Jason Kopp - Uncertain Tranquility

Up North

2012-01-30T23:20:00.001-06:00

Went to go see Up North play at the Cactus Club a few nights ago in Milwaukee. It was a great show. I am happy to see my friends making great music and having a great time doing it. Can't wait for more.

Winter in Chicago

2012-01-22T12:04:00.000-06:00

Here are just a few photos of Chicago, a place I am growing quite fond of.

Chirstmas Break

2012-01-16T22:46:00.008-06:00

I took over a week off from work for Christmas break and it was exactly what I needed to get out of my city life funk. Living in Chicago is great, but I have come to realize that a lot of my happiness is dependent on being in the wilderness, away from the cityNOISE. So hanging out in Milwaukee was a welcome treat.

But Milwaukee is a fairly big city, in its own right, so the real cherry on top was traveling up to northern Michigan with Hannah and my brother to my brother's friend Anders' cabin on Lake Superior. And when I say on Lake Superior, I mean RIGHT next to it. It was amazing. Bonfires, naked saunaing, amazing food, great people, board games, pines, snow, polar bearing... a real wild rumpus. Here are a few photos. But I have to say, most of the time my camera was tucked away. Sometimes it's necessary for me to take a break from constantly shooting and just enjoy the view.

SNOW!

We wrote down what we wanted to leave behind as we prepared to enter 2012 on a small piece of paper, folded it up, put it in a small paper basket, attached the basket to a homemade parachute, lit the basket on fire, and sent it floating into the sky. The parachute started on fire after it got about 20 feet into the air and it fell to the ground. Nonetheless, it was still pretty cool to see. The next three photos document the parachute: initial setup, lift off, and descent.

Here is the wood burning sauna:

Pulling Bat Skulls

2011-12-03T17:22:00.006-06:00

WARNING: SOME OF THE FOLLOWING IMAGES ARE VERY GRISLY AND ARE NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.

I started "pulling skulls" from bats at the Field Museum for Bruce Patterson. It is very interesting, to say the least. I pull a skull by cutting and peeling the skin from around the mouth and over the head, like taking off a mask. Then I have to dislocate the skull and fill the skin with cotton. After this, the skulls will be placed in a container with flesh eating beetles and then some final touch up cleaning by the professionals. Pretty awesome, crazy, weird, and a little bit gross but very cool. I do this in the sub-sub basement of the Field in the Collections Resource Center (CRC) in a lab surrounded by dead animals soaking in alcohol. Try drinking your morning coffee with a cyclops deer fetus staring at you.

Bruce believes he and his colleagues may have found a new species of bat. In order to determine this, they must compare the bat to closely related species on every level before sending the specimens back to where they came from. Many species specific traits can be determined by the skull and so they must be removed, cleaned, and compared.

I believe it is important to know what species are where (the field of taxonomy) in order to monitor our impacts as humans and protect the species that are at risk. And so, taxonomy should be more of an important tool of conservationists as most conservation planning is species specific. I like playing a small roll in that. Anyways, I digressed, here are some photos:

Bruce showing me how it is done:

My turn:

(Photograph by Bruce Patterson)

Chicago At Night

2011-11-20T16:34:00.006-06:00

Since I work all day long, I have been taking more photographs at night. Here is a bit of what I have done.

This is where I work, the Chicago Field Museum:

Navy Pier on a cold windy night:

Chicago skyline seen from the Adler Planetarium just after sunset:

Black Bean Soup

2011-11-20T16:28:00.005-06:00

Black Bean Soup garnished with Flamin' Hot Cheetos (Hannah's idea) on a cold winter day is pretty tasty. Really easy to make, too. Yum.

For some more great food photography and recipes I keep meaning to try, check out this blog: Essential Omnivore

Chicago Skyline Panorama

2011-11-17T22:06:00.006-06:00

Chicago skyline just as clouds started to roll in. I was on my bike and made it home as the rain started to sprinkle down. A few days before I took this photograph, Chicago experienced some really heavy winds. I think that is why this boat was sitting on the concrete and not in the water.

Black River Falls, Wisconsin

2011-10-30T22:05:00.004-05:00

Light

2011-10-30T20:52:00.001-05:00

Chicago Field Museum

2011-10-30T20:48:00.002-05:00

Cityscapes

2011-10-30T20:43:00.005-05:00

Beauty

2011-09-05T16:06:00.003-05:00

A still morning on Mendenhall Lake reflecting the Mendenhall Glacier:

Homeward Bound

2011-09-05T16:04:00.002-05:00

Final Camping Trip in the Great Alaskan Outdoors

2011-09-05T15:55:00.002-05:00

(Photo by: Hannah Findlay)

When I first got to Alaska I was curious where all the mushrooms were. Well, I found them:

Greatest carpet ever:

Skin jumped off the fish (must have been scared):

Heidi the VW Bug, Shotguns, and Beer - Alaska

2011-09-05T15:48:00.003-05:00

(Photo by: Annie Piper)

(Photo by: Hannah Findlay)

Creepy Alaskan Memorial/Shrine

2011-09-05T15:43:00.004-05:00

Alaska Icefield Expeditions: Dogsledding

2011-09-05T15:35:00.003-05:00

Alaskan Salmon Fishing

2011-09-05T15:26:00.003-05:00

Can you spot the naked mountain man?

