Those of us working at the Hotels in Glacier National Park, Montana, enjoyed trips across the border into Alberta for shopping, boating, horseback riding and hiking in Waterton Lakes Park. Our trip wasn’t complete without a visit to the Prince of Wales Hotel that sits above the town of Waterton with a superb view of the lake, and the mountains of Glacier Park beyond.

Early this year, author Ray Djuff (“View with a Room,” “Waterton and Glacier in a Snap”) released a thoroughly researched book about the hotel called “High on a Windy Hill: The Story of the Prince of Wales Hotel” via Rocky Mountain Books.

The title is certainly apt. On that hill, the wind seldom stops. Like the major hotels in Glacier, “The Prince” (or “PW”) as we called it, was built by the Great Northern Railway. The 90-room, 1927, Swiss-style structure is now a historic site. As a hotel employee during the 1970s, the Calgary-based Djuff knows the area well.

The descriptions, historical information and photographs are a nice addition to any Montana/Alberta tourist’s collection.

–Malcolm

WCW Monday Nitro
December 2, 1996
Dayton, OH
Hara Arena

The current WCW champs were as follows:
WCW World Champion: Hollywood Hogan (8/10/1996)
WCW U.S. Champion: Vacant (11/25/1996)
WCW World Tag Team Champions: The Outsiders (10/27/1996)
WCW World Television Champion: Lord Steven Regal (8/20/1996)
WCW World Cruiserweight Champion: Dean Malenko (10/27/1996)

Why is Hulkamania STILL running wild in the intro? Come on, WCW.

HOUR NUMBER ONE! Your hosts are Tony Schiavone & Larry Zbyszko.

Both the Steiners interrupt Tony and Larry Z at the start of the broadcast. Rick Steiner sends out a challenge to Sting. That makes it okay to flashback to last week where Sting cost the DFG a match with Big Bubba by sneaking up behind him and delivering the Scorpion Death Drop.

• Glacier vs. Hardbody Harrison

Really? Is GLACIER supposed to keep people from changing over to Raw? Apparently Elijah Burke or whatever he’s called now in TNA gets his look straight from Hardbody Harrison. You can guess how this goes. Spinning Roundhouse Kick gets the quick 1-2-3. (1:00) As long as they only put Glacier on Nitro every two months, I’ll be alright. ¼*

Cincinnati Bengals players LOVE the nWo!

• Amazing French Canadians (w/Col. Robert Parker) vs. Renegade & Joe Gomez

Poor Renegade and Gomez don’t realize that a good babyface team would stop the AFC when they’re trying to sing O Canada. Renegade comes in to stop an AFC save and that just leads to Gomez getting tossed over the top rope to get beat up on the floor courtesy of Col. Parker of the French Foreign Legion and Carl Oulette. Back in, Gomez receives a double hotshot. This time Renegade REALLY makes the save for his partner and gets the hot tag. He hits a bunch of clotheslines and the Handspring Elbow, but gets his whip reversed into a clothesline by Oulette. Piledriver from Rougeau sets up the QUEBECER CRASH for 1-2-3. (3:16) Where was Gomez there? No save, pal? Tony admires the AFC for continuing their winning ways. Hey Tony, they just lost at the PPV eight days ago! *½

Gene Okerlund has Arn Anderson for an interview. AA reminds everybody he destroyed the myth that you can’t beat Hulk Hogan – not once, but twice. Better bring a high heel shoe with you to Starrcade, Roddy. Arn goes on to say that because he didn’t take Piper out many years ago, now he’s going to get his receipt. Next week when Nitro comes from Charlotte, Roddy Piper will be on the show. We dare you to show up Hogan. WOO!

• The Faces of Fear (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. Robert Gibson & Scotty Riggs

Now that Riggs is on his own, he’s going with…Robert Gibson? We flashback to last week where the new World order ended a Faces of Fear/Harlem Heat main event and attacked everybody. Riggs and Gibson work on Barbarian’s arm to start. Gibson ducks low off a whip and in comes Meng. Blind tag to Riggs, he catches Meng with a flying bodypress for 1-2-NO! American Express (Gibson/Riggs! WHADDAYA THINK?) deliver a double clothesline, but Meng chops back and tags in Barbarian for the backdrop into a powerbomb on Riggs. Wow I mark for that. That gets two. What I want to know is why they’re making this match so long and wanting everybody to check for Gibson and Riggs when they’re getting a tag titles shot at Starrcade? The Faces of Fear continue to brutalize Riggs for a while. Put him away! Kick of Fear! Done! Come on. Too bad that doesn’t happen. Riggs avoids some elbow drops and hot tags Gibson. He nails Barbarian with the enziguri, but then Gibson tastes the KICK OF FEAR for real and it tastes pretty bad. (7:41) I don’t understand the booking here. Even if they won’t win the belts at Starrcade, at least make them appear to be a threat. That’s the whole point of wrestling – make your whole show sell, not just your main event. DUH. Just when it couldn’t make any less sense, Riggs cleans house on the Faces of Fear with steel chairshots. Is he PMS’ing over losing his partner to the nWo or something? They didn’t have anything to do with it, Scotty! *

WCW Saturday Night! Watch it IF YOU WEEL! 6:05PM eastern! TBS! Arn Anderson, Lord Steven Regal, the Faces of Fear, Chris Jericho, Rick Steiner, Bunkhouse Buck, Jeff Jarrett, Kevin Sullivan and many others are featured on the show! Don’t miss out! It’s the MUTHASHIP! PAY WINDAHS, CLUBBERIN, AND PLUNDAH, BABY!

Neat! We see some house show footage of Benoit/Sullivan in Baltimore back on 11/23. Pretty much exactly how it went down at the Great American Bash except for the Dungeon of Doom attacking Benoit in the bathroom while he’s trying to put Sullivan in the Crippler Crossface. A BACKBREAKER BY THE URINAL! Back to the ring, Woman jumps on Sullivan’s back to get him to stop beating up Benoit before the Faces of Fear hold her back.

