A Sort of Homecoming

This school year I have been part of a state funded social studies curriculum called Map TEACH.  The program is designed to get students thinking geo-spatially through GIS, GPS, remote sensing, and place based local knowledge of the land. Twice we’ve met in Fairbanks for workshops.  This time we met in Anchorage.  Its been almost nine months since I was in my old stomping grounds.  

To my luck I arrived on the first Thursday of February, just in time for First Tap!!!  This months lineup had the Young Fangs opening up from Fairbanks, followed by laVoy from Wasilla.  I really enjoyed both bands.  They had a post-punk emo/indie sound which really filled the room with screaming guitars, groovy bass-lines, and heavy drum beats.

Twice since I’ve become a teacher I had the pleasure of staying in the Hotel Captain Cook.  Not what I expected, but hey, with enough grant money anything is possible...

These photographs were taken from the 15th floor of my hotel.  I observed the icebreaker cargo ship passing by my hotel window out in the Cook Inlet.  I loved the way Sleeping Lady Mountain was looming in the distance.

Anchorage has had record snowfall this year.  Unfortunately I had to leave my skis in Fairbanks, with little time to spare for the backcountry.  The photos of Anchorage were also taken from the elevator lobby on the 15th floor of the Cook Hotel, just before sunset.