Living in Alaska - Life in the Last Frontier

On Saturday, I went with my friend Kerry and her two daughters to Denali Park. Kerry booked a shuttle bus ride for us to Eielson Visitor Center at mile 66 on the park road.

There are various shuttles available to take you into the park. The shuttle to Eielson Visitor Center takes about 8 hours round trip.  If you don’t have time to go all the way to Wonder Lake (12 hours RT), at least go as far as Eielson Center. You’ll see the most stunning beauty, and (in our experience) the wildlife is much more abundant between the entrance and Eielson Center, than it is on the stretch between Eielson and Wonder Lake.

You don’t have to take a shuttle bus ride to enjoy Denali Park, if time or funds are limited.  You can drive your personal vehicle to mile 15, hike the Savage River trail, see a sled dog demonstration, and enjoy the Visitor Center - all for free. If you’ve got children, ask the ranger at the Visitor Center for a Ranger Pack. These backpacks have all sorts of interesting things in them to help keep children entertained: books, a compass, thermometer, litmus paper to test the water in the park, measuring tape, plant and animal identification guides, plaster of paris and a wolf print mold, and so much more. I was amazed at just what came with the backpack. And it’s also free, but you’ll have to sign for it and turn it back in at the end of the day.

We left North Pole under dark skies and drizzle. We pretty much knew there would be no sighting of Denali on our drive, but the rain didn’t bother us. In my experience, wildlife is much more active when it rains. Perhaps because it’s cooler. And overcast skies are perfect for photography; the colors just POP!

We made a pit stop at Sunrise Bagel for breakfast sandwiches, as this is a mandatory stop before any roadtrip! Their ham, egg, and cheese on a bagel is yummy, and their breakfast burrito gets two thumbs up too.

With the rain and the limited visibility caused by fog, the drive to the park took a little longer than usual. We only had about 30 minutes to spare before we had to be in line for our bus. The bus wasn’t full, so we were able to each have our own seat.  TIP: If the bus isn’t full, or if you’re traveling with more than two people, make sure that you grab seats on opposite sides of the bus. This way, no matter what side the wildlife is on, you can get a look out the window without having to climb over someone you don’t know!

We were thrilled to see that Autumn has definitely arrived in the park. Large swathes of scarlet tundra goes off into the distance, while pockets of brilliant yellow and gold stand in the midst of still-green birch and aspen. It won’t be long before all the trees are cloaked in gold. While the foliage is not at peak, it’s getting there quickly. I predict we’ll be well past peak by Road Lottery weekend.  It wouldn’t surprise me if snow came before then too.

And now on with the photos - and there are plenty!

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***WARNING: PHOTO HEAVY***

Steve and I spent a week in Valdez from the 12th to the 18th. We were in Valdez when we received the sad news about Sean. When I think back to that trip, it feels a little surreal. I believe the heavens were mourning with us, as sunshine and blue skies became overcast. When the rain began to fall, it seemed to time itself to my tears.

At one point, my thoughts turned to memories of another trip to Valdez: September, 2006. We were there when the news came that my mother had passed.  I remembered that I was walking the Dock Point Trail with Sedona at about the same moment my mother left this world.  It’s a beautiful walk and a great place to find peace and the opportunity for introspection.

So I leashed up Sedona and we took that walk again… alone.  And I did a lot of thinking about Sean, and my mom, and sadness, and family. But at the same time I couldn’t help but notice the immense beauty around me. Mountains, and glaciers. Lushness. Blue skies. Mist and fog.  What a juxtaposition of emotions. How is it possible to feel immense sorrow, and then joy, within seconds of each other?

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FAIRBANKS - VALDEZ

These photos were taken along the way, mostly shooting out the windshield:

Horsetail Falls, Keystone Canyon outside of Valdez:

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REST IN PEACE, SEAN

It has been a week since the fatal accident which took the life of my nephew and his friend. A third young man is recovering from extensive surgery to correct internal injuries. The driver  - who is responsible for this horrific crash - suffered a broken leg.

Initial reports painted these kids as irresponsible and intoxicated, but the DA has recanted his statement that beer bottles and a controlled substance were found at the scene.  However, this doesn’t excuse the actions of the driver - a 20 year old man, who “put the pedal to the metal” when he saw police lights flashing in the rear view mirror after racing through a speed trap. The vehicle was going nearly 100mph when it crashed into the building, killing Sean and his friend TJ.

My brother Steve and sister-in-law Diane received the phone call that Sean had been involved in an accident, in the early morning hours on Saturday. They rushed to the hospital to find out that Sean had a traumatic head injury, and had very little brain activity. The doctors were not hopeful at all; if Sean survived, he’d be in a vegetative state.

Sean carried an organ donor card, and my brother and his family were counseled by the folks who run the organ donor and transplant program. When it was determined that Sean was officially gone, they honored his wishes, and donated his organs so that other lives could be saved.

From what I understand, his heart went to a man in his 40s who has a wife and children, and has been waiting for a long time for a new heart.  There is some degree of comfort in knowing that a part of Sean is still alive. I’m not sure what other organs were also gifted to those in need.

It has been a very hard week for all of us. I can’t even imagine the soul-wrenching agony that Steve, Diane, and niece Rachel are going through. I know for me, it’s been a week of never-ending tears, sad dreams, and a desire to gather up my children and lock them safely away from the dangers in this world.

I am thankful for the friends and family who have shared tearful conversations with me. I am also thankful to all of you, who commented or sent private messages of sympathy.  Grief, not only for the loss of Sean, but for the rest of his family, is so heavy on my heart. I feel like I’ve lost one of my own children.

I feel sad that I didn’t know Sean the way that the rest of my family did. We moved away from Philly in 1993, when Sean was only a baby.  I kept up with what was going on in his life through conversations with Diane, but that’s not the same as seeing him on a regular basis and spending time with him. Now that he’s gone, his friends have been posting videos and photos on Facebook, and I’ve found myself smiling at his sense of humor and typical teenage antics. I would have loved to have spent time with him over the years.

I want to believe that Sean is now in the loving embrace of my parents - his grandparents - and that we will all be together again when our time on this earth comes to an end. It’s what comforts me.

Sean touched the lives of so many people, and was loved by everyone who knew him.  The world has lost a wonderful young man who had a great future ahead of him. I hope he’s building motorcycles for the angels now.

Rest peacefully, Sean.