• Kevin Sullivan vs. Unnamed Jobber #203

Tony doesn’t even know this jobber’s name. He looks like he doesn’t realize that the ’80s are over with his long blonde hair. HEAVY METALLLLLLLLLLL! Either that, or he’s Randy the Ram. This is the usual crazed lunatic brawl from Sullivan. Tree of Woe and the DOUBLE STOMP gets the win. (2:00) Larry Z thinks Piper should lead the Dungeon of Doom against the new World order. Somebody fire him. ¼*

Kevin Sullivan cuts a confusing promo if you didn’t already know that he and Woman were married.

• WCW World Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko vs. Billy Kidman

Kidman surprises Malenko with a headscissors for two. Tilt-a-whirl headscissors puts Malenko on the floor. Kidman wants a pescado, but Malenko moves out of the way and gives Kidman a powerbomb (!!) on the outside. Meanwhile, Sonny Oono makes his way down to ringside with a camera. You know, to scout Malenko. Back in, Malenko delivers a brainbuster for two. Looks like they screw up a boot-to-the-face-out-of-the-corner spot and then they try it again. Kidman hits a missile dropkick, followed by a fisherman suplex for 1-2-NO! Malenko tries a powerbomb, but Kidman slips away and drops down for a backslide for 1-2-NO! They trade inside cradles for two. Kidman gets caught up top for a superplex, so Malenko heads up top and gets blinded by Oono’s camera flashing in his face. Kidman wants the SHOOTING STAR PRESS, but Malenko brings the knees up and applies the TEXAS CLOVERLEAF for the win. (5:50) Way too many noticeable screw-ups from Kidman here, but otherwise a decent glorified squash. *½

HOUR NUMBER TWO! Your hosts are Tony Schiavone, Bobby Heenan, and Mike Tenay.

• Jeff Jarrett vs. Big Bubba (w/Jimmy Hart)

Why do these two deserve a rematch? Bubba controls to start. Jarrett puts on the brakes and struts to take control? Ha, swinging neckbreaker connects. Bubba punches him down to allow Jimmy Hart to choke him a little bit. Jarrett slides out to get him a piece of Jimmy, but Bubba makes the save by missing Jarrett and punching Jimmy away. JIMMY’S DOWN. Back in, a flying bodypress gets two. Bubba kicks off the FIGURE-FOUR as Jimmy tosses the megaphone in the ring. While Jimmy has the ref’s attention, Jarrett rolls up Bubba for the delayed nearfall. Bubba grabs the megaphone, but WHAM. Jarrett dropkicks it back in his face for the 1-2-3. (4:08) Same finish as last time they faced on Nitro six weeks ago. ¾*

The Steiner brothers come back out to get an answer to their challenge from Sting. Rick calls him out and from the rafters, Sting gives him the nod. STING vs. RICK STEINER! TONIGHT!

After the break, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, and Eric Bischoff (Syxx and Vincent appear as well, but they leave right away) come out to take over the announce table. You see, they want their hour of Nitro, but they’re about ten minutes late. Piper doesn’t want none of Hollywood Hogan. Bischoff uses this time to take a stab at the WWF’s The Man They Call Vader by saying that Hogan handled him pretty easily. They show a clip of Slamboree ‘95 where Hogan clotheslines him down. He shows more footage of the time the nWo beat down Ric Flair and took his US belt. Let’s not forget the time Hogan beat the crap out of Randy Savage and painted a chalk line around him while he had him laying face down. You don’t want none, Piper.

• Eddie Guerrero vs. Squire David Taylor

Everybody in WCW has three weeks left to convert their WCW contracts into nWo contracts – or else. Hall and Nash talks about wanting to bring an Englishman into the nWo. They show a split screen for a flashback to last week when Eddie beat Konnan in the US title tournament. Taylor works the arm a lot, but Eddie fights back with a headscissors and the FROG SPLASH for the win. (2:13) Eddie looks like he’s going to confront the now, and does so by doing NOTHING. ½*

On the Road with Lee Marshall: He’s in Charlotte and doesn’t sound all that happy to be talking to the nWo. Nash asks him if he’s live from Arn Anderson’s double wide? HA. Marshall says Ric Flair in Charlotte is like the Beatles in Liverpool. Hall ~ “You mean like how Flair’s old and outdated?”

• Arn Anderson vs. Jim Powers (w/Teddy Long)

Teddy Long ~ “WESTSIDEEE!” HAHA, what. Anyways, Arn got his butt handed to him last week from Luger – now he’s all pissed off and ready to destroy Jim Powers. He takes him to the floor and rubs his face on the ringside mats before running him into the ringpost. Back in, Arn dominates and works the arm. He stops himself before coming down face-first onto Powers’ foot, but then misses an elbow drop. Powers hits the Knee Lift and the dropkick for two. Screw all that, DDT! (3:08) Hall says Arn can play on his team anytime. *

• Chris Benoit vs. Lord Steven Regal – WCW U.S. Title Tournament Match

Hey, where’s Woman? If you read above, Regal’s still the TV champ, but of course the belt isn’t on the line here. Early on during a palm strike-hip toss exchange, Regal gets busted open BIG time and the hard camera has to go wide – REALLY wide. That hurts the match at least how it appears on TV. They light each other with chops. Benoit hits the SWANDIVE HEADBUTT for 1-2-NO! Awesome tombstone exchange sees Benoit getting the better of that. Regal rolls out and baits Benoit into a missed pescado. Back in, Regal hits a Butterfly Superplex for 1-2-NO! Benoit comes back with a German suplex and then finishes Regal off with a Dragon Suplex to advance in the tournament. (6:27) Good match with both guys ripping each other apart. Too bad for the stupid ‘no blood’ policy. On a night filled with squashes, this was match of the night. **½

Gene Okerlund has Arn Anderson, Steve McMichael, Debra, and Chris Benoit for an interview. If WCW is looking for leaders, the Horsemen will be more than happy to take the job. Mongo gets onto Benoit for getting involved with Woman. Debra has to run her mouth about it too. Arn finishes up this segment saying they would all rather be a Horsemen than anything else. WOOO!

