]]> http://weaseltrek.com/2008/03/ottoweasel.html http://weaseltrek.com/2008/03/ottoweasel.html Enfald Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:45:41 -0500 Britta made it to the top of Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa!

]]> http://weaseltrek.com/2008/01/weasel_safari.html http://weaseltrek.com/2008/01/weasel_safari.html Britta Fri, 25 Jan 2008 22:20:24 -0500 It's been quiet for a while here at Weasel Trek — until today, that is, when we received this email from Leka's keepers:

This email is to inform you that Leka the Lovely has been officially kidnapped. You cannot have her back. She belongs to the ferret community. We love her. she is an icon of the spirit of ferrets everywhere. Have you seen some of the things she has done since she left you?

Leka looks beautiful in her dress; did she catch the bouquet?

More photos here and here.]]> http://weaseltrek.com/2007/07/halta_and_leka.html http://weaseltrek.com/2007/07/halta_and_leka.html Halta Tue, 24 Jul 2007 15:28:19 -0500 The Weasel Trek folk have been busy lately, but the weasels have been even busier! Leende's spent some time in Canada, visiting vistas both natural and man-made:

She also traveled to London, both high above it in the London Eye and far below it in the Tube:

Finally, Annika visited (why?) the mothership IKEA in Sweden!

Mr. Tonks, it would be such an honor to witness the union of a superhero and a diva during my visit to the symposium. As I have not been to either, I am not sure whaat to expect. Would I be required to have formal attire? Would this be an afternoon or evening event?
I heard that Miss Gucci was interested in a place called Vegas and someone called Elvis. I am not familiar with either - is Vegas near Portland? And, what is a groomsman? Could I be a bridesmaid?
As you see, I have lots of questions. I didn't become a worldly weasel by sitting on the sidelines. And, inquiring minds DO want to know. So, will I see you in Portland?

Mommy tells me that you will be at the Ferret Symposium in Portland next month. She says even though you are called weasels you can still come. I wish I could come. I have such a fun time at the Derby City Forum last year, everyone loved to cuddle me and I only bit one person because I liked how she smelled. All the people had fun there too. Mommy says lots more people will have fun in Portland.

Mommy says you have both been to all sorts of exotic places. I thought Louisville was pretty exotic. I've been to Parkersburg, WV and Alexandria, VA too. Where have you been?

I wish I could meet you both. Love and Dooks, Miss Cassie

Hello, Miss Cassie. I am so excited that I will get to make a trip to the International Ferret Symposium in Portland! I have traveled all the way from the east coast of Canada to the west coast and NOW I get to see the American side. Yes, I have traveled extensively, from the sands of Florida to those of the Sahara in Egypt. But, I have never been to a Symposium.

I am sorry that you will not be there. Are there going to be ANY ferrets? What types of fun can we have at a symposium?

Leka, the Lovely
See me in Portland
June 22 - 24, 2007
International Ferret Symposium]]> http://weaseltrek.com/2007/05/a_congress_of_w.html http://weaseltrek.com/2007/05/a_congress_of_w.html Leka Mon, 07 May 2007 09:56:10 -0500

Kalle returns from ancient and exotic Peru! Here she is posing from a vantage point in front of Machu Picchu with the peak of Huayna Picchu (Young Peak) in the background. Machu Picchu means 'old peak' in Quechua. Read on for further adventures!

First, Kalle is cleared for boarding her 5-seater cessna to fly over the desert and see the zoomorphic figures drawn in mindboggling large scale by the Nazca people. Will there be a weasel?

She enjoys the view as the plane soars over the desert.

Safely grounded again, Kalle practices her best lurk in the hedges of the Plaza des Armas in Arequipa, the white city in the south and Peru's second capital. Most of the buildings there, like the cathedral in the background, are made from white volcanic rock.

She refused to be intimidated by the fierce boats on the floating reed islands of Los Uros on Lake Titicaca and determined to make off with the blanket - it gets cold at 4000 metres.

Once on the trail, Kalle was most attached to the cairn she had built single-pawed and wouldn't budge, even when 'encouraged' with a trekking pole. We think she caught sight of the peak, in whose shadow we would make camp, looming above the clouds. A daunting prospect.

Finally! She crests the pass over the shoulder of Salkantay mountain, 4500m above sea level. How many weasel paws is that? Salkantay means 'the wild' in Quechua, 'cataycha' is Quechua for weasel, so should this pic be captioned 'salkantay cataycha' in pidgin Quechua?

Enough work climbing, time to play. Caution thrown aside, Kalle refuses take the glacial crossing seriously and threatens a snowball fight…

…and goofs around in a fissure in the ice. "Help, my tongue ith thtuck to the glathier!"

Here Kalle poses by a typical Inca trapezoidal house (at the bottom of an also typical steep flight of Inca steps!) in ruins in the cloud forest near Machu Picchu

She shatters the legend that the Inca stonework at Machu Picchu is so fine, a knife blade may not be fitted into the joints between the stones. It is fact possible to fit a weasel. Inca stonework is inherently flawed and unstable and riddled with weasels.

Halfway up Huayna Picchu this time, the peak next to the Inca city. Can you spot the weasel?

Wooooo-eeee! Kalle the Fearless at the top of Huayna Picchu, beside a drop of thousands of feet, looking down at Machu Picchu. The very mountains bend to her will!

Leende scrambled up the Great Wall and visited China with her hosts from a Toronto theatre company.

Here she visits Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

We hear she's headed to Hong Kong next, and then Colombia!

Kelli and Vandra have pair-bonded; they go everywhere together. Last month, "everywhere" included Australia, where Vandra got to see the famous opera house,

some (fairly tame looking) crocs

and some possible competition in the field of cuteness.

Lots more photos in Kelli's Weasel Trek Flickr set. Vandra also attended the Weasel Trek founders' wedding, and starred in some photos there.

Wedding bells are ringing for Weasel Trek founders Daniel and Sarah this Saturday! Vandra (not pictured here, as she's off getting her nails done) will be in attendance, and will surely return with a snapshot or two.

When we return, Leende will be all ready to tell us about her trip to China!