| Northern Lights log (2006-07-13 -> 2006-08-02)
Leaders: Meg Casey, Andrew (Buck) Buckwalter and Colter Anderson
Students: Katie Cason, David Cooper, Leif Evenson, Jess Harris, Jason Hogan, Lelia Hoover, Tyler Judson, Hannah Lucal, Kelsey Mrkonic, David Popwell, Alex Wallace and Christian Wash
A big hello to everyone back in the lower 48! We've all reached Alaska safely and are packed up, ready to begin our backpacking segment in the Talkeetna Mountains in south central Alaska. Our group of 15 people is already working beautifully as a team and our energy and expectations are high. Stay tuned to receive another update from us after we finish our hike and raft out on the Chickaloon River.
Hello to everyone back in the lower 48! We are so excited to say that we've completed the backpacking and rafting sections of our journey in Alaska and now get the chance to tell you a bit about it. We've been having the most amazing time and are constantly experiencing new thrills and sights of this great land.
After a day of preparation, it took us no time to get out of town, into the backcountry and we started off backpacking in the Talkeetna Mountains. Each day presented new scenery and new challenges. Most of us agree day four was the most challenging with a never-ending pass and an enormously steep scree hill we descended down. Many of the days also included bushwhacking, river crossings and obstacles not shown on the map. Speaking of maps, we were never really on a trail, but rather trekking off-trail in the Alaskan backcountry. Through the wilderness, we saw an abundance of wildlife, their tracks and their scats--including tseek-tseeks, moose, caribou, marmots and dall sheep.
Upon arriving at camp each evening, we set up tents and began preparation for dinner. We are eating very well out here--among the favorites are various stir-fries, and who could forget the mexi night with nalgenes of salsa we carry with out with us. Each morning, we are psyched to wake up to oats and granola, hot oatmeal or chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast; Alex is the master at creating towering piles of pancakes. It seems as though our stomachs have turned to bottomless pits--hence the need to fill you in on what we're eating.
Our group loves games--leaders and students alike. A few great ones are called Birdie on a Perch, Sally Walker, Big Booty, Evolution, Mafia, Catch phrase and more. We also gave each day a theme. Some particularly awesome days included Ninja day (we have photographs of Colter and Buck's cat-like Ninja kicks), Cowboys and Indians, Star Wars day and of course, Thug day. However, our costumes usually only consisted of changing how we wore our bandana that day.
We think we can all be called skilled mountain travelers after the burly and intense 10 backcountry days that held difficult passes, long hours and water-logged boots. Each day, however, always ended on a high note with a delicious meal and a meaningful or funny "moon-up" (a moon-up is a tradition of gathering at the end of each day to recall our travel and connect as a group). Backpacking was challenging, but we pushed through it. The scenery and sense of accomplishment were constant rewards for each tough climb we completed.
The final morning of backpacking we woke up on the Chickaloon River as a bright red helicopter flew into the mountains to it's destination: our campsite. With two quick flights to drop off gear, our four guides and take away our backpacks, our rafting adventure had begun. Adorned with our colorful dry suits (which were incredibly space-like)and fleece apparel to insulate, we charged two full days of class 3 and 4 whitewater. Each raft skillfully attacked each other's team with bumps and splashes all day long. The pace of rafting was a complete 180 from backpacking and was a fantastic way to say farewell to the Talkeetna Mountains and prepare to kayak the Prince William Sound.
We are now in Whittier, AK on a perfect blue bird day and are excited to have a early start on the water, beginning our final leg of our journey.
And now for some ill-nasty shout-outs to the peeps back home:
LOVE FROM ALASKA
Lelia: Hey family! I'm sorry I can't be at the beach, sure you're all having fun. Love all of ya'all and see you soon. I'm having a fantastic time and can't wait to tell ya'all about it.
Hannah: What up family and friends. Alaska is sweet and I've only had to battle 14 bears so far. Feel free to clean my room or buy me presents. Ha ha I love you all.
Kelsey: Hey family and everyone. Alaska is tons of fun, but I can't wait to see you guys and get to Nantucket. Love you.
Christian: Hey ya'all, Mom, Dad, and Andrew. Miss you like crazy. Can't wait to see you. Feel free to bring chocolate with you to the airport. Love ya'all.