• Lex Luger vs. Rocco Rock (w/Johnny Grunge)

Wonder why Public Enemy are working singles matches? Rocco Rock takes over to start and hotshots Luger so Grunge can choke him a little bit. Meanwhile, Nash says ECW can be the #4 wrestling company behind the nWo, WCW, and some Japan company. Bischoff asks for three bucks to buy them out. Hall adds in that the sweet part of the deal would be that you can play bingo there too! Oh man good times. Rocco shows off his boxing skills and beats on Luger. To the floor, Grunge gets in some more licks. Back inside, Luger comes back with a press slam. Heel miscommunication ensues and Rocco gets caught in the TORTURE RACK to give Luger the win. (3:56) What a squashtacular show tonight. ¾*

• Sting vs. Rick Steiner (w/Scott Steiner)

Bischoff and Nash make fun of Scott being so “big”. Sting enters the ring through the crowd, tosses his ball bat aside, and turns his back on Rick to give him a free shot. Rick nails him out to the floor where Scott throws him back inside. Rick pounds on Sting, but misses a Steinerline that bounces him off the ropes into the SCORPION DEATHDROP! Scott gets in to help his brother out when Sting picks up the ball bat. Sting moves Scott out of the way, pushes Rick back with the bat, and then hands him the bat. Sting turns his back again allowing a free shot, but Scott jumps in the way. He takes the bat out of Rick’s hand and tosses it away. Fine then. Sting takes his bat and leaves while Scott tries to keep his big brother calm. During all this, Bischoff, Hall and Nash are all egging Sting on to destroy these two. Yeah, nothing to rate here. Anyways, Sting walks over to the announce table and points his bat at the nWo. Ha, they are SO confused and kind of scared.

Sting leaves back through the crowd while Hall and Nash shill their new Outsiders T-shirts.

AND WE OUT!

Some matches have already been announced for Starrcade on December 29!

- MAIN EVENT: WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hollywood Hogan vs. Roddy Piper
- WCW World Tag Team Champions The Outsiders vs. The Faces of Fear
- WCW World Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko vs. J-Crown Champion Ultimo Dragon

Another excellent TED Talk by James Balog. This is the shocking truth about the climate change situation right NOW. Wake-up those who are still disputing the scientific evidence and making this a political issue!

James Balog’s latest work, the Extreme Ice Survey, captures the twisting, soaring forms of threatened wild ice.

To see the natural world through James Balog’s lens is to see it as an artist would — through fresh eyes, as if for the first time, with no preconceived notions. His photos of jungle animals, for instance, are arresting in their directness, simplicity, even sensuality. His subjects assume the same weight and importance as a human portrait sitter, and demand (as a human subject would) that the viewer engage with them rather than simply spectate.

His newest work is no less powerful, no less engaging — and it carries an urgent message. For several years, Balog has been going up north to shoot the half-alive ice of the mammoth glaciers for his Extreme Ice Survey, a look at the shocking effects of abrupt climate change in Alaska, Greenland and Iceland. Soaring, dripping, glowing and crumbling, arctic ice under Balog’s eye requires the viewer to engage.

A new Nova/PBS TV special and a new book, Extreme Ice Now, are helping him spread the word that this glorious world is degrading at a speed we couldn’t imagine until we saw it through his eyes.

“Each new series by James Balog represents a quantum leap in creativity, which takes us deeper into the ultimate mystery of humanity’s relationship to the natural world.”

James Nachtwey, photographer and TED Prize winner

http://www.ted.com/talks/james_balog_time_lapse_proof_of_extreme_ice_loss.html

A banda de visual kei GLACIER, natural de Okinawa, lançou seu primeiro CD depois de quase um ano: um novo single, intitulado Kanasambana, no dia 4 de novembro de 2009.

Kanasambana, que não tem nada a ver com samba (tentativa fracassada de trocadilho), é uma doce canção de amor que conta com a essência popular mostrada na música do grupo. A música vem junta de Hoshizuna, uma bonita balada com influências do estilo musical de Okinawa, um acústico desta mesma faixa e também as versões instrumentais de ambas as canções originais.

O single inclui um encarte de 16 páginas e um DVD especial, contendo o clipe de Kanasambana, um vídeo ao vivo de Hoshizuna e, por fim, um vídeo com cenas de backstage, com comentários de áudio embutidos.

Kanasambana (かなさんバナ)

Preview do PV

Como o PV ainda não está disponível, não pude avaliá-lo.

Embora GLACIER seja denominada como uma banda visual kei, seu estilo é diferente de muitas outras do mesmo gênero. O último single da banda é tão tropical quanto a ilha de onde eles vieram. Kanasambana é quase que “chocantemente” POP para quem não está habituado.

A canção abre com um som de sintetizador que lembra até a canção Dramatic de YUKI, o que é até apropriado, já que a canção é dançante e cheia de energia. No entanto, há uma pitada de algo como um jazz gótico, o que é bem vindo, e a voz de Makoto é suave, o que torna a melodia no mínimo interessante. Para quem quer experimentar algo diferente do visual kei “padronizado”, recomendo este single.

Fonte: Jame-World

Raih lebih tinggi bersama Glacier. Keharumannya yang renyah dan menyegarkan sangat cocok bagi pria sporty dan berjiwa bebas. Perpaduan lavender, rosemary dan tarragon diikuti oleh green fruity, serta kombinasi rempah dengan sentuhan mint. Diakhiri dengan hangatnya aroma kayu-kayuan dan amber yang maskulin. 100 ml.

New Delhi, India –Smaller glaciers in the Himalayas are proving much more vulnerable to climate change impacts than previously thought, with significant implications for the livelihood and freshwater supplies of millions, according to a new report by WWF-India and Birla Institute of Technology (BIT).

Witnessing Change: Glaciers in the Indian Himalayas analyses continuing monitoring of two central Himalayan glaciers since 2006, trying to overcome the lack of baseline data on glaciers that is hampering studies of this key climate indicator. 

The cracking - and - retreating snout of Gangotri Glacier. But smaller glaciers and significantly, their tributaries, are retreating faster in the face of climate change-© Rajesh Kumar/BIT

One of the glaciers studies is Gangotri, a 30 km long glacier famed and sacred as a principle source of the Ganges. Overall, nearly 30 percent of Ganges water comes from snow and glacier melt, with variations in snowfalls, melt rates and flow regimes having potentially profound effects across a huge area of northern India.

Kafni Glacier, whose now separate elments are 4.2 kilometres long, also empties into the headwaters of the Ganges.  Kafni is not only losing ice faster than Gangotri but its former and now hanging tributaries are losing ice faster still.

