Big-boy breakfast.
This huge guy was having breakfast just below the house this morning. That rack is going to be something else this fall.
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I can see clearly now...
I swear, the clearest skies we’ve had in over a month. Our temperatures are back towards normal, and it’s really nice not to have that smoke taste in the mouth day after day. The fires aren’t out by any stretch, but at least the wind direction has blown it out of Bear Valley for today.
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The smoke just won't end.
We’re thankful that it’s about 20 cooler than it was just a couple of days ago here in Bear Valley, but the smoke from the Swan Lake fire burning on the Kenai Peninsula has blown back into Anchorage even thicker. The only benefit is gorgeous sunsets.
10pm sun burning through the smoke.
We got very lucky this afternoon in Anchorage.
What we’ve been absolutely dreading. Late this afternoon in the heart of Anchorage a wildfire broke out near Elmore Road and MLK drive. We just set the hottest and driest June in Alaska history, so when I saw the column of smoke building rapidly it was time to prepare to evacuate. We only have one road leading into Bear Valley and the winds were blowing the fire in our direction. It’s one of the biggest fears in Anchorage, a fire that gets onto the Hillside.
The Anchorage Fire Dept. hit the fire hard and fast, and very quickly there were retardant drops by Forest Service aircraft and helicopters. They did an incredible job and had the fire 30% contained within 3 hours. Hats off to all those fighting it.
The view from Bear Valley after it had just started. It’s several miles away, but there’s nothing but trees between it and Bear Valley.
Retardant drop on the leading edge of the fire.
Another beautiful day in Bear Valley. Not.
The view into Bear Valley this afternoon. It’s 70º and not a cloud in the sky, one of the summer day gems here in Alaska; except for the ever increasing smoke from the Swan Lake wildfire burning on the Kenai Peninsula. It gets trapped by the Chugach Mountains. We need a wind shift and a lot of rain.
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