Surrounded by mountains on all sides, the Humans enjoyed an insanely delicious meal at the Seven Glaciers restaurant. The restaurant sits atop Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Alaska and can only be accessed via tram. The Humans rode all day, parked their boards out front, and walked in wearing their snow gear and goggles to enjoy a three-course late lunch. Feast your eyes, click HERE.
To make some motion sense of the winter cooking post, the Humans put together a video of their Jay Cooke session. This video would be much better if it was taken of me with my black and white coat charging thru deep powder in slow motion, but heh, I am working with Humans. Long live winter – enjoy the flick.
Since the beginning, the Human’s focus for Medium Control’s streetwear has been centered on the snow, skate, and surf industry. Although, they continue to create and be inspired from many other influences (myself included)… the snow keeps calling to them. Hence, the recent release of their Lift t-shirt. Lift drawing was inspired by the Gandy Chair at Spirit Mountain. Come around by clicking HERE.
Noodles in the snow, the Humans have strange obsessions. Last weekend they ventured by ski into the woods and stumbled upon an old rusty water tower (something the cast of Lost would find). So naturally they set up shop near it. They climbed up on a snow drift, set up their dragonfly portable stove, boiled some water, cooked noodles, shot some pictures and skied away. Cold air and hot water, click HERE.
Argh Matey, the Humans stopped into the Salty Dawg Saloon one evening for a brew in Homer, Alaska and met some of the friendliest locals in town. The Salty Dawg is located nearly on the end of the Homer Spit (look for the light house). Everyone at the bar was sharing a bowl of fresh caught crab legs and yakking about moose and snow machines (snowmobiles to us midwestern folks). The Humans told me every year the the money gets dusted off and donated to charity (I hope it goes to the critter fund). To view the loot click HERE.
The last day of the Alaskan voyage was spent waist deep in snow. The Human’s trekked north to Hatcher’s Pass to hike and ride on the best snow of the trip. Riding until dark and finding the Hatcher’s Pass Day Lodge nestled within the pass proved to be a great trip ender.
They made it to their final destination – Alyeska Ski Resort. This shot was taken from hiking high above the lift into the Glacier Bowl. Clear skies over the treeline while the town of Girdwood below filled in with clouds. As the Humans would say “thank you snowboarding.”
PS. Academy Merit snowboard designed by The Medium Control, full circle process.
After Homer, they travelled thru the fjords along one of Alaska’s original highways ending up in Seward. One road in, trapped by mountains and an ocean inlet – quite Alaskan – quite amazing.
The Humans departed Anchorage and ventured along the coast. They arrived in Homer at sunset and took this cheeseball sunset shot. Pastel sunsets are not for me, but the mountains do look rather enticing. The chunk of land spitting out to the sea on the left is called “The Spit” (similar to Park Point in Duluth, only with salt water). They have reported Alaska has been amazing and well worth the winter travel. And on they go.
The Humans have decided to venture north, way North for some exploring and riding in big old Alaska. I was left behind, however, this was before I found out it was actually warmer in Alaska than Minnesota this time of year (near the coast that is). So here I sit holding down the fort with my temporary guardian, living vicariously thru my Humans. They will have plenty of stories, photos and videos to explain their absence.
Right in the middle of it all, Lake Louise. If I didn’t have such a severe aversion to the wind (big eyes) I think I might enjoy snowboarding, but it obviously doesn’t bother the Humans. The chairlift pictures are fitting today because the Humans are heading off to play in the snow for a few. Ah, finally a break from my daily grind here at The Watsonian… time to go play. Have fun, click HERE.
The Humans should have brought me here it looks like a place I could spend a few nights next to a warm fireplace, how rude. Emerald Lake Lodge is located in Yoho National Park, British Columbia. It is completely secluded from the outside world, but has the comforts of home deep in the woods. Emerald Lake is nestled into the Canadian Rockies just outside the tiny town of Field. The Humans made friendly with another critter (Saint Bernard) who guarded the steps of the best breakfast spot in the Canadian Rockies, Chercher La Vache. Made to order omelets and fried egg sandwiches by an amazing French chef. Who would have thought that beets and mustard on an egg sandwich would cause a Human to drive hundreds of miles for one more bite….mmmm. Travel onto the lodge HERE.