“need . . . to better predict future water resource scenarios”

“The rapid decline of smaller glaciers is of concern,” said Ravi Singh, Secretary General & CEO of WWF-India.    “These glaciers are perhaps more vulnerable to local climate variations.”

“We see a need for more long- term and continuous assessment to monitor the hydro-meteorological parameters existing in the vicinity of glaciers in order to better predict future water resource scenarios.”

The WWF study explores how the glaciers in the Indian Himalayas are going through change by using scientific data as well as empirical evidence of ground level parameters. In order to understand the impact of hydro-meteorological parameters, the team has installed two automated weather stations– one at Bhojwasa near Gangotri and another in Kafni.

The initial results from the field study indicate that the Himalayan glaciers are retreating, but at a reduced rate and the larger glaciers like Gangotri are unlikely to disappear in near future, due to their large mass balance.

Smaller glaciers like Kafni are not only retreating at a faster rate, but are losing more of their glaciated portion and tributary glaciers- a trend which has been observed across the Himalayas for many other smaller glaciers as well.

Changing cropping patterns

The new research says that the impacts of glacier retreat on the livelihoods of people, ecosystems and biodiversity have been underestimated so far. It confirms visible changes in the social and economic dimensions of the Himalayan region, in addition to the climatic variations that this phenomenon is causing.

Communities living closer to Gangotri have indicated changes in snowfall levels in the winter months resulting in less soil moisture, which in turn is changing cropping patterns and availability of water.

“Witnessing Change shows that while science has provided evidence of changes in glaciers, anecdotal evidence and observations of the communities provide evidence of how communities are coping and managing with change,” said Ravi Singh.

The report discusses the areas of focus needed as way forward, which includes enhancing the monitoring of smaller glaciers, addressing the data challenge, development of regional climate models and engagement of communities in developing suitable adaptation responses.

WWF-INDIA

October 19, 2009.

Glacier National Park.

Today, I went on a 12 mile hike to the Huckleberry Mountain Lookout.  It was fantastic, because this hike literally just went 6 miles straight into the wilderness.  I crossed mountain ranges.  I couldn’t hear any man-made noises until I crested the second range, and could see and hear roadwork.

The only manmade thing in this picture is me.

The mountains behind me.

Tracking a baby grizzly

Don’t worry.  The tracks were days old, and it was on its own–no sow prints.

I wish I had taken a picture or two of the actual lookout.  It was just a very remote building, probably only really accessed by horseback.  This was the view.

The other side of the mountains

It was exhausting.  Sometimes I wonder if I’m eating enough calories to support this much time spent outside in the cold.  My jeans still mostly fit, so I guess I am.

That night, driving to another part of Glacier, I went over a pass named just for me.  I loved it.

The first Maria sign I've seen.

October 18, 2009.

Mile 10,272 – 10,690.  Glacier National Park.

The Entrance. So excited!

I arrive at Glacier National Park on a gloriously beautiful day.  Most of Going To The Sun Road was closed (it’s kinda the main event), but parts of it were open, and more was open if I took my bike.

Along the bike ride.

More great scenery

Place Names of Glacier National Park by Jack Holterman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This reference book, in dictionary form, presents an exhaustive list of Glacier National Park’s place names. Included in the commentary for each name are references to where the name came from, alternative (or older) names for lakes and mountains, the Indian names, details about the personages involved, and a lot of other forgotten lore you won’t find on topographical or hiking maps.

If you love the park, this book by the late Jack Holterman, a scholar of the Blackfeet Language and a long-time historian of the area, will take you deeper into the mysteries of the place. The names and commentary are, in many ways, a miniature history of the people who discovered and safe-guarded this popular, yet threatened national park.

I was honored to be one of the editors of the original version of this book published in 1985 by the Glacier Natural History Association (now called the Glacier Association). The book went out of print for a while, so it was especially nice to see it return several years ago. It’s an excellent resource and a very interesting look at the park.

View all my reviews >>

–Malcolm

So it’s three weeks since I landed back here.  Here’s what’s been happening:

Started work (3 days later).

Climbed a glacier for 8 hours (4 days later).

Rode to the lake and back (24kmish, 9 days later).

Joined the gym (also 9 days later).

Went to gym (multiple times… cannot remember days.  Am giving up chronological scale).

Fell over swiss balls at gym.  Other girl in gym was not sure whether to laugh or not.  She did in the end.

Got mad at customers at work (multiple times… and it hasn’t even been 3 weeks!).

My L Word DVDS arrived in the mail!  I ordered them off Amazon the Saturday after I got back to NZ, expecting them not to get here till mid-late December, but they arrived last week.  The parcel didn’t have my name on it so two of my colleagues checked to see what was in it so we could work out who it was for.  Suddenly I hear giggling and ‘Uh…Brooke, did you order some dvds?’  Gossip.  I can starts it

Have been catching up with friends and trying to learn everyone’s names at work.  There are about 60 employees, and fewer than 10 are still there from last time I worked there (3 years ago).  That’s a lot of names, especially when 4 are called Rob, and another 3 are some form of John/Jonathan.  I suppose that’s actually fewer names, but it makes it a hell of a lot harder to remember who’s who.  I’m trying to make sort of mnemonics to help me.  For example, there’s a guy called Jack.  I remember his name coz he has a beard like Hodgins from Bones.  I will not be telling him this.

Most folks are nice, and it’s cool to have the familiar faces around that I’ve known for years.  I’m also enjoying being in a flat.  My flattie is cool (we’ve worked together before) and we pretty much do our own thing mostly so far!  I’ve lived on my own before, but somehow I feel more grown-up etc this time around.

I haven’t got the internet at home atm (trying to work out whether it would be worth getting a vodem.  Any thoughts?) so that’s why the blogging hasn’t been happening so much, but I usually visit the netcafe at least once a week so I’ll try to keep up to date!

