait till it's too late. Or make the statement..."theres always next year."
Being very busy this summer out on many adventures to different areas, now I find well into the evening, relaxing in my favorite rocking chair by the fireplace wondering where the time has gone and thinking about all the things that need to get done before the first snow. Well I hope you all got to take some time and view the fall colors where ever they might be for you. I know I did and question did I get to see everything out there I wanted to see before heading in. I can only look back at all those wonderful pictures I took. Still we go rushing by and then scratch our heads in wonder.

See you down the trail somewhere,
Buford T. Porcupine

Crazy for my Kayak

2006-08-20T14:27:00.000-08:00

Hello trail buddies, Going back in my memories from years ago, I thought I was in heaven when I got my first canoe. An oldtown model - had to be green - 17 foot canoe. It served me well on many adventures when I was an upper midwesterner. From the many lakes around home to distant places such as Isle Royal National Park in Lake Superior to the remote lakes up in Canada. I'd always wanted to try a kayak; looked at them many times and never made the jump. Oh, I looked at the various styles and dreamed and drooled of the new adventures I could get out of them. Eventually I made the plunge, after researching, I found just the right kayak for my purposes. An oldtown Loon 138 - had to be green - kayak. See it's rather hard trying to take the good quality pictures I wanted from the canoe as I found out. Talk about a man and his toy the first time I got into it. Wow, was this speedy in the water, as well as great aerobic exercise for the upper body. I could really go off and relax at my own pace around the lakes and explore every little inlet. I found I was spending more and more time in the kayak, commanding my direction on my own and not that of the other paddler.

I then began to seek out waterfowl and found with a great deal of patience, how close one could get by floating, drifting in, letting the wind do the work for me and sitting silently still to catch the waterfowl in their surroundngs. After looking at other photographers books on loons and other types of waterfowl I could now only envision what I could accomplish. Now the trick is how do you really get inside and hold such a long lens and try to paddle? I found the answer. Duct tape! The trick is, duct tape your tripod to the kayak before you mount the lens of what ever size you have. And off you go in the early morning light. Though I would always in my research and scouting from shore, look and locate what ever waterfowl I was in persuit of, wind was a factor as well as the weather. I still find I spend about 3 -4 hours out floating in my kayak working my way into whatever waterfowl I find. Now the trick is once you get back to shore, of trying to get out of your kayak without tipping or getting your camera and lens wet. Many crazy memories surface, remembering sitting sideways to a rocky shore just barely holding on by the tip of my paddle from tipping over. Do your self a favor get a helper as it takes about 10 -15 minutes to get me ready to launch. And though you can take munchies and a drink with you, watch you drink intake! I find the first thing I do after getting back on shore, is to find me an outhouse. Years later I am still very in much love with the whole kayak thing. I've got a great seat with good back support. I find I can paddle in just inches of water. Anyone who ever has had a canoe and then tried a kayak, I bet just doesn't go ...back.

It's truly amazing with a great feeling of joy to paddle in close to the likes of loons, grebes, mallards, immature Barrow's golden eye and too many more to mention. Especially come spring time when waterfowl are nesting. Observing from a safe distance as to not disturb them from there nesting site. Though I've not tried sea kayaking yet, I'm sure that's not too far off as the next adventure. More exploring by water, as well as by land, is still to come. So let me leave you all with just some of many pictures I've taken over the years by sitting in my...got to be green kayak. I've even got a loon on my kayak. How crazy is that? Enjoy, hope you you can do the same!

End to a Lovely Day 4/26/06

2006-08-12T19:45:00.000-08:00

Hello to all my trail buddies stopping in. Oh this has been another fabulous summer up here in the far north country. Well with going back to April memories, I recall a wonderful morning of getting up and out - headed down the trail. Seems the moose like to come out of the mountains and down to what we call the hayflats area just off the highway and graze like cattle. Now anyone passing through this area in the early moring hours could see moose. Up to as many as 30 were counted scattered along the highway one morning heading towards the big city...Anchorge. With that in mind, one of my missions was to go seek out the moose on April 23rd.

The morning started out with baby blue skies, a nice sunrise and a coolness in the air for April. Remember where I am - Alaska. Up, dressed, several trips to my truck and down the trail(road). Upon getting to my destination, one could view moose at various spots along the highway. Some close by while others were scattered off in the distance. Well worth getting up early for on a Sunday moring. But you got to like to view wildlife at early morning hours. Call me crazy. The notion of sleeping in late always took a backseat, when one can go look for the wildlife. With some time spent watching these wonderful large creatures, I moved on to another area of the flats. April here to me is a time when birds of all kinds are returning. I watch many types of waterfowl: Canadian geese flying in their 'V' patterns, trumpeter swans in large groups passing overhead to the many different types of waterfowl observed.

