Grant Crew

For the past two days I've been working with the Grant Crew, it's the other trail crew here at DSP. This one is a lot smaller, just four guys and they're usually spiked out 8mi back on the ridge. Since it was a short week Chris had them clearing trees here in the front country and I tagged along. On Tuesday we cut and swamped trees at the compound to make the view a little clearer and then stacked all the rounds that Chris and I delivered last week. Today we hiked around the lake trail (a little over 5mi) and cleared all the wind fall that was in the trail corridor. I was the lucky one who got to lug the gas and bar oil; if I don' have shoulders like Hulk at the end of the summer i'll be surprised!
Today was very adventurous! On my hike in to meet the guys I was following fairly fresh moose tracks and by the end of the day we followed them around the entire lake, even found moose hair in a tree at one point! We also found bear scat less than a few hours old! We saw prints of a large grizzly as well as cub prints, still didn't see any bears though :(. I did get some great pictures of four trumpeter swans that nest on the lake and a juvenile bald eagle. It was the most wildlife I'd seen since my arrival! I am looking forward to seeing a lot more, especially a bear!
The dreary, rainy and cold weather has got me tuckered out. I will be sure to sleep well tonight! I am hoping to have a day or two off this weekend and will post all the pictures from this past week!

I almost forgot to report that I was woken up Tuesday morning at 3:15 am by an earthquake. Yes, a 4.2 earthquake, not something I am used to. This website shows all the recent earthquakes in Alaska. I am in what is considered the central region. http://www.aeic.alaska.edu/seis/recenteqs/index.html
I know there looks like a lot, but you don't feel anything less than about 3.6!

I know I always post pictures of Denali, but each time you see it, it's different!

Off to cuddle up in my 20 degree bag, sweet Alaska dreams, or probably good morning to most of you!