I’ve been up in the ‘big smoke’ the last couple of days staying with my dad.  Went up to the ‘bigger smoke’ yesterday to visit the Warehouse coz I have a queen bed in my flat and only single sheets, so I’ve been sleeping in my sleeping bag for the last two and a half weeks.  So yesterday I bought a duvet and a cover and sheets and an underlay and towels, and left feeling all grown-up lol.  Can’t wait to go home and make my room look more home-y.  I also got very sunburnt yesterday.  I’d bought all that stuff and still had like 2 hours before the bus came so I found a cafe in the sun and had lunch.  Outside.  For 1.5 hours.  I am so stupid.  One day I will die of skin cancer and it will serve me right!  My weird birthmark is now clearly visible again (a strip of skin running down my left arm that never tans) and looks like I tried to get arty with some sunscreen. o.O

Anyway!  It is almost bus time to ferry me back home, so I will go.  But first, because Holly requested it:

Yes Holly, I know. 

Astounding Alaska: Home to Pristine Wildlife, Majestic Nature and Rich Culture

From the many distinct traditional customs to the jaw-dropping glaciers and mountain panorama to the copious activities and adventure, visitors can experience the thrill these have to offer. The state of Alaska has countless possibilities.

Unique Tradition and Myriad Recreations

The many distinct indigenous customs of Alaska simply stir up the minds and hearts of tourists. If you are fascinated with history, culture, and outdoor adventures, Alaska has countless possibilities. Not to mention other intellectual draws like the Russian iconography. Time-honored arts and music, the Eskimo blanket toss, , totem carving, Native danceand cultural museums are some of the means by which guests can have a taste of Alaskan rich tradition. What’s more, Alaska tourists can be awed not only of breath taking panorama of mountains and dazzling glaciers as well as bodies of water, but also of scores of activities one can engage in.  Fishing, , whale watching, mountain biking, river rafting, wildlife hunting, kayaking, and bear viewing. All these and lots more are in store for visitors to experience the thrill they have to offer.

Weather

The western side is generally foggy, breezy, and rainy with summer averaging at about 7 to 9 °C. The South-central and Southeast regions normally encounter average temperatures and heavy rainfall with summer seasons varying from 15 to 21°C. Most of summer seasons provide 24-hour daylight. Majority of Alaska regions savor the midnight’s sun enchantment, an oversupply of daylight which make friends and families trekking after dinner. The later part of August and September provide cooler temperatures as well as fewer sunlight hours.

Best Time To Visit

Since May to September have the longest and balmiest atmospheres, throng of visitors flock Alaska. Certain leisure activities and accommodations are only offered during these peak months. Expect to catch bargains on both activities and lodging come after the peak seasons (May and September to October). During these months, the weather is typically very moderate. For someone captivated with skiing, witnessing the drama of Northern Lights, cheering for the sled dog and ice carving contests and going to the Fur Rendezvous, visit “The Great Land” during these periods. Alaska’s winter time is from November to April.

Getting There

Alaska Airlines, the primary local airline, flies to most cities and towns. Airports are located in Juneau, Fairbanks, Anchorage, and Ketchikan.  Bush planes are available for lease so as to bring you into the midst of the wilds or reach far-flung communities. Public busses are accessible in the bigger cities and towns. However, if you have company of more than two, it can be more economical to hire a vehicle. If you are arriving by marine ferry, you’ll sail alongside Inside Passage watercourse and if you are driving, you will track the Alaska Hwy. European and Asian visitors will have to first stop over in LA, Seattle, Chicago, Vancouver or Minneapolis and take a connecting air travel to Anchorage. In addition, biking can be an efficient and inexpensive means to get around.

Activities

Wildlife Watching

The unspoiled, wonderful wilds of the state can be considered as the last remnant of booming inhabitants of North America’s wildlife. You can observe the following rare animals in their untouched territory: Grizzly bears, polar bears, bald eagles, moose, humpbacked whales, blue whales, and wolves and hundred more!

Fishing

The state has several of the most magnificent fishing quests on earth! Alaska brings 627 fish species along with 3,000 rivers, 3 million plus lakes, and myriad streams. You can rent a ferry or fly to unload you to a quiet, isolated fishing nook or stop at the roadside and cast a line. These include freshwater and saltwater fishing, fly fishing, and ice fishing. Selecting where and what species to catch is all up to you.

Mount Wilbur - Photo by Malcolm R. Campbell

–John Muir

The mountains of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park look like an imposing, blue-grey wall from the eastern plains. But, after you pass monolithic Chief Mountain, summit of dreams and visions, the multifaceted gems of this great wilderness come into full view.

Above the timberline, light dances across glaciers and snowfields that nourish the park with melt water. The song of this wild water is a pure song. Listen for it at Cameron Falls, Morning Eagle Falls and Siyeh Creek. At Triple Divide Peak, the song flows down into the veins of the earth to the Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Hudson Bay.

The green blanket draped around the rock below the timberline is woven with Engelmann spruce, Douglas fir, western larch, subalpine fir, and lodgepole pine. Designated as a Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations, the Peace Park supports over 1000 species of plants. Yellow and pink heather can be found at Logan Pass. The kinnikinnick’s bright red berries complement aspen near Swiftcurrent Lake. A sea of flowers—alpine laurel, buttercups, blue columbine—rolls in great swells down the high meadows. The soul of these mountains rides the wind: a warm caress, a howl of ice, a never-ending breath across cirque lakes and ridges.

Iceberg and Ptarmigan Lakes, Baring Falls and Sunrift Gorge, Two Medicine Pass, Rising Wolf Mountain. Walk gently here, brother to the grizzly bear and eagle, for the trails through this fragile ecosystem are trails through consciousness—the gem that catches the cascading light in the center of this crown of shining mountains.

–Malcolm

Copyright (c) 1986 – “Crown of the Continent” originally appeared in the World of Wonder series of the Rosicrucian Digest in October, 1986 and is reprinted here with permission.

Coming Soon: Author Helen Macie Osterman whose new novel “Notes in a Mirror” has just been released by Weaving Dreams Publishing, will be my guest here on December 8. Stop by and learn more about her story of a nurse who finds mysterious notes that appear in a mirror at a 1950s state mental hospital. They purportedly come from a patient who died at the hospital years ago.

Nick Oliva’s Review of “Jock Stewart and the Missing Sea of Fire:” “Jock Stewart and The Missing Sea of Fire by Malcolm R. Campbell is a colorful rambling tale rooted in the old Bogart mystery movies or the Mickey Spillane pulp fiction of yesteryears but with more twists that a package of red licorice; with more curves than Lindsey Lohan; with characters as crusty as the pie at the Purple Platter Diner; the plot as thick as the meatloaf entrée they serve there as well.” Read more.