It's always nice to join up with other fellow birders heading out into the field to look for...the birds. All in all, I counted 7 of us out there on this wonderful morning. Oh the day was going well, weather was just right; not a cloud in the sky. As the day grew longer and later, I'd noticed planes out flying overhead. Nothing unusual about that. Boy to be up there and see the sights down below! Well, maybe someday. One of the last pictures I took that particular morning was of a large group of trumpeter swans flying out towards me. I'm always with my big lens (my 500mm lens attached with a 1.4 converter to kick it up a notch closer). I'd listen to the planes engines off in the background and never think twice to stop and look about just to see that everything is going fine for them. Now I am sure that we have all heard the sounds of a car crash before. It's one of those sounds you don't ever forget. Well just about the time those trumpeter swans got the point that I wanted to take their picture, which I did do, I had heard the sounds of planes close by revving their engines and then there was a big bang! To turn seconds later and witness 2 planes just after they collided in midair starting to fall out of the sky was unbelieveable. From my postion I wasn't sure what direction to turn and run, it looked as if they were coming down at me. Staring up at the falling planes in disbelief, watching wings twirling and plane parts dropping out of the sky, I don't think that any of the 7 of us out in the field that day could have moved.

I don't know how many "oh my God's" came out of me. To watch in horror, these 2 planes falling - which seemed like slow motion - right down to the second of impact. I'd never in my life witnessed anything like this. And I hope I never will again. As they were falling, the planes drifted apart coming down at quite some distance from each other. It was then the 7 us of from various points came running to the unforgettable resting spots. Even with being 2 -3 city blocks away from impact I could feel the thud when they hit the ground. It's one of those sickening feelings you get, feeling helpless and that there's nothing you can do but stand and stare at the twisted wreckage. Knowing in your heart as they are falling and even after watching to the second of impact that no one could have survived. Through the others that were there we had discovered that one plane had several people in it. A sick feeling when one finds a Harry Potter book not far from one of the planes. Problem was that the crash site was out far enough that locals had to bring fire and rescue in by 4 wheelers. Even with modern technologies we have still got to wonder how a tragic situation like this could happen? I later learned that one of the planes held a father and 3 children. My heart, my thoughts and prayers went out to the families of both planes that day, as they do now as I enter this in my blog. Needless to say the rest of my day was spent back in my rocker by the fireplace just in awe of what I'd witnessed. Energy just zapped out of me in my thoughts.

It is at these times we should look at each of our own lives, value and cherish loved ones, be thankful for what has been put in your lives. ~Amen

Buford T. Porcupine

Late Spring Entries for April

2006-06-23T20:19:00.000-08:00

Well, hello trail buddies stopping in. I must apologize to you all. I knew that spring would come, and along with spring came the longer days of light. And that is my excuse for being behind and away from my desk and away from my rocking chair by the fireplace. Keeping up with my daily journal has been a task in itself, recovering all my thoughts with all that I've been doing. Spring came and as you can see from my last entries, I was off into the mountains with the baby blue skies and warm temperatures. With April also came the return of all kinds of waterfowl and song birds. In my back roads driving, some roads still very soft and muddy, I managed to make it through and see and locate a lot of different types of waterfowl as well as some birds. The Barrows Goldeneye, a waterfowl I stumbled upon, is seen here in an open hole in the ice in a beaver pond. The Barrows Goldeneye is a diving duck, feeding and building up its strength to fly farther north. Even in spring I still wear my camouflage, blending in with my surroundings. In this situation, being still and patient, waiting on the side of a half frozen beaver pond; I found when this duck would dive for food, that's when I would reposition myself for a closer view. And was pleasently suprised that over time I got very close and got some nice pictures of this duck.

With several days spent around this beaver pond, camouflaged and leaning into the sides of the built up mounds that are the results of a industrious beaver, knees over a period of time getting wet and cold, I managed to blend in and even have a few unexpected visitors. This Lesser Yellow Legs landed on the ice right in front of me and started poking around. Well, over several days I had put some much needed time in with the expectation of seeing and photographing some waterfowl. I got more than what I bargained for. Again two favorite words of mine come to mind - Patience and Persistence!

Well I will back be with more ending thoughts and tales of April for you all and will continue on into May and June as well. See you down the trail somewhere.

Buford T. Porcupine

Memories Of March

2006-04-02T20:16:00.000-08:00

Hello all trail buddies stopping in to read what I've been up to. While the longer days are finally here, I've both stayed around home and strayed as well. Out in the evening for a walk through the white birches, I discovered moose poop! I guess that's nothing to get excited about, but for me, it is. Signs of moose in the area passing through my domain. As I made my way farther down the trail I managed to scare up a moose who didn't mind me, only moving over a few feet to sit back down with his backside to me. What an awesome sight! Since then I've spent a few minutes with this same moose only to discover that he is a bull. Displaying a nice beard and bumps just above his eyes. Oh, this is going to be fun around the cabin this summer with a bull hanging around. Checking on a regular basis, I see moose prints in the snow and where he's browsed amd more moose poop. Temperatures are cool in the mornings when the skies are clear and getting into the high 30s - 40s during the day. On a regular basis, when I am around the cabin, I take my evening walk into the woods for a look about. I love the long shadows casting from the birches as the sun heads down.

