Actual happiness looks pretty squalid in comparison with the overcompensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn’t nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand.
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
Education
"Must we always teach our children with books? Let them look at the stars and the mountains above. Let them look at the waters and the trees and flowers on Earth. Then they will begin to think, and to think is the beginning of a real education." -David Polis
"Above all, do not lose your desire to walk: every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness; I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it... but by sitting still, and the more one sits still, the closer one becomes to feeling ill... Thus if one just keeps walking, everything will be all right." -Soren Kierckgaard
Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.
- Albert Camus
How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.
Annie Dillard
So, Michelle mentioned wanting to see pictures of the ride I took last week to check out a landing strip and base camp for summer field work. I was lucky to have been invited along to fill the 4th seat on an hour flight in, and out again across the Yukon Plateau and into foothills of the Selwyn Mountains - an impressive range on the eastern border between the Yukon and Northwest Territories.
Fresh snow and bright sunshine in the high country.
I like this photo. I used the film-grain effect on my camera.
View from inside. The rear windows were bubble shaped so you can look straight down, or take a picture like this one.
Spectacular glacial valleys and braided streams in monochromatic mode. No roads or people for a very long way.
Almost every frozen pond had several of these features?? I have some ideas, but just don't know what happened.
Another shot from inside, retro mode.
My Yukon road map worked out pretty good.
Yes, Mom, I packed a lunch. Cheese and spinach with spicy mustard.
View of Pelly River and Town of Faro, YT looking north.
Comments
Nice pictures. I love the valley with no signs of civilization!
Thanks for the pics. Well done. They give a good perspective of the beautiful, but vast desolation of the YT. You are very fortunate to be seeing and experiencing it all while it is still pristine. The combination of warming and developing will most likely leave their mark. I just read in today's paper that the tree line will move 300 miles north in the Arctic by 2100, per scientist in Oslo, Norway. That is still a few years out, but the move has already started. Take care, be safe, have fun and enjoy the adventure. We're proud of you. the dad
Nice pictures. I love the valley with no signs of civilization!
Posted by: Michelle | May 15, 2011 at 04:58 PM
Mark,
Thanks for the pics. Well done. They give a good perspective of the beautiful, but vast desolation of the YT. You are very fortunate to be seeing and experiencing it all while it is still pristine. The combination of warming and developing will most likely leave their mark. I just read in today's paper that the tree line will move 300 miles north in the Arctic by 2100, per scientist in Oslo, Norway. That is still a few years out, but the move has already started. Take care, be safe, have fun and enjoy the adventure. We're proud of you. the dad
Posted by: Nenny | May 16, 2011 at 11:02 AM
And hi to you, Mark
Posted by: Danielle | May 16, 2011 at 08:18 PM
this is amazing!!! that helicopter ride reminded me of that movie Alive though..
Posted by: al | June 03, 2011 at 10:50 AM