City number 8 on my top ten list of vacation destinations is Oranjestad, Aruba.  Known for its nightlife, Aruba is a very fascinating island even during the daytime.  Having come to Aruba via cruise ship and only spending one day, our options for travel revolved around tour buses or taxi.  As soon as you leave the cruise terminal, the taxi stand has all of the most popular destinations and how much the taxi fare is, so the drivers can’t gouge tourists.  We took the island tour, seeing an aloe vera facility, the Casabari Rock formation (very cool, it is also one of the highest places on the island and you can see for miles),  and a natural bridge spanning one of Aruba’s river mouths.  After our tour, we still had several hours on the island, we decided to hire a cab and go to Our Lady of Alta Vista chapel.  This picturesque chapel sits near a precipice overlooking the Caribbean Sea.  They hold services outside with pews set up for this purpose.  The most exciting portion of this side trip was the cab ride.  Being fans of “The Amazing Race”, this cabbie made us think we were on the race.  He could have been race driver and we came through unscathed, but we did say an extra prayer while we were at the chapel.

Juneau, Alaska is my seventh favorite destination and it was very difficult to place it this low.  On our honeymoon cruise, my wife and I took an Alaskan cruise.  Being novice travellers at that point, we had no clue about excursions or travel in general.  Once on the ship, the cruise line held a program to explain the various excursions and side trips.  The activity that caught our attention the most was the Mendenhall Glacier Helicopter tour.  We signed up for the tour immediately, even though it was very expensive.  As we were cruising into Juneau, the ship announced that we were sailing through a whale migration route and it was possible that we could see a whale.  So, we got up at 5:00 in the morning and tried to see one. Unfortunately, another ship had preceded us into the area and scared away any whales that might have been there.  When we finally docked in Juneau, we boarded our helicopter for one of the most exciting trips of our lives. We flew over the glacier field and our pilot set us down on a plateau and we got out and walked around on the glacier.  Definitely, one of the major highlights of our honeymoon, and an experience I will never forget.

Get ready for an epic Skiing and Snowboarding season this year. At least things are starting out right. Mt Baker Ski Area is set to have one of its earliest openings on record with a base of 64 inches and more snow expected this Friday. Opening day is TODAY, Thurs, Nov 12th 2009. And there is more good news! Introducing The Baker Bus, run by Cascade Adventures, a fun, safe alternative transportation option that is affordable and convenient. The Baker Bus is running daily from Kendall and you can catch it from Bellingham on weekends and holidays. There are 15 spots available and seating is first come first served. Rides from Bellingham are only $10 round trip. They also offer passes and punch cards at a cheaper rate. Check out their website at http://www.wildandscenic.com/bakerbus.html to see their schedule, rates, pick up times and pick up areas.

We here at Boundary Bay Brewery really love the idea of the Baker Bus. Many of our employees love to ride at Baker. Providing alternative mass transit to the ski area makes sense. It’s healthier for our environment and alleviates the heavy traffic going up and down the road, making it a safer journey for other vehicles.

Cascade Adventures hopes that increased ridership and sponsorship from local & like-minded business can help expand their services to a bigger bus running on bio-diesel. If you’d like to help or become a sponsor please call 360-599-3115 or email hoboexpeditions@hotmail.com for more information.

Si le Pelvoux est toujours à sa place depuis la nuit des temps, le paysage change tous les ans dans le Massif des Ecrins. Et le Glacier blanc recule. Inexorablement. C’est un endroit superbe, pourtant, qu’il convient de préserver le plus longtemps possible comme l’ensemble des grands espaces alpins. Pensez-y lorsque vous achetez des fraises en hiver, montez à bord de votre 4×4 à boîte automatique ou vous kérozénez à l’autre bout du monde. Nous, on le fait, en tout cas. A notre échelle. Modestement.

HOPE IN THE BIG MELT: An iceberg melts off Ammassalik Island in Eastern Greenland. Phytoplankton are found to be thriving in areas exposed by glacial melts, acting as effective carbon sinks

 Large blooms of tiny marine plants called phytoplankton are flourishing in areas exposed by the recent and rapid melting of ice shelves and glaciers around the Antarctic Peninsula.

This remarkable colonisation is having a beneficial impact on climate change. The blooms absorb carbon and as they die, phytoplankton sinks to the sea-bed where it can store it for millennia.

Scientists from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) estimate that this new natural ’sink’ is taking an estimated 3.5 million tonnes of carbon from the ocean and atmosphere each year.

“Although this is a small amount of carbon compared to global emissions of greenhouse gases, it is nevertheless an important discovery. It shows nature’s ability to thrive in the face of adversity. We need to factor this natural carbon absorption into our calculations and models to predict future climate change,” Lloyd Peck, professor from BAS, who led their study, says.

Peck and his colleagues compared records of coastal glacial retreat with records of the amount of chlorophyll (green plant pigment essential for photosynthesis) in the ocean.

They found that over the past 50 years, melting ice has opened up at least 24,000 sq km of new open water (as big as Wales) – and this has been colonised by carbon-absorbing phytoplankton, said a BAS release.

The study authors said this new bloom is the second largest factor acting against climate change so far discovered on earth. The largest is new forest growth on land in the Arctic.

These findings were published in Global Change Biology.

IPCC chairman Rajendra Pachauri accuses Indian environment ministry of ‘arrogance’ for its report claiming there is no evidence that climate change has shrunk Himalayan glaciers

A leading climate scientist today accused the Indian environment ministry of "arrogance" after the release of a government report claiming that there is no evidence climate change has caused "abnormal" shrinking of Himalayan glaciers.

Jairam Ramesh, India’s environment minister, released the controversial report in Delhi, saying it would "challenge the conventional wisdom" about melting ice in the mountains.

Two years ago, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the UN agency which evaluates the risk from global warming, warned the glaciers were receding faster than in any other part of the world and could "disappear altogether by 2035 if not sooner".

Today Ramesh denied any such risk existed: "There is no conclusive scientific evidence to link global warming with what is happening in the Himalayan glaciers." The minister added although some glaciers are receding they were doing so at a rate that was not "historically alarming".