Now as I stated, I've also strayed from the cabin as well. Yes, you got it - off to the mountains. One of the trips was into the Mt. McKinley boundaries to see the sun set on the big mountain. On several occasions up to my favorite area, Hatcher Pass; I needed nothing more than a fleece along with light coverings and the snowshoes; as temps were into the middle 30s, baby blue skies and not a cloud to be seen.

Now that April is upon us, a walk into the woods is just a little harder, as each step I take - I sink. Almost falling forward before catching myself. Frustrating to say the least. The longer light will keep me outside more, looking to see all the changes that come with spring. Snow is definitely on its way out. Chickadees are coming daily to the feeders with visits from both the Hairy and Downy woodpeckers. Oh, April will be an exciting time to watch for returning birds as well as waterfowl to any little openings that might show itself in the surrounding lakes. I thoroughly expect this to be another busy spring and summer for Buford. And as much as I enjoy my rocker beside the fireplace, I find I am putting less logs in the fire now and heading outside for all that fresh air. Hope you all are doing the same as well. I include pictures of my adventures hoping they will inspire you to create your own adventures, whatever those might be. Well, I am sure you don't want me to rattle on about how much fun I am having, so I only hope you are doing the same. Hey, see you down the trail.

Buford T. Porcupine

March Thoughts

2006-03-11T08:47:00.000-09:00

March 11, 2006

It now is March around the cabin. The longer light is increasing day by day. Sitting less in the rocker by the fireplace as I am out enjoying the days light. Though the early morning coldness is still with us, temperatures are warming up during the day. The iditirod off and running, it was truly amazing to see the power that these 16 dogs have pulling a sled and a musher. Sounds that resonate coming from all the dog teams anxiously waiting their turn to the start of this yearly race over 1100 miles to the finish line in Nome. These dogs are born and breed for this, and they love to run. But it is equally exciting to share, by all the peolpe that come to show their support. Fashionable wearing their fur headgear. While others just stare as if they would never be caught wearing such regalia. I personaly love my coyote hat and matching mittens. It is just fitting of my personality that goes along with the log cabin and living off in alaska in the wild.

Shadows are drawn out through the woods coming from all of the white birches as the sun rises around this cabin. Spring is near with the occasional chickadee teasing me with his call. I look forward to being out with them and getting pictures of this friendly little bird. Well I am burning daylight around here, the smell of maple sausage on the stove, hot coffee and pancakes on the griddle, guess where I am headed? Hey! See you down the trail somewhere!

Buford T. Porcupine

By the Glow of the Fireplace

2006-02-28T18:13:00.000-09:00

February 28th, 2006

Glow and warmth from the fireplace that has lit part of my face, warms the side that must do all the profound thinking of what I do up here. Fire, as defined in the dictionary, one of many definitions I've read : to glow as if on fire; to become inflamed with passion; to become excited.

As winter lingers on, now leaving February behind and March here; the daylight hours now longer and increasing . I get excited and passionate about all the possibilities looking towards spring. Spring up here in Alaska is called breakup.

With the chickadees calling out around this place, trees swaying to the wind, snow still quite deep for the snowshoer in all of us, it is the longer daylight that holds me more to the outdoors. Leaving my favorite spot next to the fireplace. Although I must admit I love the warmth and glow coming from the fireplace and often find it hard to leave. But my true passion is for the great outdoors . When I reflect on all the creatures I've photographed, all the paths I've persued whether through some woods or up some steep mountain side trail, I just get excited! Because I know there will always be more for me, more than what I will ever need, more than what I will ever see in this lifetime. Spring brings renewal for all of us. To get out and explore all the possibities. To me it can be all so over-whelming. My inner peace glows as if on fire, being out in all of the outdoors. I suppose there are many more profound deep thoughts buried inside of me, left for another time at this rocker beside the fireplace. Oh well, time to toss in another log. Hey see you down the trail somewhere.

Buford T. Porcupine

Alaska Winter Wonderland

2006-01-29T09:12:00.000-09:00

January 19th 2006

Well, hello all trail buddies who stop in to look around. January up here has produced some mighty cold temperatures. In the Matanuska valley temperatures have dropped to - minus 24 below zero and lower the more north you go. Only reaching a high of - 5 degrees. Moose hunting has been over for quite some time; antlers have fallen off Bullwinkle. Moose have come down out of the mountains because of deeper snow. They stick to areas of good browsing. And for some odd reason they like to bed down around our homes. Must be the warmth coming from the cabin. The smell of a good fire. Not that they could care about the fire. But sure is nice to come home and find one of the local woods residents hanging around the cabin . It just makes it comforting to know moose out there find this this ole cabin a safe refuge . Hell of a lawn ornament wouldn't you say?