Cooking:

Rock Climbing at the Sea Cliffs

2011-09-05T15:22:00.003-05:00

Haines Fair, Alaska

2011-08-15T23:08:00.009-05:00

I went to Haines, AK with Hannah and friends to go to the SE Alaska State Fair. It was wet, cloudy, sunny, fun, frightening, sometimes dangerous, and fueled by excessive drinking.

People's Magazine reappeared throughout the trip...

Some photos from the ferry from Juneau to Haines:

Hannah had the hiccups, so she tried drinking water upside down. I don't remember if it worked or not.
(Photo by Kaj Loken-Kim)

Then we made it to the Fair:

Went to a friend's house out in the middle of nowhere Alaska. It was probably one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. There were multiple houses and one of the greatest views I have seen since Mt. Juneau.

The only photo I have from the Fair the second night...

Trip home:

Annie+Nalgene:

Jason+Hannah:

Cassidy+Kaj+People's Mag:

TEMSCO's Pilot's Choice Tour

2011-08-10T17:14:00.007-05:00

Hannah and I went on TEMSCO's Pilot's Choice tour a couple weeks ago. TEMSCO is where I work and the Pilot's Choice tour is our premium tour. Chip Kalvin was our pilot and he has been flying for TEMSCO for...well... a long time and has a wealth of knowledge about the Juneau Ice Field and the surrounding natural beauty. The Pilot's Choice tour is an hour and 20min long tour that involves two landings. We landed at the Hole in the Wall on the Taku Glacier and the Juneau Ice Field. It was amazing. Here are some photos:

Juneau, Alaska and the end of our tour:

Hiking/Climbing Mt. Juneau

2011-08-04T21:47:00.002-05:00

This was probably one of the scariest "hikes" I have done yet. Never really climbed a mountain before. Went from 0 to over 3,500 ft.

Made it to the first resting point on the climb to the summit.

Marmot!! They make some really creepy calls.

Had to slide on our butts when we were descending. It got pretty dirty.

Beer and Books

2011-08-04T21:41:00.005-05:00

Zip-Lining

2011-08-04T21:41:00.004-05:00

Down at the Docks

2011-08-04T21:37:00.002-05:00

Mendenhall Glacier Campground

2011-08-04T21:34:00.002-05:00

Alaskan Textures

2011-08-04T21:32:00.001-05:00

Hike to Dan Moeller's Cabin

2011-07-06T15:43:00.010-05:00

Hannah, some friends, and I hiked the Dan Moeller trail on one of our days off. It was a pleasant, fairly short hike. I really enjoyed it. Here are some photos.

The moss grows everywhere and off of everything:

Spring is finally springing up here:

Fresh flowing water:

The cabin:

Clancy, the hiking dog, and friends:

It's sad a tree has to be saved for wildlife:

Shooting stars:

Floating clouds:

Trees growing on rocks:

Random Happenings

2011-07-06T15:41:00.002-05:00

Alaskan Whale Watching

2011-07-06T15:35:00.004-05:00

Hannah and I got to go on another free tour and I took about 200 photos. Here are four:

Day Hike

2011-07-06T15:28:00.001-05:00

Hike to "John Muir's" Cabin

2011-06-11T19:30:00.001-05:00

Alaska Panoramics

2011-06-11T19:27:00.001-05:00

NorthStar X-Trek

2011-06-06T21:20:00.003-05:00

Went on a helicopter glacier tour and walk through a sister company of TEMSCO (where I work) called North Star. They fly you up to the glacier and then you hike around and do some ice climbing. Pretty amazing. Tourists pay $499 a pop to do this tour. We got to go for freeeee.

Climbing an ice wall:

Drinking straight from the glacier:

Hannah and our guide:

TEMSCO, where I work!

Camping at "Boy Scout Camp"

2011-06-06T19:40:00.000-05:00

West Glacier Trail

2011-06-06T18:52:00.002-05:00

Mount Roberts Hike

2011-05-27T02:10:00.003-05:00

On my day off I finally got to go on a nice afternoon hike up Mount Roberts. Most tourists make it to the top of this mountain by way of the tram. I wanted to hike up it.

Note to self: hiking in Alaska is a little different than the tropics

Found an injured/caged bald eagle that tourists get to photograph. Thought I'd join the fun.