However, Rajendra Pachauri, the chairman of the IPCC, told the Guardian: "We have a very clear idea of what is happening. I don’t know why the minister is supporting this unsubstantiated research. It is an extremely arrogant statement."

Ramesh said he was prepared to take on "the doomsday scenarios of Al Gore and the IPCC".

"My concern is that this comes from western scientists … it is high time India makes an investment in understanding what is happening in the Himalayan ecosystem," he added.

The government report, entitled Himalayan glaciers (pdf), looks at 150 years’ worth of data gathered from the Geological Survey of India from 25 glaciers. It claims to be the first comprehensive study on the region.

Vijay Kumar Raina, the geologist who authored the report, admitted that some "Himalayan glaciers are retreating. But it is nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing to suggest as some have said that they will disappear."

Pachauri dismissed the report saying it was not "peer reviewed" and had few "scientific citations".

"With the greatest of respect this guy retired years ago and I find it totally baffling that he comes out and throws out everything that has been established years ago."

In a remarkable finding, the report claims the Gangotri glacier, the main source of the River Ganges, actually receded fastest in 1977 – and is today "practically at a stand still".

Some scientists have warned that the river beds of the Gangetic Basin – which feed hundreds of millions in northern India – could run dry once glaciers go. However, such concerns are scotched by the report.

According to Raina, the mistake made by "western scientists" is to apply the rate of glacial loss from other parts of the world to the Himalayas. "In the United States the highest glaciers in Alaska are still below the lowest level of Himalayan glaciers. Our 9,500 glaciers are located at very high altitudes. It is completely different system."

"As long as we have monsoons we will have glaciers. There are many factors to consider when we want to find out how quickly (glaciers melt) … rainfall, debris cover, relief and terrain," said Raina.

In response Pachauri said that such statements were reminiscent of "climate change deniers and school boy science".

"I cannot see what the minister’s motives are. We do need more extensive measurement of the Himalayan range but it is clear from satellite pictures what is happening."

Many environmentalists said they were also unconvinced by the minister’s arguments. Sunita Narain, a member of the Indian prime minister’s climate change council and director of the Centre for Science and Environment, said "the report would create a lot of confusion".

"The PM’s council has just received a comprehensive report which presents many studies which show clear fragmentation of the glaciers would lead to faster recession. I am not sure what Jairam (Ramesh) is doing."

From Guardian

The IPCC, in its fourth assessment report in 2007, said that Himalayan glaciers are retreating faster than in any other part of the world, and if this continues, they are likely to disappear by 2035, or perhaps sooner

New Delhi: Receding glaciers and global warming cannot be conclusively linked, the environment ministry said, despite forecasts that Himalayan glaciers will disappear by 2035 because the planet is heating up.

Under threat: A file photo of a forward camp of the Indian Army on the Siachen Glacier. AFP

“There is no conclusive scientific evidence to link global warming and Himalayan glaciers, nor to link the black carbon in the atmosphere with the glaciers,” environment minister Jairam Ramesh said. “We also cannot link retreating glaciers in the Arctic because of climate change to those in the Himalayas.”

The minister on Monday released a discussion paper titled Himalayan Glaciers, A state-of-art review of glacial studies, glacial retreat and climate change.

“If we see the cumulative average of rate of retreat over the past 100 years, no glacier has deviated from that,” said V.K. Raina, former deputy director general of Geological Survey of India and author of the report. “There is no abnormal retreat.”

Using the Gangotri glacier as an example, Raina said: “This glacier is 30km long. Even if we assume it retreats at the rate of 30m a year, it will still take 1,000 years to disappear.”

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), in its fourth assessment report in 2007, said that Himalayan glaciers are retreating faster than in any other part of the world, and if this continues, they are likely to disappear by 2035, or perhaps sooner.

The IPCC, which is the leading body for assessing climate change and established by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Meteorological Organization, attributed the receding and thinning of Himalayan glaciers primarily to global warming.

R.K. Pachauri, who heads the IPCC, could not be immediately reached for comment.

“There are a number of scientific reports, including in the IPCC, that there is a clear threat,” said Vinuta Gopal, climate and energy campaign manager at Greenpeace India. “The time now is not about trying to find conclusive evidence, the time now is for action.”

Some scientists say research and field data are too limited to conclude a direct link.

“There is no field data to corroborate that the glaciers will disappear in the next 20-30 years. The range has 9,000 glaciers and we study about 30. And whichever we have studied, we need more detailed data. If we want to study glacier behaviour, we need to monitor for 8-10 years, but we only manage two years at most,” said R.K. Ganjoo, director of the Jammu University’s regional centre on Himalayan glaciology.

Shakeel Ahmad Romshoo, associate professor, department of geology and geophysics at the University of Kashmir, said that although very few glaciers have been studied and data is inadequate, it is evident that global warming affects glaciers.

“Out of those that have been studied, in Himachal (Pradesh), Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir, there is no doubt that they are retreating and it is due to increase in temperature,” Romshoo said. “But we don’t have enough data to establish by how much.”

Raina said that studying the mass balance of glaciers is more critical and indicative of their health than their retreat. The environment ministry will collaborate with the Indian Space Research Organisation to undertake a three-year study to map glaciers through satellites.

“The effect of black carbon on Himalayan glaciers, which is a highly contested viewpoint, will also be studied,” Ramesh said.

From LiveMint

Salmon-To-Go

In September, Beth and I traveled through Alaska. The first part of the trip was in Katmai National Park on the Alaskan Peninsula to photograph the grizzly bears on the Brooks River.  We stayed at the Brooks Camp in a cabin practically on the river. Access is by float plane since the Brooks Camp is on a remote lake.  We were there for 4 days watching and photographing the grizzly bears as they fished for the sockeye salmon. The bears arrive at this time of the year for the salmon run. Its easy fishing and they have a feast. I took 1600 grizzly photos.

Spin Cycle

The second part started when we flew back to Anchorage where we rented a car and drove to Talkeetna (the model for the hit TV series Northern Exposure) for one nite. The next day we did a flightseeing tour where we flew around Denali Peak (aka McKinley). The weather was perfectly clear. There is only a 30% probability of seeing Denali. We lucked out.  We landed on a glacier – very cool.