January 29th 2006

Frigid temperatures have frosted the landscape everywhere you look. It has made for some fantastic cold adventures out early morning still trying to catch first light . What area cracks lay in the creeks and rivers find themselves to the surface, casting an icefog that paints the landscapes.
Yet I still, despite the cold, feel the urge to get up and get out in all of this wintery splendor.

Brrrrrrrrrr! Well trailbuddies, hope you're all having fun in your wintery adventures. See you down the trail.

Buford T. Porcupine

2006-01-14T08:12:00.000-09:00

January 14th 2006

As I sit alone in the darkness in my favorite rocker by the fireplace, several logs tossed in has stirred up the warm coals from not so long ago. As the fire warms and the logs heat up, light soon appears filling the room of this ole cabin. I watch the shadows dance about the room from the fire. Staring out about the room, my mind quickly ponders thoughts of a new year and wonder where the last one went. It is still dark here outside at 8:25 am. And the temperature is at 1.9 degrees. For the past several nights the moon has been out. Emitting a such a bright glow, it looks like daylight. No clouds and very cold.

Emotions still embrace me from last night from reviewing the slides I had recieved. Quickly opening them as if it were Christmas for me. I am overjoyed at the many varieties of subjects that are there for my viewing pleasure. Each and every one of them get scrutinized for flaws up close. All of the elements must be there for this editors approval. I am quickly drawn back to all those moments in time I caught on film of the many wildlife subjects I persue. I am over-whelmed that all the parts have come together. Still it is a accumulation of time and endless efforts in pursuing my outdoor passion. In the end the results speak for them selves.

Light now creeps into the room, coming from outside. Through the trees, the mountain's whiteness illuminates. Moon slowly sinking down towards the mountain tops. It is now 8.8 degrees and at 9:33 am I guess I better get on with this day. You're burning daylight! Off to another day of adventure with more subjects to be had. Though it will be a cold one. I've always reminded myself of a motto that has stuck in my head, "There's no such thing as bad weather, just inadequate dressing!" For each and everyone of us who possess the true passion for the great outdoors, this is a code to live by. Up out of the rocker and with this day.

Hey see down the trail somewhere.

Buford T. Porcupine

Buford T. Porcupine's Wild and Wacky Adventures: A Mountainside Hello

2005-12-27T18:24:00.000-09:00

December 27th 2005

Well to all my wery trailbuddys stopping in, Hope you all had a good Christmas! Were past one important date up here. Its called solstice day. December 21st. Now we all can get excitied. We start gaining a second or two each day of light . But still this time of year one must get use to the long dark drear days even though we are gaining that second. Yes would be nice to see the sun.

I spend my days around the cabin doing things to keep me occupied , while taking a little time off and going off up into the Mountains. Been a strange winter here so far, No snow down below to speak of. Even the farthest point to the north Point Barrow has had tempitures of just single digits and minus singles at night . Just unheard of! It certainly makes me aware that we have alterd our weather pattern up here. Many of the elders I ve talked to that have been here right along notice the changes.
Everyday in the paper I ve been reading about the north Pole decreasing in size. Now supposively true north isnt true north anymore. just off by a few degrees. Northern lights drifting and may soon be lost only to be seen over in Russia, Siberia. Good lord people look around you! Yes by the turn of century were going to witness many changes in our planet. Still as I sit back in my rocking chair, the smell of the smoke comming from the fireplace, I reflect on why a made the adventure up here to Alaska. Thee last great frontier! I try to spend as much time as I can moving around about the area always looking for something of the wildlife.

Its a good thing for each of us to have our outlet. Something that very something, that takes you away from the maddness of the everyday routine each and everyone of us does. Mine is and always has been the greatout doors! For some it may birding , hiking down a trail. This time of year up here, heading off to the mountains to cross country ski, snowboard or my favorite snowshoe. It just makes my day to head off down the trail to look about. The fresh air filling my lungs. Just the sight of the Mountains serrounding me. Always daring and dreaming of that one high point I havent hiked up to yet. And yet all the hard work your body goes through, the ultimate reward is the view from the top to the world below. Everything looks so small insignificant to you . One soaks the view in , locks it into their memory bank to relish later on down off the Mountain side. Once back at the cabin , a log into the fireplace and a restful sit in that ol rocking chair. Somehow seems all worth it.

