Rainbow

Hatching monarchs

Off to Mexico for margaritas!!

Monarch Madness

Walking past the new wildflower garden by the house, Teresa noticed that one of the butterfly weed plants was completely munched down.  Upon further inspection, a monarch caterpillar was found. Following a tour of all the new wildflower beds, a total of 7 caterpillars were found!!!

One little guy is ready to make his chrysalis.

We're guessing that this is the 3rd generation of monarchs for the summer.  Likely the next batch of eggs laid will eventually become the butterflies that migrate to California and Mexico.  

It's so exciting to see this threatened species thriving here in our own back yard!!

Tillly's day out

Tilly was brought outside for a frolic today.

Wow, those hedgehogs can RUN!

20,310’

It’s done.

On May 29, I stood on the highest point in North America.  

My second expedition to Denali was different than the first in several ways but one of the most striking things about this last trip was how familiar that place now feels. I have now cumulatively spent a month and a half of my life on the glaciers and flanks of one amazing and massive mountain. That fact... that I have even had that opportunity...is humbling.  The route that lead me to Denali’s summit was certainly challenging at times and I hope that I am better for having met that challenge.  The entire process of preparing for and taking two expeditions to Alaska is a lot to ponder and digest.  I think that I might have said it best via satellite phone from the summit.  I am grateful.  What a great adventure Denali has been for me. 

It is absolutely worth mentioning that I never would have even pursued this whole crazy thing if it were not for strong support back home.  I owe a lot of thanks and praise to Teresa for doing some very heavy lifting while I have been away.  She has really kept things on track.  Thanks, love. 

Denali 2.0

Approximately one year after my last attempt to summit Denali, I am writing this from a hotel room in Anchorage.  That’s right, we’re going for it again.  Follow along at home at:

https://mountaintrip.com/trip-reports/

Our team is “Denali 2019 - Cook Private WB.”

Pray for good weather and hopefully I’ll be posting pictures of the top of North America some time in early June. 

Teresa’s little friends.

While cleaning out the chicken coop on Wednesday the came a loud squeaking noise when Eric dug into the winter bedding.  We dug a little and found a nest of baby rats, likely 2 days old based on their appearance. So Teresa did what any crazy person would do and brought them into the house and started feeding them.  

We’re now 5 days in and all 7 babies are still alive and growing. If they make it the full 6 weeks we’ll release them back into the wild (far away from any barns).