Jess: Hey family and friends. Alaska is pretty sweet. Our trip is going sweet. Perfect weather and gorgeous land. And yes you can bring me a Starbucks when you get me at the airport. Love ya'all.
Leif: Hey Mom, Dad and Erik. The trip has been super awesome so far. The mountains are fairly large. See you in a few days.
Tyler: Hi family. We are all sitting here on our prep day before we start our sea kayaking. The backpacking and rafting was a lot of fun. We have seen a few animals that I've gotten a couple pics of. I'll see you when I get home, Alaska is great.
Katie: Hey Mom, Dad and Tucker. Alaska is amazing. The mountains are huge and the scenery is so beautiful. I sent your letters on the 26th so I hope you get them soon. Love and miss you Katie.
David C: Hey fam. The mountains and scenery looks just like Lord of the Rings...so watch that and that's basically what I'm backpacking with a huge pack. Tell everyone I'm fine, though very scruffy looking. Love ya.
Alex: Hey Dad. I haven't quite been able to get the saddle on the moose yet. I sent your letter today and I hope you're ready for a barrage of stories when I get home. I hope Mo-Mo isn't taking my absence too hard. But please feel free to tell him I'll be home soon. Hold it down for one more week. Love Alex.
Jason: Hello everyone. I hope all is well. I guess it's kinda cool here. Ha. Only joking. It's pretty awesome. Saw a bunch of wildlife and some sweet glaciers--I have some great pics I can't wait to show. Miss you all and can't wait to see everyone. Lots of love.
David P: Hello family and friends. I am having a great time and I haven't experienced any serious injuries. Alaska is very pretty and I've made a lot new friends. I finished the backpacking section without a trace of a blister. Miss you a lot. Bye.
Colter: Thanks for for the cookies mom. Mmmmmm. The mountains are huge and the ice is plentiful. I don't want to leave. But I have to...so I'm excited to see you all. Cheers.
Buck: Thanks for the cookies Colter's mom. Mmmmmmmmmmmm. Family, friends and Coral: I love you all and can't wait to see you soon. All is well in the AK.
Meg: Thanks for the cookies Mrs. Anderson. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. If you get this message Mom or Conor, know you're with me each day out here, as I know you'd both fall in love with Alaska as naturally as I have. Can't wait to see you both back in Wisconsin.
(Muldoon: We're thinking of you out here as it seems every corner reminds us of a great memory with you. Hope you're having a great month in Colorado and we can't wait to see you again soon. Much love buddy.)
Check in again soon for our final update when we return from our paddling days on the Sound! Love to all.
WELL, WE'RE OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS AND NOW CALL OURSELVES PADDLERS (WHICH MEG LOVES). AFTER OUR FABULOUS REST DAY OF HALIBUT SANDWICHES AND NAPPING IN THE SUNSHINE IN WHITTIER, WE BEGAN OUR SEA KAYAKING SECTION. WE WERE OUTFITTED BY THE WONDERFUL ALASKA SEA KAYAKERS WITH NOTHING BUT THE "OFFICIAL" ALASKAN UNIFORM; IT CONSISTED OF HIGH RUBBER BOOTS, WADERS AND BRIGHT YELLOW PADDLING JACKETS. THE STUDENTS PARTNERED INTO TANDEM BOATS WHILE MEG, BUCK, COLTER AND RICH, OUR MOST AWESOME, BUSHY RED-BEARDED GUIDE, PADDLED SOLO KAYAKS. WE WERE IN THE WATER IN NO TIME AND ON A GORGEOUS BLUE BIRD DAY, AND WE BEGAN OUR 50 MILE TREK INTO THE HARRIMAN FJORD OF PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND.
OUR FIRST MORNING OUT BROUGHT SUPER STRONG TAIL WINDS THAT IMMEDIATELY PUT OUR BALANCE AND EQUALIBRIUMS TO THE TEST. RICH WAS IMPRESSED BY OUR STEADY SPEED PAST DECISION POINT (A BEACH COMMONLY STOPPED AT FOR THE FIRST LUNCH) AND HOW WELL WE STAYED GROUPED TOGETHER WHILE PADDLING. WE PUT IN A VERY FULL FIRST DAY OF 19 MILES--A RECORD FOR ALASKA SEA KAYAKERS IN ONE DAY.
