Spirit of Alaska | Let it Run Through Your Heart

Everything is still frozen up in Denali National Park and without running water, I've learned to simplify.  Until driving up to Fairbanks yesterday, I'd been living off Cliff Bars, peanut butter sandwiches, and red wine. One of our retail ladies invited everyone up to her house for a bonfire and a proper meal. This is a photo from her front yard overlooking Denali Village. The river behind it, is the frozen Nenana River where I'll be working primarily once it breaks.

Temperatures have varied anywhere from -5 to 35, and I got to see the northern lights for the first time a few nights ago. It was so beautiful, I almost cried, but I held back because I didn't want my tears to freeze. I couldn't even take a photo; I just wanted to take it all in and enjoy it in that moment. One of our maintenance guys, Brian Straus, snapped this shot from behind the village.

Last night, I escaped to my favorite place while it's still without guests. This photo was taken on the deck overhanging above the river. The sun set around 10pm as a near full moon took over the sky. Before the ink in my pen froze, I took time to journal, write letters, read scripture, and enjoy the silence which nature offers without demanding anything in return.

"I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in." -John Muir

Life in Alaska

"You can kiss your friends and family goodbye, and put miles between you. But at the same time, you carry them with you in your heart, in your soul, in your stomach. Because you do not just live in a world, but a world lives in you." -Fredrick Buchner

Last night with the fam. Totally normal. 

Two summers ago, I met Pat down in Mexico. The way he described where he lived in Alaska made me want more. I made it a personal goal to visit but never did I think I would be working and living here. Flying over the lights of Anchorage Friday night, I knew I belonged in Alaska. I can't explain the feeling I have being here and who's to say for how long, but for now, Denali is home.

One thing I love is how present everyone is. No one is ever on their cell phones, but instead enjoying the scenery and people around them. It's a lifestyle people in the city can't appreciate anymore. Being "connected" has taken over being present and alive.

Saturday morning, a crew of us including Pat, Molly, Kyle, and Vicki (another couple who just moved up here from AZ) went on a hike into Portage Pass which starts in the town of Whittier. Whittier is very... interesting. It's a port town for the Alaska Marine Highway and the population is under 200. All of the city lives in one building and I'm pretty sure weird stuff happens there. Pat and Molly wanted to start us off at the low end and insist we can only go up from there.

The building behind the sign is where the entire town lives

...and this is where they used to live... 

The hike on the other hand was out of this world. Along the path were footprints for a lynx and we searched everywhere to find it but apparently  it didn't want to be found. We were consistently in shin to knee deep snow and the sun finally broke through by the time we reached the glacier.

Getting to the glacier, we had to walk across the frozen lake that wasn't so frozen in some spots. Molly reminded me that Pat, being on Alaska's Search and Rescue Team, has a higher tolerance of sketchiness than most. Regardless, he tested the depth, gave his approval, and we went for it.

Kyle, Pat, Molly, Me 

Once we got to the glacier, I realized then just how small I was. Looking at my surroundings, I couldn't help but wonder about everything else around me. What was behind that glacier, and behind that even? It seemed as if we covered so much ground and saw such a huge piece of earth, yet when I looked at the topo map back at the house, we covered nothing. Alaska is huge, and so much of it has yet to be explored.

On the plane I watched, "Secret Life of Walter Mitty." I loved the quote and motto of LIFE Magazine that was consistent throughout the movie. I hope to live out their motto while living here in what I consider God's country.

"To see the world, things dangerous to come to, to see behind walls, draw closer, to find each other, and to feel. That is the purpose of life." -LIFE Magazine

"Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters, wherever you would call me. Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander, and my faith would be made stronger in the presence of my Savior." -Hillsong United

To the Narrows || Road Trip to Zion

On the road again and what a beautiful weekend. Seaneth had his first race this weekend so Stace and I packed up the truck and headed to Utah. Unbeknownst to us, Zion was hosting a half marathon so  while everyone else was running on asphalt, we hiked the most popular hike in the park with no one around.

Besides being super sick, it was a great success. The water in the Narrows was in the upper 30's to low 40's so with the help of Mike at Zion Mountain School, we got some neoprene socks to keep our toes from falling off. They are a great store to rent gear from. They're prices are fair and Mike was very helpful (and had an awesome mustache).

