(Not) Battle Moutain Hike

Sunny day number three, plus the day off, time to get some vitamin D.  The mountain looks more like a big hill, compared to some of the surrounding mountains.  Whatever one may call it, climbing to the top of it offers stellar views of where we live.  Here are some pictures from our adventure in the sun.  If the images appear distorted, click on them for a more accurate portrayal.

Battle Mountain.  It is the the furthest one on the left.

Pink flowers.   Further back is the school and houses near the cliff edge with ocean and mountains in the background.

Lapland Rosebay flower.

Two Ptarmigan.  One is located in the middle of the screen and the other, to the right of the screen on the "horizon" of the photo.

Young Tern.  As we reached the top of the hill, there were many birds flying overhead calling to their babies below. 

Ptarmigan eggshell.

Me lying in the warm sun looking down at the water.  The tundra was so squishy and delightful to lie in.  It was not fun to hike on though, physically demanding--it was like high stepping in beach sand, foam, or a sticky cotton gauze.

Sunglasses with Tern (bird) poop on them.  "Yep, I know that feeling." Nate had said while taking them off.  With all of the birds flying overhead, I am surprised we only sustained one poo bombing while walking up there.  There were at least a hundred flying overhead. 

These mountains are visible through my classroom window .  Up here they are unobstructed by man made objects.

Baby Tern.  Nate spotted this little guy.  It was so tiny about the size of a chicken egg.

Ross' Avens flowers

White elderberry or Sitka Valerian Possibly.  I did not get a look at the leaves.

Nate descending Battle Mountain.  The picture fails to show the actual slant.

Purple Harebells. 

Star Gentian flower.

On top of Battle Mountain facing southeast/southwest.  The mountainous land jutting out in the background on the right hand side of the page is Unga Island.

On top of Battle Mountain facing west/northwest/northeast.  In the distance is the only part of the island that is settled, the rest is more mountainous as seen in the previous picture.  On the left is our airport (it cannot be seen here), next over is the harbor with surrounding homes, on the right where the buildings end is the loop road that has the school on it, and lastly the road on the far right leads to the city landfill and old rock quarry.