Whale Hatchery

Working 6 days a week I treated myself to a night at a hotel in Valdez.  This is my view.

Disclaimer:  "Whale Hatchery" is a nickname for the Alyeska Pipeline Terminal across the bay from Port Valdez.

Max Burger

Lovely burger & salad for the employee meal at the Tsaina Lodge.

That One Day in March

Now that the days are getting longer & we are gaining more than 5 minutes of daylight a day its not so bad when its snowing.  Better than snowing and dark.

Take Two

A professional photographer has been staying at the lodge taking pictures & movies & doing interviews with the heliski guides & chefs.  You know how hard it can be to take good quality pictures of food & do it justice.  Its not hard to take a picture of the photographer taking pictures of the food though.

Fishtaxi's Party Van

Couple views of my van full of crew & 3 Italian guests on our way to another lodge 11 miles north of Tsaina Lodge.  13 people piled in my van the other night to party down at the Alaska Rendezvous Lodge.  Thats a record for the FishTaxi.

Bubble Station

My job at Tsaina Lodge is DMO.  Dishwashing Machine Operator.  I love it.  Dishes don't talk back to you.  From my Bubble Station I have full view of the kitchen's inner workings.  With multible 3 course dinners going out its like a front row seat in the orchestra.  Maxim, the Chef & his partner Jenna, the Sous Chef are both wonderful to work for.  As the Sushi Chef put it: "Its like culinary school.  Always learning something."

Snowbank Shout Outs

Boat House

This is a zoom-in shot of the Boat House I took in Valdez a couple of weeks ago.  It hasn't been shoveled all winter and its still standing.  They don't make them like they used to.

Spring Up

Happy Daylight Savings Time!!!

Not My Boat

Say It on a Snowbank

I am down in Valdez for a couple days break from the lodge.  Perfect timing for beautiful blue skies today & a full moon & Northern Lights tonight.  Last night they were amazing! 

Park Here

The Boat Doctor

The Tsaina Lodge is open as planned.  I am getting settled into my yurt & my job.  Finally got wireless up at the yurts. 

If your boat gets sick...call the Boat Doctor!

Tuck & Roll

Spring skiing off of Thompson Pass

The locals take turns driving up the pass & skiing down as there is no lift...yet. 

This spot is 5 miles from Tsaina Lodge towards Valdez.  Valdez is a hop, skip and a jump away!

First guests arrive at the lodge March 3 and Grand Opening is March 9. 

Worked my first shift yesterday washing brand new dishes in a brand new dishwasher!  

We won't be serving lunch to the public at this time.  The lunches get sent off with the whole package skiiers.  There will be bar food available after 5pm along with full course dinners.  Get this, a sushi chef arrives today!

Time to get to work...