Highlights of the trip (which maybe only Stacey will understand) include but are not limited to:

- Giving Stacey and Sean's first daughter the best name ever (please have a daughter).
- Teaching Stacey the difference between a trailer and container
- Laughing at the blurp in time when I had a "real" job in transportation
- Noticing how some mountains resembled scallop potatoes
- Being educated about Rockville's population of 247. Used to be 249 but we don't like to talk about it.

Scallop Potato Mountains 

"In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous." -Aristotle

The Good Life > American Dream

The American Dream. What is it? Living the good life. What does that mean?

I've lived the high life, making plenty of money, going on weekend getaways, enjoying happy hour three nights a week, going on 10 days of vacation because that's what my "good job" allotted me. All I needed was a sexy husband and two kids, and I was living the dream. Oh, the American Dream, it's what we all strive for.

Except, I don't want the American Dream, I want to live my dream.

I want to live the good life, finding beauty all around me. Seek love, and hold on to it. See the world, and share it with those around me. Let God speak to me through nature. Be drawn to tears in awe of the magnificence we call earth. Breathe in clean mountain air. Sleep outside. Share conversation with a stranger. Invite the world to change me so I can change the world. Do things that make me feel good. Isn't that the good life?

For the next 6 months, Alaska is where I'll be. Welcome to Denali.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul." Psalm 23:1-3 

Race to Rim Fire

Life has just been one big messy blessing lately. Currently, I'm writing you from the northbound train from San Diego after spending a couple days in Baja, watching the sun set over the ocean. No complaints here; just a few good stories. 

Earlier in the month, my family officially welcomed Sean to the family after 12 years of these two knuckleheads realizing what's good for them. The wedding was perfect; great weather, I didn't botch my speech, and our family escaped some potentially hazardous blowouts. Great success. 

After the wedding, I bolted up to Groveland to spend the rest of the summer on the Tuolumne River. I think I'm officially done living in the city. Mountain living is pretty simple. It's nice to be completely disconnected with no cell service or internet unless seeking it out. 

Scott and Vanessa came up for a pretty exciting weekend. Scott is a long time friend of both Andrew and I - also the reason we met. They wanted to raft, so we made it happen. Cooper took us out on a private trip down Cherry Creek, which is said to be the hardest river in the United States, boasting over 12 class V rapids. With only three hours of sleep, Scott and Vanessa were fired up and we only had one swim, when Scott decided to jump OUT of the boat on a high side down the class V rapid, "Blind Faith." 

The next day was the annual Cherry Creek Race, which starts at the confluence of Cherry Creek and the Tuolumne and ends 6.5 miles down at Lewis's Leap. Andrew set the new record for the short boat race and then was pushed back to 2nd place when Sam, the Tuolumne photo kayaker, passed with a 20 second lead. After the race, we all went to Lumsden Bridge Campground and noticed a fire on the other side of the hill. No one thought much of it, until Ranger Bob Stanley came to tell us midway through the awards ceremony that we needed to evacuate. "It's not gonna burn," came from the pouting mouths of many. Little did we all know. 

By the next afternoon, the fire spread impressively up the north side of the canyon. Once or twice a day, we'd drive up and watch in awe from a safe lookout on the other side. By day three, it crossed to our side of the canyon and we were evacuating the guide house in Groveland, packing up all rafts, vans, trucks, gear, and household items. The number of acreage was up to 10,000 and we thought it was incredible to have grown that big. Everyone left town that morning so the crew was slim. The 10 of us got in the company van once it got dark, drove to our lookout that was once safe, but burning by the time we got to it. Everyone but a few people left town with fingers crossed. It's now up to 165,000 acres and only 1.5 miles from the guide house. Pretty amazing to watch nature take its course. No more second-guessing the ranger.

I’ll be in San Diego for a weekend of Britney's bachelorette shenanigans, then back to paradise in the beloved Mexico. The rest of the summer will be spent in Baja with a hopeful swell coming in next week. Andrew leaves for Africa on September 9th and I'm not sure my plan yet but that seems to be the way I like it these days. Nos vemos. 

Here are some more photos from the weekend compliments of Scott Leduc:

Celebrating Andrew breaking a record

Award ceremony

Rim Fire in its infancy stage 

This road eventually burnt down 

Vanessa, Andrew, me, Cooper, Scott