THE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS WERE JUST LIKE BEING ON THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL (OR COLTER'S FAVORITE--THE OUTDOOR CHANNEL). WE SAW A TON OF GREAT WILDLIFE INCLUDING CURIOUS SEALS, BARKING SEA OTTERS, JUMPING HALIBUT, A BLACK BEAR AND A TON OF BALD EAGLES--MANY OF WHICH WE SAW IN PAIRS. AS AMAZING AS BLUE SKIES, SNOW-CAPPED MOUNTAINS, WATERFALLS AND THE ALASKAN WILDLIFE WERE, NOTHING COULD COMPARE TO TURNING A CORNER ON THE SECOND DAY OF PADDLING TO SEE THE MULTITUDE OF TIDAL GLACIERS THAT POURED INTO THE OCEAN. WE WERE ABLE TO GET ABOUT 500 YARDS AWAY AND WATCH THE AMPITHEATRE OF BLUE ICE AS BIG CHUNKS CALVED OFF THE GLACIER AND POUNDED INTO THE OCEAN BELOW. IT SOUNDED JUST LIKE A THUNDER STORM, AND YET THE AWESOME WEATHER HELD.
ONE MIGHT THINK THAT THE ICE WOULD KEEP US OUT OF THE WATER, BUT TO THE DISMAY AND SLIGHT CONCERN OF THE REST OF THE GROUP, COLTER, LELIA, TYLER AND DAVID DECIDED TO GO SWIMMING ONE NIGHT AFTER DINNER. THEY WERE A LITTLE CRAZY AND DEFINITELY SUPER COLD, BUT WE GOT GREAT PHOTOS AND AN EVEN BETTER STORY OUT OF IT.
THE FINAL DAY ON THE WATER, WE PADDLED OUT OF HARRIMAN FJORD IN SILENCE. EACH OF US WERE ABLE TO REFLECT ON OUR TIME IN THE SOUND, ABSORB THE GLACIERS FOR THE LAST TIME AND BEGIN TO BRING OUR ALASKAN ADVENTURE TO A CLOSE. WE GOT TO OUR CAMPSITE EARLY AND DECIDED TO PUSH ON TO HOBO BAY; THE LOCATION OF OUR FERRY PICK-UP THE FOLLOWING DAY. JUST AS WE FINISHED LUNCH AND SET OUT FOR OUR FINAL AFTERNOON KAYAKING, A MONSOON ROLLED OUT OF NOWHERE AND GAVE US A LITTLE TASTE OF THE ALASKAN WEATHER SYSTEMS WE'D BEEN HEARING ABOUT AND KNEW WE'D SUCESSFULLY BEEN DUCKING ALL SUMMER LONG. THE SIDE WINDS AND BIG WAVES MADE FOR A FEW VERY CHALLENGING HOURS OF PADDLING, BUT FOR SOME REASON, WE ALL FOUND OURSELVES ENJOYING THE INTENSITY AND CHANGE OF PACE--DRENCHED AS WE WERE. WE MADE IT HOBO BAY AND SET UP CAMP IN RECORD SPEED. WE HAD A DELICIOUS MEAL OF PASTA AND AN INCREDIBLY MEMORABLE MOONUP, DISCUSSING THE THINGS WE'D LEARNED FROM OTHERS IN THE GROUP.
WE CAUGHT THE FERRY BACK TO WHITTIER THE NEXT DAY WHERE WE UNPACKED KAYAKS, SAID GOODBYE TO RICH AND HEADED BACK TO ANCHORAGE. WE SPENT OUR LAST NIGHT AT THE SAME CAMPSITE AS WE HAD ON THE FIRST NIGHT OF THE TRIP--IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE HOW MUCH TIGHTER OF A GROUP WE'D BECOME. ALL SIX GIRLS EVEN SLEPT IN ONE 3-PERSON TENT--ALTHOUGH THE GUYS WEREN'T TOO KEEN ON THAT IDEA. THE NEXT DAY, WE WOKE, CLEANED GEAR, WASHED OUR BELOVED VAN AND UHAUL, SHOWERED AND DRESSED IN OUR SALVATION ARMY COSTUMES FOR OUR PIZZA BANQUET AT THE MOOSE'S TOOTH.
