More photos; Western Alaska, surprisingly religious animals

[7.62 Precision]

I posted some photos from a fishing trip recently, and had many comments on the beauty here. One thing a lot of people don't understand about Alaska is that the place goes so far north to south and east to west that there is a great variety of topography, climates, vegetation, and animals.

So I went to take some photos in a place with a different kind of beauty.

Then I saw these animals. I wondered if they were some kind of Jihadist extremists, judging by their long beards:


But it turns out they are Christian Musk Oxen. They visit this huge cross every day. Who would have guessed?

[7.62 Precision]

The morning view from my office:

http://762precision.files.wordpress.com ... m-hill.jpg Click for a large version.

Looking east at sunrise:

[7.62 Precision]

[Nath]

Awesome amen! Beautiful.
Makes my humble effort seem puny
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N.

[OldWin]

Just beautiful!
My son was stationed up there (Kodiak) for three and a half years and loved every minute. He is headed up for three weeks in just a couple days. His wife is still there so it makes him doubly homesick.

You are a luck man to live in such country.

[Sixgun]

Spectacular pics.------6

[7.62 Precision]

Awesome amen! Beautiful.
Makes my humble effort seem puny

Always wanted to visit your part of the world, haven't made it yet. My wife has spent time in England and Scotland.

[RIHMFIRE]

awesome!

[KirkD]

Super photos! .... and a great view from your office.

[J Miller]

7.62 Precision,

If I had an office view like that I might actually get some work done. That view is so relaxing that after my nap I could actually work. Not like the cramped up city I live in now.

My wife was looking at the pics too and when we got to the one with the rifle, my wife said: "Turf Protector". I agreed with her.

Those are great pics, I wish I could make the panorama into a desk top pic.

Joe

[3leggedturtle]

Nice. I never was able to get closer than 3-400 yards to musk-ox. Also forgot how brilliant and different colors the tundra can be.

[Griff]

Great pics. I haven't been to an area of this country that DOESN'T have it's own form of beauty. Even thru my bug splattered windshield I'm often amazed at the vistas I get to see! Thanks for sharing... again.

[jazman]

Beautiful pics, thanks for sharing them.

[rjohns94]

Awesome pics. Thanks

[Blaine]

Beautiful.......

[plowboy 45]

Amazing photos
Thanks for posting, keep it up I love seein these pics
Thanks again
PLOWBOY

[stew71]

Gorgeous photos. I love Alaska. Hope to move there someday.

Spent some time on Adak a few years ago chasing caribou. The scenery was stunning.

[bdhold]

I bet they're Russian Orthodox yaks

[GonnePhishin]

Thanks for sharing these spectacular pictures. I think that one Oxen on the left side of the picture actually resembles Sheik Hasn't Ben Sober.

[7.62 Precision]

I bet they're Russian Orthodox yaks

No, the cross is the wrong kind, and this isn't an orthodox village.

[7.62 Precision]

Super photos! .... and a great view from your office.

No view at all most of today - the fog rolled in from the Bering sea and then it really poured rain. I'm using Frog Togs rain gear for the first time and was very comfortable, though. They don't make you hot or cause you to sweat - I was impressed.

I like the fog, too. I always have. It closes you in and makes your world small. There is a lot of fog on this coast, and since I am usually somewhere high, I get more of the fog.

[7.62 Precision]

Nice. I never was able to get closer than 3-400 yards to musk-ox. Also forgot how brilliant and different colors the tundra can be.

It's all about how you approach them. I was within 25 feet of some of these, and have been closer at Nome and Council. You can't try to sneak up on them. I move quietly and use the terrain to get close while out of sight, and I don't move directly at them when I am close, unit l am really close, but I don't sneak or stalk. I approach them openly. If they feel hunted, or if you act like a predator, they will run away before you get close. Once you are close, if they start to feel really nervous, they will usually circle up. Often, they just won't get too nervous. Sometimes, they will stomp their feet or do a short mock charge, but they don't seem to aggressive towards people. Dogs, they will chase and stomp to pulp.