Mars 2010 It was hazy, but you could still see it. This was at 2 am

Jack Fish Lake 2010

Mackenzie mountain range

Edward Pana, works with me at Northern

Check out how clear the water is.

So last night I stayed up late well I guess late for me, at 2 am I finally got a great shot of Mars, it was so hazy that I didnt think that I was going to be able to get it.  The rest of these pics are from my last few days, around town and Jackfish Lake. tomorrow I am going hiking to fossil canyon, and will have more great pics. I have to say I am excited to get back to Tuk, not that being in Norman Wells isn't fun. However this town is kinda like home, nice to be here for a visit, but I want to experience the north.

http://www.jokeroo.com/videos/sport/pool-dunks.html

Tonight Cheyenne and myself went up to Jackfish Lake. What a great little park, there is a small look out with three or four bbq's. A dock with 4 canoes, if you take your own paddles you can use the canoes.  Next time I will be going canoeing for sure. It was quite a drive to get to the lake, but fully worth it. On the way back Cheyenne took me to the ski cabin, which is kinda off the beaten path. It is an old log cabin on the top of a hill over looking the village. Anyone from town is allowed to use it. There is a fire pit with a bunch of chairs, and benches. Then inside more benchs with a large air tight store. and one window. This is such a great idea, all winter long the cabin is used. there is also an outhouse with two holes. Couples bathroom???

I want to go for a drive

Painted on the sidewalk

This is the biggest moose I have ever seen

This engine still runs, even just sitting here has oil dripping out

So I haven't posted anything in about 9 days, I have been very busy. The store is extremely busy.  Plus Norman Wells is a very cool little town. If I was to be asked to stay here I could definitely see that happening. I have been out fishing yet, but have plans for going on a hike on Wednesday to fossil canyon, and Dodo falls. I can't wait. It is going to be so much fun, from what I understand it is a 1.5 hr hike up to the falls, but fully worth it. Norman Wells is surrounded my mountians on one side, and foot hills on the other. I know that it there must be some great views from here, however the clouds have been so low for the last week and a half that I have only been able to get one shot, so far. Oh well, maybe on Wed. when I go hiking I can get some great shots

Norman Wells

I arrived in Norman Wells, on August 9 it was a great day for traveling. I will never get tired of the landscape in the Northwest territories.  I really think that when I get to the airport they pick the smallest plane possible then send me in that. Dave Bruce we were in a plane just like yours. It was a Cessna 160, that I took from Fort Good Hope to Norman Wells. I had no idea they did this flew in such small planes, but economical and fun. We flew pretty low, and could really see the ground most of the way. Only for a little bit were we above the clouds, when we went over the Franklin mountains, but I really don't think that they look like mountains more like foothills.
So I have been walking around town, and there is so much oil here there are man made islands that are just for the pumps. Plus there is three or four pump right in town. I don't have any pictures yet, the weather has been terrible the last few days.

Last day in Fort Good Hope

This was completely worth the hike up to

This is Angelina

The red flowers can be mixed with water to create red paint

Fred and I standing on top of the cliff above the cabin

It was a long way to the top

the water level has dropped almost 10 ft in the last 2 weeks

So WOW, yesterday I had the day off. It was great, I will let the pictures do the talking. I woke up around noon perfect, and made some breakfast. Shortly after Angelina called she is Fredricks Mother. Anyways Angelina asked if I could help the fix the cabin. So I went out to the camp to help. A bear had made its way into the main cabin, through the back wall! So we repaired it, then had dinner. After dinner we hiked up to the top of the cliffs, and the view was amazing. On the way down I discovered an Artesian Well, so I had some water it was the best tasting water ever, and was already cold. This happens a lot up here I was told, the permafrost melting and making it way to the surface. When we got back to the camp Fredricks father asked us to clean out the net, so we did. There was like 10 Koni in it plus a couple of halibut, a pike and pickeral.  It took awhile to get all the fish out, and reset the net. The we went up the river to the rapids, called the Ramparts, and the most spectacular spot for camping! Just before the rapids, two rivers intersect. The Mackenzie and the Ramparts. The Ramparts runs directly from the mountains, and in the spring is a very fast flowing river.

Now you see it

Now you don't

This how strong the current is in the main channel of the Mackenzie River where the barges navigate up and down the river.  We went a little further up the river then went to the shore where Fred was telling me the there was fossils of turtle shells. WOW I thought, but it was actually round rocks that are marked just like a turtle.  On the way back we went by some of the same cliffs that I was at a few weeks ago, but the face had fallen off into the river.  Well I took a few more pictures on the way back to the camp, said good bye to Frank and Angelina, and Fred dropped me off at the point. That was a great day and a great way to remember Fort Good Hope!