Greenland Is Made of Puppies
- On October 20, 2016
- By Randall Tate
- In Arctic, Dogs, Trips
1
It turns out that all puppies come from Greenland. Like the stork delivering babies, the ice delivers new born fuzzy dogs with enormous paws. They effectively rule the land, roaming freely and dispensing kisses everywhere they go. If you have any inclination of getting a dog and are trying to convince yourself not to, stay away from Greenland. It will ruin you.
A parting puppy
This Land Is Your Land
- On November 20, 2015
- By Randall Tate
- In Desert, Dogs, Traveling, Wilderness
- 0
The open road holds much allure. Adventure, new experiences and wild places await. It promises to cross a few more places off the bucket list, but that hope quickly fades as new destinations are discovered.
This road trip was something out of Woody Guthrie’s tattered journal. Wheat clouds waved. Dust clouds rolled. We followed that ribbon of highway from Minnesota to Texas to California. We plied pristine waters, wandered redwood forests and felt the sand of diamond deserts. Time on the road is never time wasted. Thankfully, the list only gets longer.
Jimmy Breakfast, Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Minnesota
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico
Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas
White Sands National Monument, New Mexico
White Sands National Monument, New Mexico
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, California
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, California
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, California
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, California
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, California
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, California
A Little Place Called Stehekin
- On October 05, 2015
- By Randall Tate
- In Dogs, Editorial, Stories, Washington, Wilderness
- 5
I had never heard of Stehekin, Washington before April of this year. The National Park Service Ranger interviewing me asked if I wouldn’t mind being assigned there as a General Ranger. “Sure” is all I could say. I had no idea where Stehekin was, what it was like or exactly what a General Ranger did. All I thought I knew was that it was inside North Cascades National Park. This turned out to be false. As it turns out, keeping an open mind and not knowing too much before you go are a couple of things that make a trip to this place incredibly memorable.
Stehekin is a small community situated on the north end of Lake Chelan. It lies within the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area and serves as a jumping off point for adventures into the southern reaches of North Cascades National Park. This small, bizarre hamlet can be reached by foot, boat or plane. Depending on who you ask, Stehekin has around 50-100 year-round residents. Some of the families that originally settled the area still live there and run most of the businesses.
Stehekin is one of those unique, dreamy places that we don’t think exist anymore. It is sleepy town where the houses have names and have never had keys. Some of cars haven’t been registered since the 80s and their keys never leave the ignition. It is a place where people wave to each other and if they don’t wave back, you know “they aren’t from around here.” If asked to describe my experience there, I say Stehekin is a piece of Alaska tucked into the dry, desert, eastern slopes of Washington. It is remote. It is filled with eccentric people. And it is surrounded by some of the most incredible wilderness in North America.
One of the float planes that makes regular runs to Stehekin
The record breaking number of wildland forest fires burning in the area had a considerable impact on my time in Stehekin. At one point, more than a dozen blazes were burning within the confines of the Recreation Area and National Park. As Rangers, we couldn’t post or update signage fast enough. On some days, the smoke was so thick that we couldn’t see one mile across the lake. Our bags were packed just in case we had to evacuate at a moments notice.
On the evening of July 31st, after slowly growing for three weeks along the shores of Lake Chelan, the Wolverine Fire exploded in an inferno that engulfed Domke Mountain. In a matter of one hour the entire slope was turned to ash. At the base of the mountain, sits another small community called Lucerne. By an amazing feat of strength, teamwork and skill, the wildland firefighters were able to save every single building in the village.
The Wolverine Fire engulfs Domke Mountain in an apocalyptic inferno
A firefighter keeps watch on the fire raging across the lake
The Wolverine Fire inches closer to Stehekin
Ronnie. One of the many characters that makes Stehekin so special
Dewey multitasking
Imus House – My home for the summer
Most of the vehicles in Stehekin never go above 30 mph in their lives
The Garden provides residents with fresh, local produce as well as honey, goat cheese and pesto.
The Ranger Boat
Iconic “Stetson” hats hanging in the Ranger Station
If people do know of Stehekin, it most likely because of the infamous Stehekin Pastry Company
The Anti-Corporate Farm
- On February 22, 2015
- By Randall Tate
- In Dogs, Editorial, Food, Stories
- 1
Welcome to the anti-corporate farm. It’s more of a throwback to the past than a rally against the establishment. Small farms have gone the way of the general store. What was normal 50 years ago is now a rarity. Agriculture has gone industrial. Families no longer run farms, corporations do. My friend Aron is attempting to buck that trend. There are no migrant workers, $500,000 combines or Monsanto seeds on his farm. Instead, Aron melds the wisdom of the past with the demands of the modern consumer. Organic produce has now gone industrial as well. The new buzz words are “local” and “sustainable.” Aron can provide that. He has lived on this farm since he was boy, learning first hand what it takes to work the land and keep it fertile. He knows every rock, every field, every tree and he has a vision. He hopes to bring the farm back to life. He already provides himself and his family with a plethora of healthy food, but he wants to make a living from this piece of earth. It’s a noble dream.
