Home from vacation & living in the shadow of a volcano

There's nothing quite as wonderful as coming home to Alaska after a vacation. Sure, we left the daffodils and flowering trees behind, but we also said goodbye to the freeways and busy masses of humanity that we moved north to avoid. The quiet and beauty of this great land welcomes us back, and I am so satisfied in returning to our little seaside town. Here, everyone knows your name, notices that you've been gone for a while, shows sincere interest in hearing about your travels. I breathe a sigh of relief pulling in the driveway. We're home.

In Anchorage, we noticed the smell of sulfur in the air, and a light dusting of ash atop all outdoor surfaces. A trip to the car wash was a must, before we were on our way. I forgot this sensation that we'd experienced in 1989, the last time this mountain spewed ash across the Inlet, making it's mark on a large area of Alaskan land.

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Driving south of Anchorage was pristine and beautiful, a cobalt blue sky backdrop against the white mountains. It was jaw dropping gorgeous. A clear road wound before us, the best of winter driving. Oh, the stories we could tell of blinding snowstorms that we have trudged through, freezing ice seizing up car brakes, moose casually meandering across the road right in front of us. It's a mystery what each trip will entail. This one, thankfully, was pleasurable from the start.

As we drove down the Kenai Peninsula, the view of Mt. Redoubt was clearly visible, with a steam cloud looming above. So, this was the mountain that had received world-wide press, spouting it's top since we'd left just two weeks ago, 6-7 times.



Coming through Ninilchik, we noticed the ashfall traces increasing. The gray dusty topping sat atop the snow, dirtying cars and roofs of structures, clear witness to Redoubt's last blast.

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Driving into Homer, the evidence of Redoubt's furry was even more readily seen. Ash lays atop the snow, pitting it in eerie patterns, covering roofs and cars. Gritty mud travels in melting streams in the driveway. Nothing is untouched. Trees are flocked in volcanic dust, every wisp of wind loosens quantities of the nasty powder to the mercy of gravity's whim.

Yes, I am still happy to be home, even with this inconvenience. Who benefits from this volcanic spit up? Local car wash owners, and local photographers couldn't be happier.
Under an electron microscope, (thanks to University of Alaska, Fairbanks), the nature of these nasty particles are clearly seen. A bad time to wear contacts, or go out for a brisk jog, without a protective mask. We need rain to clear the air, and some time to pass, before it's being kicked up constantly into the air.

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Next post will include some highlights from our recent trip, "outside", to the Pacific NW.

There's no place like home, there's no place like home.....

Closeup of the top vent in the Redoubt summit crater, seen on March 21, 2009 (Alaska Volcano Observatory)