Adventures in Akutan

I'm still in Akutan after leaving home nearly four weeks ago.  It feels like it has been a long time, I have watched the mountains start to turn green, performed countless hydrographic surveys and spent endless hours on the water.  Despite the long days I have had the chance to explore the island a little bit the over the last week.  The weather has improved from earlier this month and has been good for hiking.  Yesterday the view the top of the nearest mountain offered panoramic views.  Akutan Volcano was as clear as I have ever seen it.  From the top of the peak I climbed I could see Unalaska, Akun, the Bering Sea and the Pacific Ocean.  The view was amazing!

We also had a chance to tour the old whaling station across the bay recently.  Apparently this was the only whaling station to ever exist in the Aleutians.  There are many rusty old rivited boilers and engines.  Its easy to find pieces of whale bones on the beach.  I would like to learn more about how the whales were processed at this site.

There was also a sad day this week.  A person from the facility here went missing.  The day after she was found to be missing we took the Miss Alyssa around the coast searching.  Unfortunately the woman was found deceased.  The weather was so calm the state troopers were came over from Unalaska in a skiff.

Breaks between surveys have also offered a little bit of time for fishing, touring the tub boat, and continuing to enjoy Jimmer's great food.

Bering Sea Scallops

Searching for the missing person from the Miss Alyssa

Alaska State Troopers skiff that come all the way to Akutan from Unalaska

Taking water samples!

Boilers at the Akutan Whaling Station

Cod I caught 

Akutan Volcano as seen from the peak I climbed

One of the engines in the tug boat