Ended the night with a bonfire on Auke Bay with this as the backdrop:

Alaska

2011-05-25T12:40:00.005-05:00

Friends

2011-05-22T18:32:00.001-05:00

May Day, Minneapolis, MN

2011-05-09T13:42:00.000-05:00

Proposed Spring 2011 Commencement SpeechJason Kopp4/18/11

2011-04-27T12:06:00.004-05:00

Many people are losing faith in this country, a country that appreciates the top 1% over the education of its children, and as graduates, maybe you are all losing faith in it too. Or maybe you are just glad to be getting out. Tuition will soon start to skyrocket, employee benefits cut, class sizes increased, and hiring frozen. In the face of these challenges, we must not be cynical or regretful, we need to remember all the opportunities and experiences that this University has provided us with, we need to remember where we are, and we need to remember all the places we are bond to go.

I can tell you right now that I don’t remember all the economic benefits of natural resources that many of us learned about in Professor Kilgore’s class. And in a few weeks I probably wont be able to tell you what step of glycolysis “dihydroxyacetone phosphate” belongs to. I have crammed and forgotten a lot of the facts and figures I learned about in many of my classes.

However… I have not forgotten what it feels like to be standing in the canopy of the tropical jungles of Costa Rica. I have not forgotten what it feels like to be apart of something bigger than myself while living in the Students’ Coop on frat row. I have not forgotten late night philosophical chats with my friends while laying on the ground of my duplex listening to music. I have not forgotten my UROP mentor and how he taught me what deleterious mutations are while we sat in his office drinking tea. I have not forgotten about the professors and advisors who have taught me how to think and guided me along this four-year path. And, of course, there are other experiences I have forgotten, some I have even forgotten the morning after. But I think they were probably great too.

College isn’t only about the things you learned while staring at all those PowerPoints in your classes, college is about the people who are sitting next to you and the doors that are now open to you, doors that are closed and bolted shut to so many others. We have all been given a gift. Take the skills you have gained and do what is meaningful to you. Travel the world and spread your knowledge. Or plant some seeds and nourish your community. Follow your heart and do what you love, never look back, and don’t look too far forward; if we all live in the now, we will flourish.

And now, your obligatory commencement speech quote: Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh once said, “We cannot enjoy life if we spend a lot of time worrying about what happened yesterday and what will happen tomorrow. We worry about tomorrow because we are afraid. If we are afraid all the time, we cannot appreciate that we are alive and can be happy now… Life is available only in the present moment.”

Biker Killed on Campus

2011-04-21T20:00:00.000-05:00

Today, Kimberly Yeong Sil Hull, a 25-year-old student at the U studying film, was struck and killed by a semi-truck while biking on campus at 8am on her way to school. She was going to be graduating in May. It is not yet known whose fault this is or who had the right of way. But for my thoughts on this, it does not matter. I believe everyone should look at such a horrific tragedy like this and learn and grow from it, both individually and as a community.

As someone who bikes in Minneapolis year-round, I have grown increasingly upset with the other bikers I see around the city. I see people not wearing helmets, not using lights when biking at night, and doing both of those things WHILE they are plowing through red lights (sometimes even during rush hour times of the day). When you are biking around the city, you DO have as much of a right to be on the road as a car. And I will fight for that right, no matter what. But you do NOT have MORE of a right to be on the road than a car. Bikers need to start respecting the hazards that come with biking around hundreds of two to four ton metal coffins barreling down the road at 30-40 miles per hour. We do not live in a world that is safe for bikers. And to make it a safer place, we need to abide by the rules so more people will get the fuck out of their murder weapons and hop on a pedaled steed.

Take your lane when there is construction, snow, gravel, or potholes covering the side of the road or the bike lane. Don't move over and put yourself in harms way just because there is a line of drivers behind you. Bike defensively! But wear a helmet, wear some bright lights, put at least one break on your bike (I don't care what any of you say), and abide by the rules of the road.

I don't want a driver to see some idiot on their break-less fixie running a red light while not wearing a helmet and think to themselves, "no wonder Kimberly got killed, look how people are biking these days". Fuck that. And drivers, watch out for us bikers! We are here and we are en masse. Check your blind spots and mirrors. Look both ways even if the light is green.

Don't let Kimberly’s death be in vain. Learn and grow, Minneapolis.

My thoughts go out to her family and the other injured victims of this and the other recent accidents around campus.

Sources:
Star Tribune Article
Minnesota Daily Article

Undergraduate Research

2011-04-08T22:30:00.001-05:00

This poster is the culmination of my past few months of research at the Moeller Lab in St. Paul. I will be presenting it this Wednesday (April 13th) at the Undergraduate Research Symposium from 3-4:30 in Coffman Memorial Union.

After you come to see my poster, vote for my photo which is a finalist in the 2011 UMN Study Abroad Photography contest in Heller Hall 230. Voting is open to the public all week (April 11-15).