THE END CAME WAY FASTER THAN ANY OF US HAD ANTICIPATED. IT'S AMAZING HOW QUICK 3 WEEKS WILL GO WHEN YOU'RE CONSTANTLY ACTIVE AND SO BUSY LEARNING SKILLS, CLIMBING MOUNTAINS AND MAKING BEST FRIENDS. THANKS SO MUCH FOR FOLLOWING ALONG WITH OUR ALASKAN VOYAGE. WE HAD AN ABSOLUTE KILLA TIME IN AK AND ARE DEFINTELY SAD TO SAY GOODBYE. IN FACT, THIS TRIP WAS SO AWESOME THAT IT REALLY COULD ONLY BE DESCRIBED/CONCLUDED WITH A RAP BY OUR OWN HANNAH LUCAL ENITILED "RAP SONG ABOUT THE WILDERNESS":
'ROUND THE ISLANDS IN THE TENT
WITH OUR HOMEMADE SHELTER WE PAY NO RENT
OATMEAL IN THE MORNING AND PIZZA AT NIGHT
SOMETIMES WE BE GANGSTAS AND AS NINJA WE FIGHT
IF WE SEE SOME BUSHES WE GIVE 'EM A WHACK
THAT'S JUST HOW WE ROLL ON OUR 10 DAY BACK PACK
WE CROSS RUNNING RIVERS WITH OUR MIGHTY PACKS ON
IT GAVE US THE SHIVERS BUT THAT'S HOW WE STAY STRONG
THE GIRLS BE WEARIN' "BUFFS" AS THE WEEKS ROLL BY
IT'S HOW WE SHOW WE'RE TOUGH LIKE THE SUN IN THE SKY
IT STAYED RIGHT ON SHININ' HOWEVER LATE IT GOT
HERE IN ALASKA, THE PARTY JUST DON'T STOP
SHOWER? WHO NEEDS 'EM? WHEN WE GOT CRAP PIES
OR JUST DIG A HOLE HERE, NOW DON'T BE SHY
SOME WONDER AT THE HONEY WE ADD TO ALL THE FOOD
WE THINK YARD-O IS FUNNY, BUT CLEANLINESS IS CRUDE
THE MOSQUITOES ARE FRIENDLY BUT THE BEARS ARE NOT
HEADNETS ARE TRENDY AND DRY SUITS ARE HOT
LEIF CALLS 'EM BUBBLERS, WE SAY FOUNTAINS
IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE WHEN WE CLIMBIN' BIG MOUNTAINS
YOU'LL SEE US SUMMITTING A PASS
OR A GAME OF PASSING GAS
WE SLIDE DOWN CRAZY SCREE
MEG AND ME ROCK THE TVP
WE RAFT SICK RAPIDS ON THE CHICKALOON RIVER
THE SMELL OF OUR HIKING SOCKS WILL MAKE YOU QUIVER
BUCK IS KNOWN AS JESUS HERE IN THE BACKWOODS
YOU MIGHT KNOW MEG AS MEG-LA-FONDA-TENISHA-WANDA
IF YOU FROM DA HOOD
COLTER HAS NO FEAR WHEN FACED WITH SUMMITTING SMALL BOULDERS
IT MAY BE SUMMER FOR YOU, BUT I PROMISE WE'RE COLDER
AT R.E.I. WE FIT IN SO WELL, IN OUR CAPILENE ATTIRE
WE DON'T NEED STOVES OR TOASTERS 'CAUSE WE MAKE OUR OWN FIRE
WE KAYAK SO SWIFTLY IN THE PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND
SOME OF OUR UTENSILS WENT TO THE LOST AND FOUND
GREASE IN OUR HAIR ADDS SOME EXTRA FLAVOR
WE SCRATCH OUR BUG BITES WITH THE BROKEN CHEESE GRADER--
NO, NOT REALLY, THAT WOULD BE NASTY
BUT IT'S TRUE THAT THE BACKCOUNTRY DOES MAKE YOU CRAFTY
IN THE VAN WE RIDE THROUGH A MOUNTAIN'S INTESTINES
AND THE MUSIC SELECTION RAISES MANY QUESTIONS
YOU KNOW WE REALLY LIKE TO SPORT THE POLYPRO TIGHTS
BUT THIS IS THE END OF THE NORTHERN LIGHTS...'AIGHT?
PEACE.
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