Well not to much longer and another year will have passed. My where has the time in each of our lives gone? Time is passing so quickly. 8 hours days seem to speed through the day. Hard to believe another week is gone. Holidays krept up on us and now are just a memory. The new year just about on us . Soon the new next year will be here 2006. Then comes the 4 more months of winter if we even get one. We look forward to spring thinking we will slow down there to alittle bit too. Na we never relly slow down do we?
Hey do yourself a favor! Take some time out, put on the hiking boots. Go for a breathier. Get some fresh air to your lungs. Listen to what the outdoors has to offer. Hear the music the wind makes while walking through the woods. The chickidee calling you out of your everyday pace you so much keep. Its been my anti drug for as long as I can remember! Is it yours?

Hey see you down the trail somewhere!

Buford T. Porcupine

A Mountainside Hello

2005-11-30T18:52:00.000-09:00

It's a cold, sunny day up in the mountains; lots of fellow mountain worshipers up here boarding down the slope. Sorry you're not here to partake in some of the Alaskan rituals, you're really missing out!

See you on down the trail,

Buford T. Porcupine

Buford - Fireplace Chat

2005-11-12T08:04:00.000-09:00

It has snowed down below but not much to do anything with. The mountains presence shows more snow in depth from a distance. This morning looking out through the trees, the sun finaly shows through. From a angle the sun light on the trees is pleasing. A nice sidelight affect I admire.
From the other window I look out, again through the trees, a wall of white off in the distance . What a wonderful sight the first sunlight on the Mountains . The shadows that are vivid not yet hit by the sun are a artist dream to paint with or play around with in even my photography.
23.7 degrees sets the tone of the day . After my coffee and in the comfort of my rocker by the fireplace, I contemplate about my day and what adventures I might be after. Umm I guess we shall see!

See you down the trail......

Buford T. Porcupine

Buford - Weather Update

2005-11-07T08:03:00.000-09:00

November 7th
Yeh its snowing!!

Buford - Fireplace Chat

2005-10-30T08:02:00.000-09:00

Well folks , just off the trail checking out some of my old favorite hot spots up here. Though the mountains have snow , I ve found that those dedicated will park and make the hike up to higher grounds to snow board. The little su river that runs out of the mountains is showing great scenes of ice build up. I ve found many oppertunites in varis spots to seek out great photography shots. Many macro oppertunitys to seek out the hidden pictures that lay waitng to be found.
And as we all know , this weekend we go through the time change. So now....we even get less light to work with. We will be down shortly to about 4 hours of light . Kinda makes me stay in and get more down in the cabin. And comming in late last night from a day of travel, unfortunitly though we in our travels havent seen any moose, came across a cow that was crossing the road and apparently got hit.
It was standing off to the side with its rear to the on comming lane, the pile of fur left in the road side would suggest that its got a sore rump! Ouch. Though I will continue to look for this moose, theres always the pictures in the front page of the Anchorge press of moose bulls taken up in a place in Anchoge called: Hillside. Yet to go and investigate this area. Will have to do this soon I suspect.
So in the mean time as we wait for the snow to eventuly make down to the level ground, we venture off to the mountains still to record the comming winters bliss! YOU.. what are yous all up to?

Well got to go through a log in the fireplace heat up the cabin! Hey see you down the trail. Get those showshoes ready deeper show is comming.......

Buford T. Porcupine

Buford - Fireplace Chat

2005-09-26T08:01:00.000-08:00

Well hello to you all trail buddys out there. Yesterdays afternoon adventure lead me off to one of my favorite areas around here, Hatchers Pass. Now it is told around these parts here, if you see on the Mountain tops you can expect snow in about 6 weeks .
While most of the leaves are off the trees, some still cling on for last minute fall out. Oh ya eh the color is all gone except but a few trees. But as the drive you take up into Hatchers Pass, rivers are high due to alot of rain we ve recieved lately. Seen a couple of guys kayaking the river bouncing on down through , but its not my type of Kayaking I prefer to do.

Then your eyes kinda head off up high and as my reaction was, Wow look at all the snow up on the mountain tops! Now on our ride up towards the top area, we always till they close the gates to the summit lake area have to check it out. Oh ya you got to stop and put da truck into 4 wheel drive. But it was slow going and being cautious that got us to the top.
Windy and cold, berrr. Took the camera out and snapped a few pictures just to record the first new fallen snow that covered everything white up there. I am sure the park will close the pass soon as there are no guard rails up there to keep you from going over if your not careful. Spent enough time up there to get what I was after and slowly crept down. You will just have to stop another website to check out the pictures from that ride. www.ctadventures.net . Then into Hatchers Pass- Summit lake !

But as I find out not everyone is into Mountains and climbing around up there like some darn ole mountain goat as I hope to turn into with age. And thats ok. But trail buddys let me tell you , oh what a view!!!! The fact that you did the climb and got your heart pumping for the first time. The adreniline is flowing , step by step up you go , you make it to the top . Your reward is the view to down below. Makes aware of how small you are in this world. A mere speck on the side of a mountain.
Well once back home to the cabin and warming by a nice fire, I can only reflect on these thoughts and share them with you.

