Pacific North Wonderland

I have been at a loss for what to write since I moved to Oregon for graduate school. It's not for lack of stories. But I've just felt lost. Scattered. Pieces of me everywhere. And I'm not entirely sure what my story is anymore. 

This has resulted in what could be considered a minor existential crisis, but I'm getting myself re-organized, re-normalized, and re-calibrated to life in the lower-48 and as a student again. I'm surrounded by stimulus: people everywhere, new ideas, new demands, new sounds, new responsibilities, new routines, new culture. 

I miss my cabin in the woods, and being able to walk into the forest and be totally alone, out of sight and out of mind. Here, I feel like anywhere I go, I'm within sight of someone somewhere, whether or not they're actually looking at me or paying attention. Some say being in the city feels anonymous, but I feel so exposed here.

Aurora Borealis

One of my high priority goals this summer was to see the Aurora Borealis one more time while I was still in Alaska. Just when I was beginning to think my luck had run out, last week the northern lights graced the skies with their elegance more spectacularly than I ever could have hoped for!

Aurora and fall colors

Aurora over my cabin 

At one point, the lights exploded, illuminating the night

I'm still learning how to find the best camera settings for photographing them, but I think I'm getting pretty close. The last image in the set above was featured on the US Department of the Interior's social media, and received over 22,000 likes on Instagram! Nothing like a little validation for some encouragement. 

This time, I also worked on trying to edit them to more lifelike colors, since the 10-second exposure of the camera picks up more light and color range than is visible to the human eye. The photo of the aurora over my cabin, and the last photo of the set have more true-to-life color, but the other two photos were too beautiful to edit down. :) Regardless of the camera's interpretation of the colors, the lights were as bright as I've ever seen them. My friend and I laid out in the deserted parking lot for over an hour watching as the bands of color danced above our heads.

The Future (is now)

Sunset over Savage River last week

At long last, my days in Alaska are coming to an end. Today is the beginning of my last week working in Denali National Park, and the last week of one of the best summers of my life. I think it goes without saying that I am devastated to leave -- and not just Denali, but this entire beautiful state and the communities of which I have become a part over the last 4 years.

Where do I even begin?

I came to Alaska at a critical point in my life, a point at which I was open to all the possibilities of existence in the world. And beyond just learning to fend for myself in this rough and wild place, I also grew into myself as an individual, an adult, and a woman. I came to Alaska to be closer to the roots of the connections between humans and nature, and that is what I found.

Seasons of adventure

The last two weeks have been busy beyond belief. Last weekend, one of my friends from college and her boyfriend came to visit for a few days, and they happened to come on our week of the craziest weather yet this year. It was the last week of August, and over a period of 3 days, we experienced all four seasons in one. But that didn't stop us from tackling all the adventure the weekend had to offer.

My first rapids!

To Meet a Mountain

Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I've only got a couple weeks left in Denali, but lately I've been feeling much more spontaneous than usual. Yesterday this newly rediscovered spontaneity took me thousands of feet into the air to finally meet up with the mountain I have been working under for the last several months. 

I called the air taxi company in the morning, intent on asking about flights for the next day, but instead they said they had a spot open on the noon flight and to be there in an hour. I threw together a quick lunch and snacks, grabbed all the camera gear I could stuff in my backpack, and made it down to the bus stop just in time. 

A ten mile walk

I've done it. I've successfully hiked all 18 trails on the east end of Denali this summer, saving the 9.5 mile Triple Lakes Trail for last. 

Vista from the first summit of the trail

I got a late morning start yesterday, catching the 9:30 bus to the trail head, and set off into the warm, sunny morning. Counting for steep elevation changes, lunch, and short breaks, I estimated I could average about 2 mph walking speed and make it to the end of the trail by 2:30-3pm. Thus, roughly every half hour, I could assume I had walked a mile if I didn't stop to take pictures for too long.

Denali Canyoneering

There are few things in this world more exciting than picking a place on the map, and going there. And that's exactly what my friend and I did last weekend for two full days out on the west side of the park.

The day started out a little iffy with the weather; it rained a few times over the course of our 4-hour bus ride into the park, but by the time we got to our hiking destination, it had begun to let up. As the bus slowed to let us out on the side of the road, I could feel all the other passengers staring at us: two girls heading into the backcountry alone with impending variable weather conditions. I couldn't help but feel a little hardcore, even though this would be just an easy hike.

Into the canyon!