I came here to see Aron’s world, reconnect and lend him a hand. We met working on a small, adventure cruise ship in Southeast Alaska back in 2011. Aron was the Bosun onboard, in charge of the small boats we used to access the treasured coves, bays and temperate rainforests. He is a self taught naturalist and was dubbed the “Bear Whisperer” by many a guest for his ability to find Coastal Brown Bears on almost every outing. Aron loves bears and he loves Alaska, but he always felt the pull of the farm. After ten years working on ships, he returned to pick up where he left off and get the farm going again.
Getting Serious with the Slædepatruljen Sirius in Greenland
- On September 14, 2014
- By Randall Tate
- In Arctic, Dogs, Traveling
- 0
When you think of Greenland, the first thing that comes to mind is probably not an elite unit of sled dog loving Danish soldiers. This is unless of course, you are a Danish boy growing up and dreaming of living and working in one of the most incredible places on earth. The Sirius Patrol is a unique Navy unit that enforces Danish sovereignty in the Arctic wilderness of Northern Greenland. They use sled dogs to patrol Northeast Greenland National Park, the largest national park in the world.
Getting selected into the Sirius Patrol is considered an honor in the Danish military and the process is extremely competitive. It could be compared with joining the Navy Seals in the United States. Once selected, Sirius patrollers spend one year on Greenland, working out of the unit’s main base at Daneborg. Upon their arrival, the soldiers are assigned a team of specially bred Greenlandic sled dogs. They are 100% responsible for the care and training of their team from that point forward. For the first 6 months of their tour, soldiers hone their skills and build the specialty equipment they will need for patrolling; including their rifle case, sleeping bag and sled. Later, they go out on extended forays into the park for up to four months at a time in the dead of winter with another member of the unit. They monitor and survey environmental changes and protect resources from poaching and unlawful use.
Along with being incredibly hardy, devoted and highly trained, these are some seriously cool guys.
A Greenlandic sled dog pup observes the wildlife
More images from the southeast coast of Greenland:
Ittoqqortoormiit, a native Inuit village
Polar Bear fur drying in the sun outside an Inuit home
Ittoqqortoormiit, an Inuit village
Scobie – Wise Man of the Sea
Seattle Man Never Recovers After Pit Bull Steals His Heart
- On November 14, 2013
- By Randall Tate
- In Dogs, Editorial, Self-Assignment
- 0
A confessed toy addict, Mako has a penchant for rubber balls with feet. The feet don’t stand a chance.
A 35 year old man was rescued from his apartment Saturday after his 4 year old Pit Bull tried to love him to death. The man, Randall Tate, of Seattle was home alone with the dog when things apparently got out of control. The animal in question, Mako (aka Mango, Moki or Monkey Bear) is a repeat offender, and has a well documented history of stealing hearts. According to Randall, after an intense game of fetch, the two collapsed on the floor. Unaware of this creature’s long rap sheet, Randall was defenseless as Mako nuzzled into his neck and licked his chin. The damage was done. He felt his heart slip away and apparently never recovered from his unfaltering adoration. After Randall did not respond to numerous text messages regarding free beer at a local pub, neighbors knew something was up. They went to Randall’s home where they heard laughter and baby talk coming from inside. They took matters into their own hands and broke down the door. According to witness testimony, Randall was overcome with emotion, blubbering with joy as the neighbors pulled him from the apartment. Mako was left behind because his tail was wagging and he looked otherwise content to have consumed yet another victim. Randall was treated for love overdose by a local astrologist. He was then transferred to the Center for People Who Underestimate the Love of Pit Bulls for further study and enrollment in a 10 step rehabilitation program. The results so far do not look promising. Here are some images of the heart stealer in question:
A true rebel, Mako is known for not wearing a collar during photo shoots.
Testament to his thug life upbringing, Mako loves graffiti and considers himself an aficionado on the Seattle street scene.
Often lazy and appearing sleepy, Mako is tricky and has been known to spring out and steal a person’s heart in the blink of an eye.
A vigilant camp guard, Mako rarely misses the opportunity to chase a deer on their own turf.
Often using his charms to gain favor with humans, Mako can be seen here living the life of luxury after stealing yet another heart.
Don’t let your boyfriend near this dog. He will be speaking baby talk before you know it.
Mako has been known to slingshot himself into people’s worlds.
Mako may appear to be a Superhero, but don’t be fooled, he is a hardened criminal.
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