Pollen Viability

2011-04-02T18:45:00.005-05:00

Counted over 20,000 pollen grains of Clarkia xantiana in the past month and a half or so for my study: "Post-mating reproductive isolation and hybrid pollen sterility between two subspecies of Clarkia xantiana". Here are some photos:

Minnesota Spring

2011-04-02T11:49:00.002-05:00

The End of Winter

2011-03-20T16:28:00.002-05:00

This weekend marks the end of winter (for me).
My bike is clean with working brakes.
My room has been vacuumed and sheets washed.
School has now moved to the back of my mind,
while biking and playing outside has moved to the front.
I am ready for warm breezes, beaches, and leaves.

Here are some photos from the past few months, marking the end of my winter photography.

Madison, WI: Kill the Bill

2011-02-25T20:48:00.010-06:00

Bussed down to Madison, WI at 8am Saturday and left at 6am Sunday to head back to Minneapolis. I went to support my mother, a K-5 Kindergarten teacher in a Milwaukee Public School. This is what I saw.

Machu Picchu Journey Random

2011-02-22T21:45:00.002-06:00

So I am still sitting on a bank of photos from my journey to Machu Picchu while in Peru. There are hundreds of them, so I can never find the time or energy to upload them all. Someday I will. Until then, I will randomly upload some here and there. Here's your first.

Minnehaha Falls

2011-02-20T22:37:00.003-06:00

Hannah, David, Taylor, and Kopp Squared went on a journey to Minnehaha Falls. Minnehaha Falls is a waterfall but during the winter it freezes over. This is our story...

Photography

2011-02-14T10:25:00.002-06:00

Sometimes you have to remember to put down the camera and open your eyes.

Winter Seclusion

2011-01-25T21:05:00.005-06:00

Some Men look at Playboy while watching football... others look at seeds while drinking tea.

FOOT.

Shiny Metal.

Self Portrait

2011-01-25T21:04:00.000-06:00

Home

2011-01-19T02:12:00.001-06:00

Winter Break 2010-2011

2011-01-19T01:59:00.004-06:00

Poppa Kopp and his new iPad

Door County, WI

Green and orange bell-pepper, onion, pine nut, garlic, 3-cheese pizza

Blue berry, strawberry, banana, cream cheese frosting, sugar cookie pizza (cook: H. Findlay)

Chicago and the Sears Tower (now the Willis Tower)

(Photo by H. Findlay)

Chi-Town

Minnesota Blizzard

2010-12-11T17:14:00.003-06:00

Minnesota Daily

2010-12-11T16:17:00.004-06:00

FOOD SHELF

MEAT

CHEESE

FIREWORKS

Seeing a banana tree in MN is just depressing...

MN Swimming

2010-12-11T16:16:00.000-06:00

December 4th: Emmer Voting Party (the Lion's Den)

2010-12-11T16:15:00.000-06:00

United Noodle

2010-12-11T16:14:00.000-06:00

MN Daily: What have I been up to?

2010-10-27T13:36:00.005-05:00

Cross Country is insane. People pushing themselves to their limits, mind and body:

BREWING!

Hands-free mouse:

Two members of DarkDarkDark:

A poet's sanctuary:

An artist's workshop:
(I can only think of one thing more beautiful than fall)

The monthly Minnesota Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) Meeting (looks as fun as it was):

Astronomy:

Obama hits the University of Minnesota Campus:

(LOL!)

SMILE.

2010-10-19T20:34:00.002-05:00

CATS!

2010-10-19T00:12:00.002-05:00

St. Paul: Arcade Fire

2010-09-25T12:51:00.003-05:00

St. Paul: The Flaming Lips

2010-09-20T18:23:00.004-05:00

Peru: Powerpoint

2010-09-19T19:16:00.007-05:00

If you're interested in what I did in Peru, and I haven't told you or you haven't read my old blog posts, you can check out this short Powerpoint I gave to one of my classes about it. Sorry for the poor audio editing, just threw the song on top of it so you don't get bored.

Explorer's Inn is always looking for new RN's. You need (or are working towards) a degree in biology or a related field (like Environmental Science) and a 3-month commitment. Send me an email if you are interested! I will give you all the contact info. you need. Or if you just want to go on a vacation there...

Peru: FAUNA

2010-09-19T16:21:00.007-05:00

Here are some of the best photos I got of all the amazing, beautiful, and crazy things that surrounded me in the jungles of Peru. This is why I carried my camera with me every single moment throughout the wet, sticky, and hot rainforest. Some of my proudest photos (and some of my least favorite, but that's okay). Please enjoy.

Anarti Fatima, a day flying moth, beautiful:

BATS:

Best photo I got, Brown Capuchin:

Butterflies:

Yellow Rumped Caciques:

Capibara, largest rodent in the world:

Dusky Titi Monkey:

Invisible Frogs:

Cicada home:

Hard to see, but an Army Ant Bivouac. This is where they nest, arms linked, with the queen hidden deep in the center:

Weird insects:

This location holds the most diverse population of dragonflies:

Bullet Ant (feels like you are being shot if they sting you):

Leaf cutter ants:

Tarantulas:

Leaf turned wasp nest:

Red and Blue Macaws:

The closest I got to a Tapir...

