"Honest Alaska Vacations"

This one probably shoulda been labeled as part of the long-running "Sketchbook" series seeing as how it was literally scanned straight off the page of an omnipresent sketchbook, but there was also enough Photoshop treatment to merit the piece standing on its own. Also it was originally rendered with Microns (or Copic Multiliners) as opposed to a ballpoint pen, so there was more of an archival quality to the initial doodle. These recurring themes were common to hear from visitors over the years spent as an Interpretive Ranger while based in Alaska at a visitor center no less. So I have first-hand knowledge of managing tourists unrealistic expectations. Some of it is based on manipulative marketing tactics. One would almost be forgiven to expect any sortie into parks up here will be the equivalent of a zoo, given how you're led to believe most residents have to dodge wolves, bears, moose (okay sometimes that last one yeah) just on the way to work every day they're so thick in this neck of the woods. And don't get me started on the numerous myths of the aurora borealis - aside from the fact that the nature porn could have us believing that's actually what we see.

For sure though either way it resonates with many residents of Alaska who "get it" - all four scenarios are relatively common enough sights for locals, and are highly coveted bucket-list experiences for visitors. Well, excepting the smoke from wildfires, which were awful again this past season... as the pair of snapshots taken just down the road from the cabin illustrate what a slight shift in the prevailing winds will bring. This summer was also incidentally the first time I began using a new app called Purple Air with real-time air quality monitoring data that helped gauge the impact of smoke at a variety of locations around the Interior, which was bracketed by some big blazes. It bookends perfectly with my seasonal obsession with monitoring inversion temperatures at the opposite point on the calendar.