enough to do a photo study of musk ox in the Northwest Territories.”
“Wait a minute!” Tia leaped from her chair and bounded into the living room, searching the overcrowded bookshelf. She retrieved a large picture book and carried it back to the table.
“I’ve made the connection now! You’re Oswald and Simons! You produced that incredible book on the Polar Regions released about three years ago! I’ve read it cover to cover several times and all the information you included on tundra wolves proved to be very helpful regarding Sugar.”
Jon leaned over and fingered the well-worn text. “Guilty as charged. I swear it took me six months to thaw out after that one. Ben and I are choosing an Amazonian trip for our next adventure.”
Steve opened the heavy cover and flipped through the incredible book. “Wow. I had no idea you were famous.” He had the grace to look impressed. Steve turned to the back sleeve. “You look quite different in this picture.” It was almost an accusation.
Tia peeked at the bright color photo. A grizzled and round-cheeked man in his sixties stood next to a young, clean-shaven Jon. The nature photographer appeared relaxed and happy, an actual grin plastered on for the camera. He suddenly appeared attractive and approachable, even though Mt. McKinley dwarfed the two men. Jon was not smiling now and for some reason seemed oddly put out.
“That photo was taken nearly three years ago. I was a lot younger then.” Tia wondered at the significance behind the simple words.
Apparently Steve didn’t pick up on the nuance. “So now you’re trying to film the grizzly? That sounds like dangerous work.”
“It is, but very rewarding. I hope to find the matron with her two cubs that’s rumored to hang around Crane Lake. If I can get those shots, I’ll pretty much be finished here and can head for Denali to photograph Dall sheep and moose.”
Steve shuddered, “I think I might have seen one of your grizzlies around here just the other day.”
“Did it have a hump?” asked Tia. “Normally we don’t get many grizzlies in this area, but have quite a few black and brown bears. Brown bears don’t have the large humps on their shoulders. How much do you think it weighed?”
“I don’t know,” said Steve , setting down his spoon. “I’m not an expert, but he looked as though he stood ten feet tall and weighed at least 1000 pounds.”
Jon nodded, “That sounds about right. Kodiak grizzlies can get up to fifteen hundred pounds and stand ten feet high on their hind feet. You don’t wanna mess with one of those. I suggest you wear your bear bells if you’re planning to remain in bear country.”
Steve’s eyes widened at the mention of the size of the bear. “Bear bells?” he repeated.
“Bears don’t prefer contact with humans and if you wear bells it warns them off. It’s a wise precaution for any hiker around here,” interjected Tia.
“I’ll keep that tidbit of information in mind. So you like photographing animals?” asked Steve.
“Yes, I was born in the Yukon and spent many a summer traipsing around Alaska and Western Canada. I’ve been around animals of the north all my life since my family keeps a summer home in British Columbia. I tried to do some other things with my life, but always found myself returning to the wild, finally deciding photography would be a nice career choice for me. After I met Ben Oswald I was able to realize my dream. We’ve completed several different projects together and our book on the Amazon should be coming out in the spring.”
“So you’re Canadian?” asked Tia.
“Actually my mother’s Canadian and my father’s from Minnesota so I carry dual passports. Dad was with the Highway Commission and worked on the Alcan Highway for a while when they were doing that major revamping project for the Highway’s 50 th anniversary. I think both he and my mom finally got tired of the cold and ended up in Orlando, basking in the sun. Florida
“Wait a minute!” Tia leaped from her chair and bounded into the living room, searching the overcrowded bookshelf. She retrieved a large picture book and carried it back to the table.
“I’ve made the connection now! You’re Oswald and Simons! You produced that incredible book on the Polar Regions released about three years ago! I’ve read it cover to cover several times and all the information you included on tundra wolves proved to be very helpful regarding Sugar.”
Jon leaned over and fingered the well-worn text. “Guilty as charged. I swear it took me six months to thaw out after that one. Ben and I are choosing an Amazonian trip for our next adventure.”
Steve opened the heavy cover and flipped through the incredible book. “Wow. I had no idea you were famous.” He had the grace to look impressed. Steve turned to the back sleeve. “You look quite different in this picture.” It was almost an accusation.
Tia peeked at the bright color photo. A grizzled and round-cheeked man in his sixties stood next to a young, clean-shaven Jon. The nature photographer appeared relaxed and happy, an actual grin plastered on for the camera. He suddenly appeared attractive and approachable, even though Mt. McKinley dwarfed the two men. Jon was not smiling now and for some reason seemed oddly put out.
“That photo was taken nearly three years ago. I was a lot younger then.” Tia wondered at the significance behind the simple words.
Apparently Steve didn’t pick up on the nuance. “So now you’re trying to film the grizzly? That sounds like dangerous work.”
“It is, but very rewarding. I hope to find the matron with her two cubs that’s rumored to hang around Crane Lake. If I can get those shots, I’ll pretty much be finished here and can head for Denali to photograph Dall sheep and moose.”
Steve shuddered, “I think I might have seen one of your grizzlies around here just the other day.”
“Did it have a hump?” asked Tia. “Normally we don’t get many grizzlies in this area, but have quite a few black and brown bears. Brown bears don’t have the large humps on their shoulders. How much do you think it weighed?”
“I don’t know,” said Steve , setting down his spoon. “I’m not an expert, but he looked as though he stood ten feet tall and weighed at least 1000 pounds.”
Jon nodded, “That sounds about right. Kodiak grizzlies can get up to fifteen hundred pounds and stand ten feet high on their hind feet. You don’t wanna mess with one of those. I suggest you wear your bear bells if you’re planning to remain in bear country.”
Steve’s eyes widened at the mention of the size of the bear. “Bear bells?” he repeated.
“Bears don’t prefer contact with humans and if you wear bells it warns them off. It’s a wise precaution for any hiker around here,” interjected Tia.
“I’ll keep that tidbit of information in mind. So you like photographing animals?” asked Steve.
“Yes, I was born in the Yukon and spent many a summer traipsing around Alaska and Western Canada. I’ve been around animals of the north all my life since my family keeps a summer home in British Columbia. I tried to do some other things with my life, but always found myself returning to the wild, finally deciding photography would be a nice career choice for me. After I met Ben Oswald I was able to realize my dream. We’ve completed several different projects together and our book on the Amazon should be coming out in the spring.”
“So you’re Canadian?” asked Tia.
“Actually my mother’s Canadian and my father’s from Minnesota so I carry dual passports. Dad was with the Highway Commission and worked on the Alcan Highway for a while when they were doing that major revamping project for the Highway’s 50 th anniversary. I think both he and my mom finally got tired of the cold and ended up in Orlando, basking in the sun. Florida
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