Nocturnal Brazilian Porcupine:

Only photo I have of the mysterious NIGHT MONKEY:

Tinamu:

A fallen comrade after our coldest friaje:

Peccari, a large pig like creature that travels in packs up to 100 members:

Peccari Skull found by Tilly, another RN:

Red Howler Monkeys:

Saddle-backed Tamarins:

Squirrel Monkey:

Tamandua, an Arboreal Anteater:

Best I got, King Vulture:

Wowee, the Lodge's pet Scarlet Macaw:

Thanks for reading (or looking).

Peru: FunGuy

2010-09-19T16:09:00.004-05:00

The delicate, beautiful, sometimes poisonous fruiting bodies of a vast underground network of hyphae: FUNGI.

Minneapolis: Earth Dance

2010-09-18T21:18:00.003-05:00

Its rare that you see two MEN, who are strangers, of different races, holding hands:

Free food:

I Miss the Simplicity

2010-09-14T20:15:00.002-05:00

Peru: DOG

2010-09-14T00:22:00.004-05:00

In Peru, we caught this dog. It wouldn't go away and was scaring away wildlife so we decided to take care of it for the day so that it could be sent to the closest town (instead of the alternative: the manager throwing it into the river tied to a big rock).

Saved that dogs life. Even though it was a pain in the ass...

First Weekend Back In Minneapolis

2010-09-14T00:19:00.001-05:00

Peru: FFT Herps

2010-09-08T00:31:00.003-05:00

The Fauna Forever Tambopata herpatologist research team collected all of their specimns and brought them back to the lodge to photograph. Below are some of the things they found.

Rainbow Boa:

I saw some pretty cool butterflies in Peru, too. Below, the FFT Insect corrdinator, Ashely, holding a butterfly of the Ithominae family. They have clear wings.

Garrison Keillor - MN State Fair

2010-09-03T21:43:00.000-05:00

Peru: Bat Ringing Forever

2010-08-31T17:56:00.002-05:00

A volunteer for Bird Ringing Forever decided to give us all a crash course in BAT ringing during one of the final nights BRF was at the Explorer's Inn. It was pretty exciting. Though, not the FIRST time I held a bat. HA. :) It was absolutely amazing, nonetheless.

Peru: Bird Ringing Forever

2010-08-31T17:51:00.003-05:00

During my first week or so at the Explorer's Inn, in Peru, I spent most of my time learning from and documenting the volunteers and researchers of Bird Ringing Forever. As stated on their website, "Bird Ringing Forever is a not-for-profit course (workshop) that is managed by two Peruvian-based research and conservation groups, Fauna Forever (est. 1996) and the Center for Ornithology and Biodiversity (CORBIDI, est. 2006) and with the support of the North American Banding Council (NABC). The course was established to help train the next generation of Neotropical bird specialists in mist-netting, bird ringing, bird handling and bird identification skills." It was an amazing opportunity to see so many beautiful neotropical birds up close. If you are interested in bird ringing (or bird banding, as we US Citizens call it), check out the website!

First, the tools of a bird ringer:

Setting up the mist-nets. Mist-nets are used to catch the birds. They get trapped and then must be extracted. Usually they are not harmed.

Extracting birds from a mist-net:

Sometimes other things get caught...

Back at the base, where they do the ringing and take all the measurements:

Extracted birds waiting to be ringed:

Taking a leg measurement to fit the correct ring:

Getting the correct sized ring:

Ringing the birds:

After the bird is ringed, they identify it and take many different measurements:

Recording all the data:

And then they hold the bird up for a short photo shoot. Though this is good for recording collected species, it's also just fun taking photos of some awesome birds:

Jarred, the bird tamer, trying to get the bird in photo mode:

Sometimes the birds get a little angry:

Then, you open your hand and set them freeeeee:

Though Bird Ringing Forever is all about data collection, the vollunteers learn more than they probably ever expected:

aaannnnnnndddddddd I got to hold my first bird, a band-tailed manakin!

Chicago

2010-08-23T18:42:00.000-05:00

Peru: Around the Lodge

2010-08-23T18:40:00.002-05:00

So now begins the task of showing all of you in internet land where I was working and playing for over two months in Peru. I took a lot of photos and didn't have access to a computer to edit or organize them. So new posts will be slow. But more photos will keep on coming. Stay tuned. If you want to know what I was doing here, read this Post.

These photos are all taken right around the lodge, The Explorer's Inn, that I was working at. Enjoy!

The boats we used to get up and down river from the closest town, Puerto Maldonado. The boat ride could either take 45min or 3 hours, depending on weather.

This is the view of the lodge from the river. Stairs on the left, lookout point on the right.