Hey see you out on the the winter trail up here. Hope you got your snowshoes ready.

Buford T. Porcupine

P.S. Quilbert has gone in for the winter, though he comes out occasionally to look around and snack on some buds.

Buford - Fireplace Chat Poem

2005-09-04T07:59:00.000-08:00

With cloudy days hanging around

rain out there coming down

wondering where the sun has gone

memories shift to yesterday out

hiking off to some distant point

Fall paints the tips of leaves

snow falls on Mountain tops

soon will come more of the white stuff

wondering where the year has gone

plans on a long wintering nap

Marmonts scurry for every mouthful of grass filling the den

Artic squirrels chatter off in the distance soon soon they will be missed

High up above cooler air floats letting you know it wont be long

Soon it will be winters song

My thoughts on this day...Buford

Buford - Fireplace Chat

2005-09-01T07:57:00.000-08:00

Well here we are on the eve of labor day weekend. Another summer gone. Upon getting out this morning and looking about, I did a head turner. When my eyes had looked to the sight of the Mountains, to my suprise there way up on the tips of some mountains.....snow! Yes with all the rain we ve had who would suspect we would get some of that white stuff. Well its that time of year up here that marks what is comming down the pike for us.
Oh for many of us in other parts of the country, its still green . Ya sure if you are a flatlander dont ya know. But when I tell others down below the find it hard to believe. I guess you just got to look at a map of the United states and remeber where we are Alaska , to the rest of the world down below. Fishing has slowed I hear and attentions turned to hunting . Well guess its time to work on piling wood in the da wood shed, get ready for the cooler months.
Hey still time to hit the trail and seek out some early fall colors. Well see yous down the trail!
Buford

Buford - Fireplace Chat

2005-08-26T07:56:00.000-08:00

Well folks its like this, so far in the remaining days of August we ve recieved alot of rain. Oh the days are cooling alittle . The morning temps have been around low 50s with the day getting up to 60s. Hate to say it but the cooler days are slowly creeping up on us. Now just down to 14hours of daylight and some odd minutes, we can still make the best of our daylight dreaming away about fishing or early hunting if thats what you like to do.
I prefer to go for a hike or scout around the area looking for migrating waterfowl or birds. Maybe catch a early morning glimpse of a moose would be nice. Tips of trees now starting to turn to the yellows and gold that will soon be painting everything to the look of fall. How many of us remember looking up to the skies and seeing the candian geese flying south. Or maybe the sqauking comming from the sandhill cranes flying over head. Dont forget on those stressful days take time out and go on a hike release the days uneventful moments . As the fall wind blows releasing all the leafs putting them to bed, were reminded with coolness of the air that feels our lungs, winter is not to far off. Shorter days will be upon us. Stacking wood for the long winter ahead. Saying good bye to summers end. Closing up the cabin on the lake and catching the the last sounds of the loons soon to be heading south.
I look forward to thoughts of landscapes coverd in white. Mountain peeks all capped. A stillness about as the land quietly sleeps. Getting the snowshoes out and ready to go look for Ptarmigan that are brown soon to be turning white for the winters camoflouge. I am constintly reminding myself a good day outside is better than a bad day in the office!
Well all no such thing as bad weather just inadequate dressing! See you down the trail.

Buford T. Porcupine

Buford's Travel Companion

2005-08-18T21:04:00.000-08:00

Hello all, I am always amazed in my travels the animals I run across. The 2 words that I ve used in my talks with others about my photography are: Patience and persistence. Sometimes I think of myself as Dr.Doolittle. If I could talk to the animals , what would they say? I ran across this little critter in my travels and found he made such a lovely travel companion. But I must admit brushing him the wrong way can get kinda prickly! So were off on the road somewhere.........

Buford T. Porcupine & Quilbert

Home Alasken Style

2005-08-15T20:55:00.000-08:00

Hi all, just caught me on a breather. Now I know what you must be thinking? Is this for real? Well ok so gas sucks , dont need to worry about scratching it. Room to stand and up stairs has a porch. Got to love it , ruffing it on all the back roads we take to seek out the wildlife . Ya sure .....Dont ya know....

See you all down the road somewhere.........

Buford T. Porcupine

Buford - Fireplace Chat

2005-08-02T07:51:00.000-08:00

Hello all, well traces of fall are here up in the mountains. Though we are currently seeing 80s during the late afternoon , its still low 50s in the morning. Hard to believe its comming up on a year here. With these long days of sunlight I try to be out and scouting and looking for moose, bear what ever crosses my path early morning hikes.
The sight of mountains all around you in your hike is just breath taking. Sometimes its hard to believe I am truely here. But for all of you who have never been here, I am taking plenty of pictures for my slide stock for you. Oh dont worry by the time you get here there will still be plenty for you as well!

