Alaska Top Ten

Coming up with a top 10 for this adventure in Alaska was difficult. Fortunately I had good help from Annie and Elmo. Annie also wanted me to assure you that her ankle is not on the list. She is saving that for another list. Elmo provided great philosophical assistance even though he did not get to go on all the trips. So here they are:

Number 10. Recognizing locals and being recognized while walking the boardwalk in Halibut Cove. We lived only three days at Halibut Cove. This experience reminds us that beyond the busy streets of Anchorage, Alaska is still wilderness, and not many humans are out there.

Number 9. Riding Anchorage’s bike trails. Annie and Elmo let me put this in. The reason bike trails made the list is obvious, or not, depending.

Number 8. Climbing through the rain forest in the rain near Seldovia. We were fascinated with the layers of abundant life and the gentle sounds of the rain forest.

Number 7. Watching from the top of Crow Pass; the hikers far below coming up the trail we had just climbed, the naked mountains hunkered on each side of Crow Creek making the hikers look like toys, The glacier mountains closer to Valdez than Crow Pass, and Elmo and Annie sitting on a rock watching. Nature’s power fills this space.

Number 6. Riding the fast ferry across Prince William Sound from Whittier to Cordova reminds us that we are part of God’s creation and that we must be a responsible part. We have read, heard and thought about Prince William Sound, its beauty and the troubles we humans have caused it and it’s non-human residents. It was good to be there and see what all the fuss is about, and to know that it is worth the fuss.

Number 5. Watching Childs glacier calve great chunks of blue ice into the Copper River. Glacier calving is a multi sensory experience. Cold air leaks from the 300 foot tall wall of ice across the river; the glacier sings its song with creaks, cracks, roars, swooshes, splashes and explosions: it shoves waves across the river: and it waits, milking the tension, until it is ready to berth.

Number 4. Kayaking around Halibut Cove with the Sunshines, we saw starfish and reflections in the water; felt like part of the ocean; felt the freedom, gentleness, silence, and beauty of this ancient means of transportation.

Number 3. Hearing and watching eagles fight over a scrap of fish. We sat on the beach in Kasitna Bay waiting on Mako the water taxi watching grandson’s play, and the eagles flew over screaming, diving and tumbling.

Number 2. Sitting on the porch of the cabin above Halibut cove and seeing the menke whale spout next to the dock where the red, yellow, and blue kayaks were stacked. She hung around for forty-five minutes and we sipped our coffee and Steve and Martha timed the menke’s breaths. (Picture by Steve or Martha)

Number 1. Walking toward the rocks of Hook Point along the sun glistened beach on Hitchenbrook Island with children and grandchildren making tracks in the sand, and the Gulf of Alaska rolling in and out. We had found the rhythm of the wilderness, and it filled us like the final stages of a meditation, and we were accompanied on the journey by those we love.

And of course the real Number 1 is hugs from our grandsons, Birch and Cole. Our grandchildren all live so far away. Getting to know them is best.