Sunrise on the boat:

And this is the lodge...

This is my bungalow. Where I slept and worked and all that good stuff:

My bed, bottom bunk:

Workin' under candle light every night:

Costa Rica: Traveling Around

2010-08-23T18:33:00.002-05:00

Here are some of the best photos I took while traveling around Costa Rica for ten days after my study abroad program ended.

Costa Rica: Arenal

2010-08-23T17:33:00.005-05:00

Here are some of my final posts from the photos I took in Costa Rica. These photos are from my study abroad program's final hike and adventure to Arenal, a volcano near the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It was a fun hike and a crazy night filled with Whiskey, water slides, and hot springs.

Home is where the heart is?

2010-08-05T17:05:00.004-05:00

Another transition. Another change. Another end. Another beginning. I am on my way home, once again.

The question remains: como puedo regresar aqui?

Peru!

2010-06-07T10:17:00.007-05:00

I got to Peru about 12 days ago now (I think). Stayed in Lima for a couple nights and then got on a plane to Puerto Maldonado. I was then quickly picked up at the airport, escorted to the office of the Explorer´s Inn and then shipped off, by boat, an hour and a half up the Tambopata River, into the Tambopata Reserve, to where I am now living at the Explorer´s Inn.

The Explorer´s Inn is an "EcoLodge" where tourists come to stay for 1-6 nights. They hike around our many trails, visit our two lakes (which house Giant Otters), or go to clay licks (where 1000s of Macaws can be spotted), amoung other things. The Lodge is in the middle of nowhere. There are no phones. There is electircity only from about 6-10pm at night in one room (charging batteries) and there is one very slow internet connection that I can, basically, not use. I live in a bungalow with a bunch of Peruvians. I teach them english, they teach me spanish (we have a good relationship).

Even though we live in the middle of nowhere, the lodge serves three course meals. Salad or soup, followed by the main course, followed by dessert (I forgot which silerware to use for which meal, at first). The food is very good. And they even have a bar. But I cannot afford it (its about 5 bucks for a beer).

And the weather! I thought, since it is becoming the rainy season in Costa Rica, it would be really wet and really hot here in Peru. But it is actually the dry season here (southern hemisphere) so I haven´t seen rain yet. And every couple of days a cold front moves in from the Andes in the south and the temperature drops, it´s called a "friaje". I frequently wear pants and flannel and sleep in a sleeping bag. Crazy!

It is my job to do a bunch of different monitoring projects (Macaws, Caimen on the Tambopata River, Giant Otters in the two lakes, Caimen in the lakes, Weather, etc); I clear the trails (with a machette) and replace missing 50m markers along them; I help out any researchers by cutting transects, assisting in data collection, etc; and it is also my job to talk with tourists about the Lodge, about what we do, answer questions, teach them about nature, etc. Thats the gist of it. I find time to sit in the sun and read or lay back in a hammock and write. Not to mention the photo oppurtunities. It is pretty amazing: truly paradise.

My days usually go like this:

-Breakfast at 5am
-Hike around for anywhere between 4-6 hours, clearing the trails or helping with research
-If I am back before lunch, I usually read or write and take a shower (cold water, only).
-Lunch is at 1pm
-Then I work around the lodge or go on another hike
-Count Macaws at 4:45 till 5:15
-Take weather data down at 6
-Update data sheets or some other project
-Study Spanish or teach English
-Dinner is at 8pm
-Asleep by 10

Days go by quick, it seems, when I am busy. Pretty soon (the 20th), another RN will be coming to help me out so I wont have such a repetitive schedule, which will be nice.

I wont be putting up photos till I return, sorry to say. No internet or computers to upload/edit them. But I will be coming into town about once every week or two. So I will try to update this in some fasion.

I can´t wait to see all of you back home. I leave the Lodge on July 28th and will travel around Peru for a little bit (going to check out Machu Pichu, I hear it´s beautiful or something). My flight home (Milwaukee) is on August 6th.

peace.

Monteverde Fig Tree (5-13)

2010-05-27T19:38:00.004-05:00

On our last day in Monteverde, we hiked to the nearby waterfall and famous fig tree. Fig trees are ¨stranglers¨ meaning they grow off of another tree, entangle it, grow around it, steal light and nutrients from the host tree, and eventually stangle it to death. The host tree then dies and decomposes. So some very old, very tall fig trees are completely hollow. There is one just like this in Monteverde and we climbed, inside of it, to the top of the forest canopy. It was really frightening. But really fun. It was like a chuck-e-cheese jungle gym thing for big kids. It was hard to take pictures of, but here are my best:

Waterfall:

Climbing to the top of the fig:

The canopy view:

There was a creepy guard monkey, up top. It was weird:

San Luis Waterfall (5-10)

2010-05-27T19:18:00.004-05:00

On one of my last few days in Monteverde, I travelled to the San Luis Watefall. It is by far the most beautiful watefall in the Monteverde area and probably one of the most beautiful waterfalls I have seen this whole trip. This was one of the best days I´ve had while in Costa Rica. Maybe not just because of the beauty of the fall, but because of the company I was with, too.