I am always imazed in my daily hikes and running into people and talking to them, there either so busy at home or life that finding the time to do a hike as I talk about seems next to impossiable. When do we in our daily lives say to our selfs, time to take a day off just for me. To look around, catch my breath before we just dont have the oppertunity to do so . I do it for the health of it! Remember as we get older life seems to go much faster.

What will a hike do for you? Unplug from daily life. The quiteness and beauty will serround you. The stress from your uneventful will be forgotton. Listen as you walk, hear the birds calling. Ask yourself can I identify that bird. What a challenge. Truely look around while out on your hike. look at all the fine memeroies you can take back with you . And there free. One just might want to do it again and again. I personaly look forward to the fall and all of its colors. Especialy now living here in Alaska. But I stay very busy with the outdoors with all my adventures and the photography. I admit I have a addiction a drug, and cant ever get enough of all of our beauty in any season!

Well all my readers that stop in for a look around, see you out on the trail somewhere!

Buford

Happy Birthday Buford!

2005-07-16T06:48:00.000-08:00

Well folks, it has been quite a while since anything has been posted here (sorry) but I think it fitting to trumpet the fact that today is BUFORD'S Birthday!

Other famous birthdays today include Barry Sanders (1968), Will Ferrell (1967), Mickey Rourke (1957), Ginger Rogers (1911), and Barbara Stanwyck (1907) but all pale in comparison to Buford T. Porcupine (aka Todd Michael Katke).

I have known Todd since grade school (4th grade - a long, long, long time ago) and I feel so very fortunate to be able to call Todd my friend, my brother. Though the physical distance between us is vast, I can, with great pride, call Todd my best friend.

Have a Happy Birthday Todd.....I mean, Buford. Love ya buddy.

( This photo from years ago, when Buford was good looking. :)

Springtime - The Season of Renewal

2005-04-08T15:56:00.000-08:00

The North Wind

2005-03-22T17:46:00.000-09:00

Sorry for the post delay folks. There has been quite a chill in the air here in Alaska. I sent my longjohns to the dry cleaner for pressing and they still haven't come back. We'll get things back in form soon. In the meantime, there is now a new item added to the sidebar that may be of interest....

You can enter a free subscription to Buford!

I know...I know...you are all probably saying to yourself...."c'mon dude, nothing is free anymore"! As some of the locals might say, "au contraire". (Actually, locals in Paris or Quebec would say something like that.)

This is free...honest. So sign up and you'll be the first of your friends to know when the polar ice pack starts melting and other useful tidbits.

Gotta run now. I need to go to Home Depot to get replacement windows for my igloo.

Website Overhaul

2005-03-12T09:10:00.000-09:00

Just a note to let everyone know that the Todd Katke website has been totally revamped. I have to tell you it is absolutely beautiful. The website developer, Velvet Green Creations, has transformed this site and allowed an attractive showcase for the photography.

There are several new photos now available for viewing and/or purchasing (nod, nod, wink, wink) plus there is even a link back to this little ol' blog.

If you are looking for help with your web endeavors, we highly recommend that you check with the good folks at Velvet Green Creations. Thanks to Chris & Gina Harman for all their hard work and dedication to bringing this together and helping Todd Katke share his vision.

"Snow Field"

2005-03-08T18:31:00.000-09:00

This is a photo used in the Owl Calendar from an earlier post. Owls, as a photo subject require the photographer to have awareness of their environment. I consider myself fortunate to have been able to "find" such a great example of these mysterious birds.

The difficulty arises in needing to know their feeding habits and territory. The Arctic Owl, shown here, has little fear of man and typically does not see humans as a natural threat. So once you learn their nesting and feeding routines, they are rather easy to approach in the wild.

I have spent many hours building a portfolio of various species of owls that include Great Grey, Great Horned, Sawet, Long-earred, Barn,and Burrowing Owls. I hope to be able to post some more samples of these many unique species.

(Owl photo in the sidebar is an example of a Great Grey Owl. Thought you might be wondering....or maybe not.)

Inside Buford T. Porcupine

2005-03-07T14:21:00.000-09:00

Todd Katke (a.k.a. Buford T. Porcupine) took a few moments recently to answer some questions that I thought might be interesting to share with you. Though busily pursuing photographs of the elusive moose and capturing photos from the Iditarod, Todd sent me these answers.

Question # 1 - When did you first discover that you had an interest in wildlife photography?

"I first became interested in wildlife/nature back in early 1983."

Question # 2 - What kind of formal training have you had in photography?

"My formal training comes from The Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale Florida, though for a commercial end of photography it helped me a lot in understanding photography and building my foundation and love for it. What I was able to see through the lens and let the creative side e of me flow. After that school I continued to be self taught increasing my knowledge love for my photography. Through many natural guide books , other peoples photography wildlife books. To continuing educating myself through 1 day seminars and other related classes, reading everything I could get my hands on to further my knowledge."

Question # 3 - What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career, so far, as a professional wildlife photographer?

