What with the plunging Arctic temperatures sending Central Pennsylvania into a deep freeze this coming weekend, it seems only fitting to pay tribute to our only state that actually crosses the Arctic Circle.
Leon lived in Alaska for four years some decades ago, and in neighboring British Columbia, Canada, for four years before that. He worked as a fishery biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the National Marine Fisheries Service, and as an ecologist for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.
When he wasn’t running remote wilderness camps collecting data on spawning Pacific salmon, fending off hungry grizzly bears after those same fish, or stationed and stranded aboard a roving outpost of Ronald Reagan's so-called "Evil Empire" -- a Soviet trawler in the Bering Sea -- north of the Aleutian Islands, west of Alaska, and east of Siberia -- ensuring that the Soviet/Russian commies were complying with U.S. oceanic fisheries and environmental regulations, Leon was exploring the wilds of Alaska, and nearby British Columbia and Yukon Territory, Canada, on cross-country skies, on foot, and by canoe and ocean kayak.
If you wish to get a glimpse of authentic wilderness, and one man's adventures and misadventures in that wilderness, join us at 3 p.m. this Saturday for a slide show in Leon’s home near the Village at Penn State off Toftrees. We'll keep our fingers crossed that the old light bulb in the old slide projector still works!
We will meet in the parking lot at the Clubhouse (108 Tradition Drive, on the corner of Tofrees and Presidents Drive) at 3 p.m. and walk or drive down Presidents Drive to Leon and his mom’s home.
Leon will provide some soft drinks and light refreshments. Feel free to BYOB. Afterwards, depending on the mood, we may repair to the American Alehouse (less than a mile away) on Cricklewood for drinks or dinner.
This event is limited to 20 attendees due to space and seating limitations in my game room.