Denali and Glacier as seen from plane

On the Glacier

Then we drove to Denali National Park where we spent 3 nites in a cabin at the entrance. We did the grueling 11 hour round trip bus ride the next day to Wonder Lake – 80 miles on a dirt road. No public cars allowed. The place is highly regulated and controlled. But we did see plenty of wildlife and I got an incredible and lucky shot of a gray wolf as it popped its head above a bush to see what all of the commotion was about.

Grey Wolf in Denali National Park

I took the shikara to my houseboat and when I arrived something was different.  The two nights prior had been dead silent and tonight seemed to be an anomaly.  It was the barking of the dogs outside that heightened my sense of awareness.  It was as if every dog in all of Kashmir was howling.  I recalled an article I had read about the Tsunami of 2004.  It explained how people gave accounts of animals having a sixth sense.  In the days prior to the Tsunami, hoards of animals mobilized and traveled inland in order to avoid the imminent danger.  I always found this amazing given that humans at large consider ourselves to be the most superior species.  Despite this and even in lieu of all our technology, these basic animal instincts far surpassed ours. (related article)

Military Convoy in Kashmir

While walking the streets earlier, I had such an uncomfortable feeling.  There seemed to be an excess of heavily armed soldiers every few feet along the main roads.  When I returned to my houseboat, I was already anxious from but I couldn’t help but wonder what the dogs were uneasy about.  Were they foreshadowing something terrible to come?  Every so often a military chopper would flyby overhead and there I was lying in bed staring at the ceiling, eyes WIDE open!  To my relief, as sure as winter follows autumn, the morning came and I was grateful to wake up!  It’s strange that we take our days for granted and simply assume that each morning, like the sun, we will rise.  With that, it was time for me to hit the road!

I made arrangements to head east.  My ultimate destination would be Leh, a Buddhist town in the most northerly region of India; Ladakh. I would be driving through the world’s most grueling mountain ranges, the Himilayas.  The drive itself was gut-wrenching and I distinctly recall hitting my head on the roof numerous times!  At times, I could have sworn that the icy, stone covered “road” was actually narrower than our SUV!  That aside, the drive was unimaginably beautiful.  The first stop was Sonamarg, a glacier which stood at approximately 10,000ft above sea.  A panoramic scan of the horizon would yield vast autumn meadows with mountains standing guard in each direction.  Upon arrival the place was simply breathtaking and quite literally at this altitude each breath counted as two.  Stepping outside on snow was a new experience, and one I did not expect from India.  I opted to take a horse named Raju to the base of the glacier.  I thought to myself how was I so fortunate that lady luck had smiled on me once again?  Like the marketing campaign goes this was truly Incredible India!

There was an open pasture which I knew was my calling.  I gave Raju a nudge and the trot turned to gallop.  Off we went, full speed ahead, frigid air rushing at my face, and I felt as if I was a jockey on a racehorse.  In that moment, I could really feel that I was alive and yet  it had all the ingredients of a dream.  Reality recurred when my guide who was on foot finally managed to catch up to me!  I was enjoying all aspects of the ambiance with the exception of this strange neighing noise that the guide was making.  I think he thought he was a horse whisperer and could literally communicate with Raju with full fledge horse mannerisms.

No matter, we eventually reached the base of the glacier my frozen hands were greeted by a small boy named Sameer.  For 5 years old, this kid was really mature and told me all about the history of the land and the village people’s lifestyle.  All of this dialogue was in plain English which even his parents didn’t speak.  There was a nearby tent where his parents offered me a warm cup of chai.  Let me tell you, it was one of the most rewarding cups of tea I’ve ever had!  I climbed a rock which stood at around 20 feet high and took my seat.  I’m not sure how I always manage to find what seems like the best rock in the world, but I certainly wasn’t complaining.

Shortly afterward, my camera battery died, and just as well, this was one for the memory books anyway!  On the way back, I could see the water from the glacier trickling down towards the valley.  On one side the world around me was covered in trees shedding leaves and blanketing the world with autumn colours.  On my other side, the snow capped mountains towered above the haze of clouds.  It was as if I was physically witnessing autumn brushing shoulders with winter.  Wow!

I smiled the entire way back like a little school boy.  When I returned to the valley, my driver had told me a list of hotel options, and yet the most enticing option was to stay with a friend of his.  I was ecstatic to be able to stay in a local village home and experience an evening filled with culture.  This raw Kashmir evening led me  to a small village about 10km away.  Situated amidst the mountains, there were only a couple dozen houses here.  The house where I stayed was a gem situated a short walk from the banks of the glacier river.  It was a simple house which consisted of one main room with no furniture and a pile of blankets.

Kashmiri man wearing a pheran while keeping warm from the kangri (in front of the pipe).

The father of the house, and his son were relaxing in this room and I gladly joined them.  I am certain that the idea for the Snuggie came from Kashmir.  Almost everyone here could be seen wearing a Pheran, which is a warm woolen poncho styled kurta.  Underneath they would hold a Kangri, which is a wicker pot containing hot coals used to keep warm.  Kashmiri’s also refer to this as a “winter wife” because in the winter months, they never leave your side!  A short while later, a girl came in the room with her head covered and gave us rice and curry and then left as quietly as she came in.  I gathered that she was the son’s wife, and so I asked if she had eaten or wanted to join us, and the men laughed.  I hadn’t realized that I made a joke!  It seemed that women in these traditional villages have a very different lifestyle and are isolated from so-called male activities.  Needless to say, I wasn’t about to judge or push the issue further.

The night finished off with yet another wow moment – a bathroom break!  No, no, not the bathroom itself, which felt and reeked like a sewer.  The moment occurred on the way to the outhouse.  Standing outside, I must have stood there in the cold for easily an hour in awe at the moonlit valley.  All the village must have been asleep by now, and here I was standing in the middle of a stone covered field.  A handful off quaint country homes behind me, and the universe above. It was as if I could see every star in existence dancing across the sky.  The only clouds in sight were small cartoon-like clouds which seemed like they were being puffed out of the peaks of the mountains around me.  Wow!

The next morning I would set off for the remaining 10 hour leg of the journey to Leh.  What wonders this world can offer for who are adventurous enough to find them.  It was an agonizing trip with windy, rocky mountain roads the whole way, but it was well worth the price to drive through the top of the world!

Stay Tuned: Leh and Pangong Tso to come!