Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 08/08/2007 - 17:28
Forums
Alaska Climate Variation

Hello Ms. Foletta,

How is it in Alaska?  I was in the Earth Science class that you substituted in for Mr. Dollahite.  Last week, I was in Lake Tahoe.  Have you been there?  If you have, do you know how the lakes you are at compare to Lake Tahoe in size and depth?  I was looking at the amazing pictures in the picture gallery.  What types of bears have you encountered?  The mountains and lakes look beautiful.  Have you been swimming in them, or is it too cold?  What do you eat, besides wild blueberries, and perhaps fish? 

I hope to hear from you soon!

Jaclyn Burge

Wed, 08/15/2007 - 13:59

Peggy Foletta

Hi Jaclyn. Lake Tahoe is beautiful! The lakes I have visited have been smaller, more remote (few people ever go to them) and less clear, except one of them, Mica. This lake has no evidence of glacier melt entering it. There is an aqua blue color reflected from the fine silty particles that the glacier has crushed which flows into the lake. It is called glacial flour. Hallet and Greyling had this glacial flour, but Mica did not and is clear and similar to Lake Tahoe.We encountered a grizzly bear. I recently put pictures of it in my earlier journals and in the photo gallery. We were in the inflatable boat doing a plankton tow at the time and the bear was at the edge of the lake. I also spotted a black bear looking at me from about 75 meters away at Mica Lake when the researchers were installing a temperature logger. We stared at each other for about 30 seconds and then the bear ambled off towards where we were going next. When we hiked in that area we made noise and had our flare and gun, but we did not see him again.
I got into Greyling for a short dip but I swam in Mica for a few minutes. It was really invigorating!!!
We shopped in Anchorage for food before we left for the field. We have had couscous with curry, chicken (canned) with stir-fried vegetables, spaghetti with vegetables, tuna burritos with vegetables, lots of cheese, crackers, falafal and vegetables twice. We have not caught fish as there are none in the higher elevation lakes. We don't have fishing licenses for the lower lakes.
Mrs.Foletta**