The San Luis Waterfall is over 200 feet tall with multiple ridges (not exactly sure what they are called). I don´t think I captured the entire fall on camera, but you get the idea, right? Trully a beautiful and almost magical place, even though the water was COLD.

The walk down to the falls took about two and a half hours. But the beautiful views on the way there were well worth the journey (I love clouds!):

Then we made it to the forest:

and the fall:

It was pretty amazing. Very beautiful. If you ever go to Monteverde, Costa Rica, I think it´s a hike that is well worth it. Especially if you can get in without paying, like we did.

Off to Peru

2010-05-25T19:57:00.005-05:00

Spent my first night in Costa Rica in the Hostel Pangea. Spending my last night in Costa Rica in the Hostel Pangea. It feels so weird knowing I am going to be leaving the place I have just spent the past 4 months. It was by far the greatest experience of my life. I met amazing people. Saw some of the most beautiful places in the world. And learned more than my mind can handle. I will miss those I have met. And I miss my family and friends back home who I have not seen in a long while. But... I must continue the adventure. Continue my endless journey of body and mind. Continue to see the world and all the beauty that it holds.

I will continue my blog, assuming I have Internet access. And still have some photos to put up from the end of my trip here. So stay tuned. Enjoy the beauty that summer brings, where ever you are. Have a beer on the porch. Have a bonfire. Climb a bunch of trees. Look up at the stars and let your dreams soar. Most of all, enjoy the company of those around you. Because if I have learned anything on this journey, it's that the people you're with - friends, lovers, teachers, strangers - these are the people who make the experience worth while. They are who you remember first.

Peace,
Jason

Monteverde Biological Station

2010-05-04T22:14:00.000-05:00

Rainy Season

2010-05-04T22:04:00.003-05:00

While it is finally becoming nice and warm back home, while all my friends are enjoying the absolute beauty that is Milwaukee and Minneapolis during the Spring, it is becoming the rainy season here in the tropics. It's now our so-called "winter".

However, the beauty still doesn't stop. So don't feel bad for me or anything... Below are my first shots (ever) of lightening.

Niños de Hannah

2010-05-04T21:59:00.004-05:00

A friend of mine who lived near me in Cañitas had really cute siblings. I showed them my iPod Touch and they seemed to like it.

Following photos are taken by Hannah Findlay. Ignore my name in the corner. I am too lazy to take it off.

Around Cañitas

2010-05-04T21:46:00.003-05:00

So it was my last day at my homestay Sunday (5/2). It went by SO fast! Below are some pictures from my homestay and the surrounding town of Cañitas.

My Parents:

My view:

Drying clothes and fresh bananas:

My dog:

Random Photos around the house:

Midnight Rains:

Moved back into the Biological Station in Monteverde. It's weird being back. It's different. Things are coming to an end.

Soon I will be on my own, exploring the endless abyss...

Project

2010-05-01T14:55:00.005-05:00

Here are some photos from the farm that I have been doing my research at for the past 4 weeks.

I am studying the effects of farm location (edge vs. center) on the amount of mycorrihizal fungi in the roots of Café trees. Most days I have to walk to the field station to analyse my roots under a microscope. This means I have been walking over 2 hours everyday. Its been really intense.

I move back into the Station tomorrow! Crazy. This past month at my homestay has gone by SO fast.

Fiesta Del Toro!

2010-05-01T14:44:00.002-05:00

The Fiesta del Toro came to Cerro Plano on 4/18. It was a small weekend-long block party that was a lot of fun, almost like a state fair in the States. There was lots of food, lots of beer, lots of bulls, and lots of dancing. I even jumped in the ring with the bull one night. It was pretty frightening, but I escaped unscathed (no photos of that incidence, though). Below are some other photos of the nights.

Happy Earth Day

2010-04-22T16:03:00.001-05:00

Cañitas (4-3-10)

2010-04-11T20:20:00.000-05:00

So we ended our glorious field trip, left Panama on the 29th, and headed back up to San Jose. We stayed in San Jose for a night, made it back to the station in Monteverde, had two huge tests that I likely did very bad on, and then moved into our homestays on 4/3/10. It was really scary. They packed us into a van at 8am and shipped us off.

My homestay is in Cañitas. A small, rural town 1.5 hours away from the Monteverde Station. Dirt roads. Small cafes. Good food. Smiling faces. Its great. There are 8 other people from this program near me, which is nice (the Cañitas Crew). I live with an older couple: Alexis and Magda. They don't speak any English. It is awkward and silent at times, but we make it work and I am learning a lot.

