Jeanie now has a job with Raytheon in Anchorage that is contracted by the USGS. It's only December and already she is getting a little tired of all the snow. Here is an email (12/8/99):
The other day at work there was a small bull moose (with antlers) outside, below my window at work. I am on the second floor. He was trying to get at these berry-like fruits on the trees in front of the (USGS) building entrance. Well, it was really interesting because he was actually jumping up onto only
his hind legs in order to stretch up to reach the berries. He could only stand like that for a few seconds and so each time, would concentrate on the berries he wanted, aim, and then lift off. I didn't think such a big animal could do that. A friend of mine was driving by and stopped and took some pictures. I asked him to send me some copies by email - If he does, I'll
pass them on to you! -- The moose was out there for a while, eventually eating the salt on the side walk and front steps of the building. We watched him from the front door...only a few feet away!
I am attaching a picture of me and the other people a mainly work with - they do what I do. These pictures were taken Oct. 26 -- so you can see, there was already snow, and that's how it still looks (until the end of March!)
After spending some months in a home shared by 3 other geologists, Jeanie now shares a home that is owned by Jan. Jan also has a dog, Tori, who Jeanie looks after. They often see Moose in their backyard.
Jeanie drove 2400 miles (by herself) in 4 days to Alaska from Misoula.
The following is an email (7/5/99) from Jeanie describing her move:
I drove
up here starting on Tuesday, June 28. My car was packed full with all of
my belongings and I hoped that it would survive the 4 day, 2400 mile
trip...it did and everything was fine, I didn't even get a flat tire,
which I considered would be inevitable...thank goodness, because that
would have been troublesome.
After spending a frantic week running errands and getting things squared away in Missoula, MT -- Like sending my roommates dog up to Anchorage in a plane (my roommate in MT got a job up here, so he was already here) -- and selling our washer and dryer and giving away the dog house--- I set out on the long drive. I was a little apprehensive, since I have never driven this far by myself. But, I was familiar with the route, since I drove it last summer when I did my geology fieldwork for my thesis.
I think I might be stuck in Alaska for the rest of my life, since I never want to make this drive again! It was basically a marathon of driving. I averaged about 12 hours a day -- and that is basically constant driving. I only stopped for gas, eating peanut butter sandwiches and granola bars along the way. I camped the first and third night, and stayed in a motel the second (the second day was THE WORST -- 15 hours!!) And the road is no US Interstate -- It is a two lane, narrow road that, for most of the time winds through mountains. THere is the occasional straight-away, but even those will sometimes have about 90 degree curves (I have heard this is so that enemy Japanese warplanes could not land on the raod during WW2 or something) SO, you have to constantly pay attention, and you learn some good driving skills --- especially since there are the more-than-occasional pot holes or rough road or construction in which the entire road turns into a bumpy gravel road. There is ALWAYS construction and sometimes you have to stop entirely and wait to be "piloted" through the construction area. Luckily, since I drove this route last summer, I was prepared for this, and so knew what to expect.
I tried to watch the scenery as I drove. There are some spectacular sites -- I saw glaciers in Banff, beautiful Canadian Rockies, and many large glacial lakes. There are also many areas that were burned by forest fires, some you can see burned for miles. In fact, one area was just recently burned -- fire fighters were still working putting out "hot spots" -- and the area was not burned when my roommate passed by a month earlier. Plus, there is the wildlife. I saw bald eagles - one was "posing" on the side of the road, I got a nice majestic side view! I saw a coyote, big horn (a.k.a. Rocky Mountain) sheep, mountain goats, a deer, Elk (there was a heard of them at the first campground - blocking my route the the showers - I had to walk around them, because they WILL attack - right Eric???) and the final --- I saw a black bear sow and her cub walking across the highway -- I had to slow down for the sow, since she was so close to my car I could have pet her --- all the while trying to avoid the brainless tourists who were standing IN THE ROAD trying to get pictures...!!!! And speaking of tourists - they mainly kept me company on the road, since it is the main route for RV-ers...who like to just stop in the middle of the road to look at the animals......!!!
But, it was an adventure and I am glad I did it. Anchorage is great. It is a big city, but doesn't feel that way. After only two days, I am quickly becoming familiar with the main roads and how the town is laid out. It is not intimidating, although the drivers around here are crazy. My house is OK -- not the hilton, but it will do for now, especially since the rent is low. It is also minutes away from paved trials that run EVERYWHERE through the city. -- BUT the thing about that is you have to be weary of MOOSE -- they are as common as deer are where most of you live, however, they are by no means skittish about humans and tend to stand their ground. They will chase you and attack if they want. Especially if they have a calf. You have to watch out for black bear as well. So, Tori, the dog, has to wear a little cow bell around her neck when she goes out for walks -- so we don't surprise any moose or bear. I guess you get used to it, and so do the animals.
