Ice Heave

Here my machine came up to an ice heave. This was a mild one, but the only one photographed, as I was otherwise busy. This one laid on the bottom of the ocean, and was heaved up. The dirt on the underside shows that it was bottomed out at one time. Of course, it could have drifted in from miles away, but I think it grounded nearby, and came to rest here.

Sledge Island Lighthouse

Arriving at the island, we went to the sandspit on the north side. It is about two acres, and this Coast Guard lighthouse is there.

Solar powered. And the light assembly has a turntable with 5 bulbs in it, so as each bulb burns out, it automatically rotates to the next spare.

Notice the grasses and other sandy soil vegetation. There is driftwood and plenty of rocks too!

Rough Ice!

Here comes Arnie Ashenfelter in his Triple Yamaha. Notice the rough ice behind him.

We had a lot of that rough ice to contend with, but the worst part was right there just before we got to the island.

Posing for the Camera

Here is most of the gang, still awaiting the coming of Arnie Ashenfelter.

The machine in the foreground is Beatrice's 550Fan MXZ.

Maybe We can Go Up?

Still at the same spot by the lighthouse, I faced west and took this picture sighting along the North shore of Sledge.

The post, probably just some driftwood there by serendipity, was used as a urinating post by the local fox population. We did not see any.

The draw that you can see is the only way up. The rest of the island is a nearly vertical, scree-covered nightmare.

Only Way Up!

Here is from the bottom of the draw looking up. If you look along the machine trail, you will see where the trail leaves the sea ice and starts the climb.

It is pretty steep, specially at the top. And the parts just above the rockfall is very soft snow and presents the hazard of sliding sideways and "losing" it.

When we came out, we thought this was as far as we would get. Then we wondered .... can we?

Posing at the Top

Here are three of us assembled at the top. Keith took the picture. Only us four made it up, Dick and Beatrice did not climb.

From left to right is Ken Hughes, Ramon Gandia (me), and Arnie Ashenfelter.

The edge of the precipice is right behind us, a 600 foot drop. The flat ice you see between our heads is at sea level, and was the route we took back.

The angle of the picture makes it look as if Arni and I are holding hands. Not true, he's too ugly!

Close to the Edge

Keith then walked to the edge of the precipice and took this picture of us.

Rock Guardian

Looking North towards the mainland from the very edge of oblivion.

The Thumb

Same spot, with Keith taking this picture towards the East.

The drop is more easily discerned here.

Steep Scree!

After only a short walk, Keith was able to take this picture looking south along the east face of the island. It is all covered with rocks. A real nightmare!