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Waiting for Wonder
As the seasons shift on our remote island, I’ve felt a quiet melancholy settling in. The streets are still, the classrooms are full, and my own children are far away in the lower 48. One evening, I said out loud that I just needed a little magic. I didn’t know how quickly that wish would…
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Kayaking the Island Lakes
A foggy Saturday on St. Paul Island led us on a kayak journey across Sheep Lake and Big Lake. We paddled through still waters, portaged across wetlands dotted with monk’s hood and mushrooms, and steadied ourselves against shifting winds and waves. Along the way, we found wonder in stickleback fish, the colors of fall on…
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Finding Whitney Pond: A Hidden Gem Beyond Ridgewall
A hidden pond on St. Paul Island reveals rare wildflowers, playful seals, and puffins on the cliffs—an unforgettable walk from Ridgewall to Whitney Pond.
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Finding Kittiwake Lake: A Lesson in Following the Animals
After two failed attempts to find Kittiwake Lake, I finally reached it on my third try. Guided by instinct, a weathered map, and eventually the kittiwakes themselves, I discovered the hidden lake tucked into a depression on St. Paul Island. Along the way I crossed tephra fields, found antlers at a pond, and explored mossy…
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The Land Cloud and the Elusive Lake
This weekend, Carlos, one of his coworkers, and I set out on a tundra trek with high hopes and foggy outcomes. On Saturday, we braved a land cloud, that eerie phenomenon when the dew point and temperature meet just right, causing the sky to descend onto the earth. Think: a cloud on land, thick and…
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