One word, epic. These look a bit rocky and huge for me but the Humans spend last February exploring Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper. Why does everyone always forget about our Northern friends… it is big, beautiful, and really clean – oh Canada. Like I always say if you aren’t in Canada then at least look at some pictures and recollect the greatness. Travel People. Observations of the Canadian Rockies from Banff to Jasper are readily available by clicking HERE.
The Humans survived Isle Royale. Thank goodness, someone needs to prepare my meals. Here, is the foot long tale as the Humans tell it…once they stepped off the dock they were on their own trudging down a small footpath with all the gear on their backs. Sweating hot to bone aching cold, wearing eau du bug spray (that was of zero assistance). After hiking too many miles, they found their first campsite, a spot on the peninsula in Huginnin Cove. They pilled up a couple logs to sit on, boiled some water to drink, ate some grub on their private beach, and caught some much needed rest (no campfires allowed due to preservation of the Island). The days repeated with more hiking, moose stalking, rain, mosquitos that actually had teeth, food rationing, stinky socks; creating one of the best adventures to date – crazy Humans. To see more of the one of the most unspoiled places on earth, click HERE.
Hope you enjoy the Island my friends.
Before the grass is covered in snow the Humans decided to reminisce upon their Isle Royale trip this past summer. Not only did they tell me all about it (again) they also made me look through all their pictures (again). It looks a little too rough and tumble for me but the Humans raved about it. Isle Royale is 99% undeveloped wilderness and offers a Human the chance to see what nature is suppose to look like (the Humans spend a lot of time in the woods so they should know). After one long three hour cold boat ferry ride the Humans arrived on the Island. Want to actually know something about Isle Royale and observe the ultra grainy 3200 iso film, click HERE.
Not only did the Humans shoot a little video at the Paris auction but they also managed to take a few pictures of the evening. The auction building itself had an entire outdoor flea market type arrangement. The Humans told me they could have spend hours walking around taking pictures. Faded buildings, vintage trucks, and cracked windows… it was one of those less than beautiful little treasures. All of this set under the lighting of a late summer evening sky. Pictures abound, see more HERE.
The Humans went down to Oklahoma a few months ago and told me all about an auction they spent an evening at in Paris, Texas. Whewie, the Humans told me they have never been to such a place… hundreds of items for sale and the hot item of the evening was a case of Little Debbie snack cakes. While the parents placed bids at the auction, the kids wrestle in the parking lot – quite unique. Enjoy a clip from the Human’s evening in Paris…
While out on Madeline Island the Humans couldn’t resist setting up a little time lapse photography session for their cliff camping. Hope you enjoy this medium control instructional tent setup short… never stop exploring.
The cold Canadian air fiercely blew fall in last week, which means the Humans have packed up their summer tent for the season. Before the end of the tenting season the Humans were able to make it out to Madeline Island, Wisconsin. I am not fond of island life so I lounged about in the Habitat. However, the Humans told me all about kayaking at sunrise through a lagoon, paddling out to the sea caves, and camping on a cliff overlooking Lake Superior. Although, I keep my distance from the icy waters of Lake Superior the Humans actually went swimming out there – crazy. To find out a little bit more about the Human’s Madeline Island adventure – click here.
Up in the atmosphere, up where the air is clear, let’s go fly a… pffft… no thanks. I stayed home during this mid-summer foggy photo shoot at Spirit Mountain. The humans were all amped with excitement over the ambience – weirdos. Yeah, I guess the pictures turned out pretty cool, to see more of their super spooky foggy afternoon check out the pics below.
They made me move out to an island !MEOW!, excuse me, i might just be a cat, but don’t we live in Minnesota? While building the habitat, my humans decided to move out to Park Point an island on Lake Superior in Duluth, Mn. Well, I am not fond of water and I think Tommy is crazy to surf on lake superior – it just sounds cold. But I survived… Read the rest of this entry »