No motorcycle content in this post. On Friday afternoon, my son Kyle and I headed north to Globe Creek Camp at 37 mile Elliot Highway. This is the road that eventually turns into the Dalton Highway once you go past the town of Livengood. We are there for only about 24 hours for a men's retreat. After dinner, they started a bonfire burning a couple of stumps left over from clearing land this Summer. I went out about the fire had burned down to only an inferno. I was experimenting with the iPhone camera app's burst mode. It'll take pictures repeatedly as long as you hold down the shutter.
The camera app will then display what the software determines is the best picture. For these first two pictures, it took about 20 shots in about 2 seconds. Kind of an interesting way to take pictures.
Some folks attempted to roast marshmallows on the inferno (note the two nicely toasted marshmallows on a stick around the center of the picture) and it took only about 15 seconds to get them nicely toasted brown. At 4am the fire was still smoldering and it didn't take much to get it going again.
I was up by 6am as I volunteered to cook breakfast for the forty or so guys. After a deliciously unhealthy breakfast, I took a short walk around the camp. This was sunrise over the hills at about 9:10am. It was a chilly 20°F with the frost covered ground crunching with every step.
The quiet was later broken by part of the group doing a little target practice on an impromptu range. A lot of paper plates bit the dust that day. Some others went hiking up to Grapefruit Rocks, others played board games, practiced their archery skills or sat around and talked. I was in the final category. I wore the work boots that I use for riding and they are pretty uncomfortable for walking. Otherwise the hike sounded like fun though I heard that the frost made for a slippery walk.
This is the main lodge which housed the kitchen, dining room and showers. I.e. the only building with running water. I also prepared lunch for the group but didn't need to cook anything. It warmed up to 43°F by mid afternoon with a beautiful cloudless, blue sky. It may look quiet and peaceful and for the most part it was but all of the trucks heading up the haul road to Prudhoe Bay passed by less than ¼ mile away.
When we arrived home, it appears that all of the trees have lost their leaves today. This would have been a good motorcycle trip…
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That's really nice time out! iPhone shots are good.
ReplyDeleteChilly and damp, no frost yet here (this is the deep south of WI, you know) and plenty of green leaves. One good snap should create that scene in your last photo.
It really was a nice time to be outdoors. And I think the pictures turned out pretty good especially for a phone camera. As the frost was warming up, there were some interesting popping sounds.
DeleteWow, I just made a post about the Dalton and Livengood. How's the little town? How's the Dalton? I miss it.
ReplyDeleteI'm told that it was very slippery in Sept. I was looking for a few nice, dry days to head up again but it didn't happen last month. Hopefully there'll be a good opportunity next year.
DeleteSo why not take the hack? too sunny and warm?
ReplyDeleteYep, too warm. Where's the challenge. Since my son was going up and he planned on driving, I tagged along to save on gas.
DeleteToo warm to ride the sidecar, I agree with the sentiment as to the lack of challenge....sounds like some good man time was had regardless!
ReplyDeleteI was originally planning on taking the sidecar rig but once my son decided to go, it seemed like too god of an opportunity to pass up. Plus, it's easier to be a passenger and let him drive...
DeleteRichard, you did the right thing by taking the car. Sounds like a great day in nice weather.
ReplyDeleteIt was especially nice to get away from the busy-ness that seems to go with Fall. Always running into something that needs doing to get ready for winter.
DeleteSome days it is just easier to take the car, especially when someone else volunteers to drive.
ReplyDeleteQuite the bonfire. It sounds as though you had fun which is good. Sometimes beautiful blue sky and chilly temperatures are preferable to warm rain.
It would've been a nice ride out but you are right about someone else driving. I didn't go out to the bonfire when it first got going but the black spruce really burns hot and fast. I thought that it was huge and hot when I saw it and others thought that it had burned down enough to roast marshmallows…
DeleteRichard:
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned "walking around the camp" now I am thinking that you brought your tent. Must have been very cold with temps that low.
I think I would have loved to be a passenger too if someone else volunteered to drive. I wouldn't have hiked either if I only had my riding boots but I could have tried the Archery. I used to have a bow in my younger years.
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
No, the site is used as a summer camp so we stayed in log buildings with a wood stove for heat. Pretty nice setup though glass in the windows would've been a nice improvement. The facility is still in the construction phase. My son brought several of his bows including a couple that he's made.
DeleteThe camp is literally in the middle of nowhere along a highway that sees mostly commercial, long haul truck traffic.