Here is my house:

I have my own entrance to my room (on the right):

Finally have my OWN room:

The farm behind the house:

Chicken coop:

Front yard:

My dog, Moncha:

Went to church with my parents. 3 hours of Spanish that I did not understand:

Beautiful views:

The first day, after saying hello to the parents. My friends and I escaped to the nearby cafe to study and enjoy the view. It was fun, we found a friend.

Life on the Finca:

So far, all is well. Living with a simple family, in a simple town, eating simple food, and loving every minute of it.

Panama (3-25 - 3/28)

2010-04-11T20:18:00.005-05:00

Panama was SO beautiful and SO fun. Your stereotypical beach paradise. It was amazing.

Where I stayed:

Our view:

Where we ate:

Went on some species hikes:

The director of the program, Alan Masters:

Took a boat out to this crazy, Jurassic Park island:

We did TONS of snorkeling in Bocas del Toro. It was breathtaking. So some many different creatures. So many colors. So much life. BUT, my camera isn't water proof, so this is the best you get...

We went into town on the 28th. That was fun too. Drank some margaritas. Ate a cheeseburger. Kicked back.

Freedom:

This was one of my favorite places. It was full of life, full of warmth, and full of shenanigans.

Bocas del Toro (3-25-10)

2010-04-11T20:12:00.002-05:00

So we left Perismina on the 25th to travel to Panama! We stayed on a group of islands called Bocas del Toro. The way there was pretty fun. It was crazy crossing the border.
Stopped to see some cool stuff and eat some lunch on the beach before hitting the border.

At the border:

Costa Rica:

Panama:

The rest of the way we traveled by boat:

Home sweet home:

Panama was SO beautiful.

Perismina (3-24)

2010-04-11T19:46:00.003-05:00

The main reason we were in Perismina was to see the Leatherback Turtles. These magnificent giants never leave the water except when the female lays her eggs on the beach. Thats what we wanted to see.

We left the station at 10pm and got to the beach around 11pm on the 23rd. We walked up and down the beach for hours. Scanning. Searching. Taking breaks here and there and even taking a short nap. We were unsuccessful. We left the beach at about 1am tired and very disappointed. We found out the next morning that they spotted two Leatherbacks later that night.

The following evening we went out again. This time we left at midnight. Instantly when we got to the beach, we saw one turtle leaving her nest and escaping out into the dark blue ocean. Again, I was disappointed. Missed her.

BUT, right after that we saw ANOTHER turtle after walking down the beach for a moment. It was amazing. She just made the nest and was starting to lay her eggs. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. I couldn't believe how large she was (2m long, thats about as long as I am tall).

Sadly, I couldn't take any photos. But I have it forever in my mind. If you ever get a chance to see one, do it.

Obviously not my photo or anyone I know. But so you have an idea:

Perismina (3-23 - 3-24)

2010-04-11T19:34:00.004-05:00

Left La Selva on the 23rd and were finally on our way to the Caribbean Coast at Perismina, we left very prepared.

Bird watching:

Sloth!

PHOTOGRAPH!!!!

PHOTOGRAPH!!!!

La Selva (3-22)

2010-04-11T19:26:00.003-05:00

Left on the 22nd and got to La Selva that morning. This was a quick trip as we left La Selva the following afternoon. It was still a good time, though.

This red tape marks the water level of the main river during the rainy season. Crazy.

Yellow Eyelash Pit Viper:

Tirimbina (3-21-10)

2010-04-11T18:54:00.002-05:00

Life in Tirimibina and the forest around it:

Getting suited up:

I can't ever escape from Milwaukee (Milwaukee Public Museum below):

We left Tirimibina on the 22nd and traveled to La Selva.

Tirimbina Night Hike #2 (3-20-10)

2010-04-11T18:39:00.001-05:00

Tirimbina Trees and Piñas (3-20-10)

2010-04-11T17:31:00.007-05:00

In Tirimbina we went to a Tree Plantation and a Reduced Impact Logging (RIL) Forest. The tree plantation was exactly what I expected and actually pretty good to see. Wood produced the way that it should be, on land that has already been destroyed. The RIL Forest was pretty depressing. It is owned by a rich guy in San Jose that barely makes any money off of it. So there is no need to be cutting down trees in this fairly untouched area. It was just kind of sad.

Tree Plantation:

RIL Forest:

Then we traveled to a Massive Monoculture of organic Piñas (pineapple). Their main buyer is Dole, a US corporation...

Aaron jammin' on the way there, before things got depressing:

The good old U.S. of A.

The small patch of forest that they maintain in the back because they "work in harmony with nature":

Our guide:

Most of us weren't happy:

Baby Piña:

Internal Operations:

Which label do you want on your piña?

The forgotten:

Ornamental Piñas:

Tried to forget what we saw and enjoy ourselves. Yimen (my TA) poured us some tasty rum and Pinnaple drinks.

Pretty ridiculous end to a slightly depressing day but Night Hike #2 was still to come.