Merlin
Peaks heading into Atigun Pass, to cross the Brooks Range
Atigun Pass - approx 4600 ft elevation, and warm (today).
Dall sheep, on the slope right along the road.
Caribou remains.
Panorama of valley north of Atigun Pass
The Brooks Range behind us, we're on tundra now.
Northern Harrier
A moose
Many meesesen
Views from campsite 1.
Lead-in story: So we're all settled in for the night (though it never gets dark), and these 5 oil workers drive by in their truck, presumably having finished their shift (something like 4 weeks on, 2 weeks off, 12 hour shifts, 7 days a week, NO alchohol in Deadhorse). They stop, back up, and approach us (me getting nervous). They ask, "you guys watchin' the grizzlies?" Us: "What Grizzlies?" Them: "The ones behind you." Anyway, there was a momma and two what looked to be second year cubs about .5-1 mile from us, along the river bank. They told us where they were, as well as where to find some Musk Ox the next day, and for the price of 2 beers (what they were really after), I consider it an excellent encounter, for if not for them, we never would have seen..."
If you can judge distance, this first shot is from the road at 800mm...I'm guessing about a half mile.
Grizzle Bar wrastlin' - old school. First one down loses, then, do it again, all day, 'cept for eatin', sleepin', buggin' momma, and hibernatin', for about 2 years, then you grow out of it.
