Sweat Lodges, Dump, & Fall on the Tundra 9/11/11 & 9/17/11

9/17/11

 The clouds are rolling in, and the tundra is beginning to change color for fall.






















    The picture below is a sweat lodge. They're all over the village.

 I made it all the way to the dump on my walk this time. There is no garbage collection, so people have to throw their trash into the back of a pickup or 4 wheeler and take it to the dump themselves. Then they either burn it or bury it.

The new HUD houses

This is Dump Lake with Lake Iliamna in the background and the mountains beyond that.  Dump Lake is right across from the dump.

This is the Teen Center. They have potlatches and other meetings here.

To give you some perspective, this was taken from my driveway at the school looking down to the Newhalen River, below.

9/11/11

 There is property for sale right where the river goes into the lake, but it is high priced, geared to a buyer who wants to put in a lodge.  One lot is $65,000 right at "The Point" and the others that are on the lake are about $30,000.  Too bad, I'm not rich.

There is a ramp just at the just to the right of the two red buildings where you can put a boat in.  You can see a little gravel road there.  The river leads right into the lake.  I have yet to go fishing, although Dave did help me learn how to string a pole over the Skype last week.  (I thought he was going to pull his hair out....Mr. Patience...not!)