This week has been an exciting week for the four SOS interns in Anchorage, Alaska.  Our training is complete, and we have been putting all that knowledge to use as we scout for populations from which to collect.  We were surprised to find what a large chunk of the Alaska flora we have learned in such a short time.  We have our teacher Mike Duffy to thank for his endless knowledge and endless patience.  Next week, we will make our first collecting trip outside of the Anchorage area, and we are all looking forward to the adventure.

Now, on to moose, earthquakes and other adventures.  The moose shown in the photos is actually the 8th moose that I have seen in my 3 weeks in Alaska, but it was the first one that I encountered while on foot.  This was exciting because I could photograph it, but also somewhat intimidating because I was looking up at it.  This particular moose seemed very fond of us, as it continued to walked toward us, criss-crossing the trail, as we  retreated and photographed.  Eventually, it grew bored and wandered off into the woods.  As for the earthquake, it occurred the same day as the moose encounter.  It was the first time I have ever felt an earthquake.  I was lying in bed at the time, and my first thought was, why is Vania (fellow intern) hiding under my bed and rocking it?  This notion was dispelled when Vania yelled from down the hall, “does anyone else feel the bumping.”  We immediately ran outside, but by the time we got there, the shaking had stopped.  Another recent adventure was a weekend sea kayaking course and trip to Prince William Sound.  This, alas, was not part of my SOS work, though it was funded by my first paycheck.  In addition to becoming certified by the American Canoe Association, we saw numerous glaciers and waterfalls, a seal, and a kittiwake rookery.

In conclusion, I am so happy to be working in this incredible place.   Here’s hoping that the adventures are just beginning…

Jordan S., BLM, Anchorage, AK