A Cameo By Olympian Brooke Bennett

Days Walking - 88

Email informer Conrad explained to me about the Spruce Bark Beetle calamity in Ack, and it's pretty scary to think that even small fluctuations in temperature can cause whole forests to be wiped out.

Conrad told me that a few rare species of spruce are thought to be more resistant to the beetle, and that might be the reason for the stolen tree escapade yesterday. Interesting stuff, thanks Conrad! It's always nice to get perspective for the weird stuff that's going on.

What if the dude who stole the tree was like a helpful but misunderstood scientist who is trying to save the spruce trees, but they 'Just Don't Understand Him At The University', ala Dr. Frankenstein. I feel you, tree-stealing scientist dude. Them University Types don't grasp my gleanings or connect with my ken neither. Ah caint figgir ouut why.

What litter items have we found, Janine wonders? People being people, we find the same sort of stuff you'd find at the side of any road. I had to ask Church for the listing, since she is the psycho who is actually jotting down a note for each found item. Just teasing, she's my kind of crazy.

Litter Found on Dalton Highway Between Deadhorse and Day 88:
A total of 4 empty plastic water bottles, a disposable baby diaper - used, a $1 bill, a 7-11 Police Only Paper Coffee Cup, one pair women's panties - dark blue, a utility bill for $87.93 worth of Natural Gas for Mr. G Meyers of Sitka, Ack - surprisingly legible, a half-full box of Wheaties - Brooke Bennett on front, a pineapple flavored car freshener, one audio cassette - Foreigner's 'Agent Provocateur' - crushed, a cat's litter box - nearly chewed in half - 'CSI Church' says bunnies did it, one milk crate - pristine, and last but not least - one pair of Bose headphones, crushed and mangled.

We've also found numerous items that are too big for us to try to carry - lots of rubber tread from truck tires, a truck axle, lengths of exhaust pipe, you get the idea.

Holy Caribou, there are some big animals up in here. There were six or eight of them, just wandering around, nibbling grass, as if they owned the place. They were a good ways off in the distance, whew - I have no desire to be gored, and my camera has a sh*tty zoom, it gets so grainy. Note to self, get a better camera.



We were hoping to see some baby caribou, but didn't spot any. Might be a bit too early in season yet. But I think meeting the caribou during a more aggressive protect-the-young phase would not be good, so I'm ok with waiting.

It was really cool to finally see some larger animals. We stopped and just watched them for a good fifteen minutes. We've been seeing a few squirrels, a few birds, etc. (And of course the one-time appearance of Mr. Toothy) But these are big freakin antlered behemoths, and they amble around in a cute, girthy relaxed manner. Like cows with an agenda.

Litany Webb, signing off

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