"My most rewarding moment in my career? Being a NANPA MEMBER: North American Nature Photography Association, we promote Mentoring. I myself mentored to a young high school boy who at the time didn't even own a camera. Mentoring you offer your time and talent and teach others who might share the interest and passion in photography. My student, Ryan White, was with me for about 4 years. In that time together, he would come and stay at our house and we would go out and work together on his growing vision, creating developing his eye. Educating him in the studio through slide presentations and examples of some of my work. It also won a scholarship I voted him in for, and received it. We have also done some extensive traveling through out the U.S. together. And as a result he is now currently pursuing his education in college into a career of Photography. The greatest gift is giving back to the youth."

Question # 4 - Whom would you say has been your source of inspiration in this field? Who would you say has been your mentor?

"My greatest inspiration: Carl Sams. My mentors , there has been many. People like : Art Wolfe, Rod Planck, John Shaw, and the list goes on. Most of whom I ve all meet and had the privilege of talking to personal and meeting with every year at NANPA conventions ."

Question # 5 - What advice would you give to someone just starting out?

"Greatest advice for someone just starting out? Don't let anyone steal your dream! It will require a lot of time and effort. Discipline yourself, educate yourself through natural history guide books. Photo guide books. Pursue education through college, and photography courses. Continue to read in areas that interest you , and watch yourself grow."

Thanks Todd. I am honored to be able to share your thoughts and art with the readers of this page. Thanks also for letting me play some part in presenting the beautiful wildlife photos and for our thirty years of friendship.

ABC News: Former Iditarod Champ Goes for 5th Title

2005-03-06T10:44:00.000-09:00

ABC News: Former Iditarod Champ Goes for 5th Title

Here's some news from one of the biggest events in Alaska. This is one long race, 1,100 miles from Anchorage to Nome.

C'mon Up and Visit Sometime

2005-03-02T17:31:00.000-09:00

Everyone should come see Alaska at least once in their lifetime. When you think you may be planning a trip thisaway, check out USA Lodging & Hotels website.

These nice folks are currently using a few of my photos on their main Alaska page.

Once you get here, look me up. That's Buford T. Porcupine.

Recently Published

2005-02-26T21:21:00.000-09:00

Todd Michael Katke (a.k.a. Buford T. Porcupine) is one of several featured wildlife photographers in two different 2005 calendars published by Willow Creek Press.

Click on these links to see this breathtaking selection of wildlife photography.

Whitetail Monarchs 2005 Calendar: Willow Creek Press

Todd's photo is featured for the month of August in this calendar.

Owls 2005 Calendar: Willow Creek Press

The Snowy Owl photo for December is another example of Todd's fine work.

Coming Soon: The Porcupine Papers

2005-02-26T19:32:00.000-09:00

Shortly, there will be a regular feature called "The Porcupine Papers". Basically, these entries will be reprints from the field journals of our very own, Buford T. Porcupine. We are steeped in the editing process now but these editions will begin to grace these pages in a very short time.

Welcome to Wasilla, Alaska

2005-02-25T22:04:00.000-09:00

Wasilla, founded in 1917, is located on the main line of the Alaska Railroad about 45 miles north of Anchorage. Between the Matanuska and Susitna valleys of Southcentral Alaska, you arrive in Wasilla by automobile via the Parks Highway.

Current population is just over 5,100 residents and other the past several years has been one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S. Wasilla was incorporated in 1974 and is governed by a six-member city council and an elected Mayor.

Alaska Departments of Environmental Conservation, Labor, Divisions of Public Assistance, Social Services, and Mat-Su Legislative Information Office are located in Wasilla. Federal installations are the FAA Wasilla and Veterans Center.

The average temperature in Wasilla in December is 13F and scorching 58F in July. Average daylight hours in December are only 5 while July daylight hours are 19, which may help to explain the high temps.

Wasilla information courtesy Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce.

Buford T. Porcupine - Unleashed

2005-02-24T14:30:00.000-09:00

Todd Michael Katke. Todd has spent the better part of the last twenty years learning his trade and refining his keen eye for capturing unique views of the world in which we live. Since he was young man, Todd has been fascinated with photography, first as a hobbyist, and now a nationally recognized nature photographer. His love of nature shows through in his ability to capture the essence of his subjects, in their environment.

In future posts, we wish to share Todd's vision through his photographs plus the stories associated, as he treks through the wild spaces of North America. If you have a love for nature, we hope you will check this page frequently as Todd (a.k.a. Buford T. Porcupine) describes his adventures as he pursues the perfect image.

The Journey Begins

2005-02-22T18:46:00.000-09:00

Here we go.
Every journey begins with a single step.
We now find ourselves faced with
yet another opportunity to span the miles and the years, to be reunited on another campaign,
To pursue new and common interests,
to seek a method,
a pathway, to share the precious time our lives afford us.