Alaska Hat

My “Alaska Hat” I purchased in Nenana, in some tourist shop between Denali and Fairbanks when I was about 9 years old.  This hat as accompanied me to school, up many mountains, over hundreds of miles of skiing, sledding, and snow machining, and just through everyday life.  This is my favorite hat. 

It was last seen at the top of Matanuska Peak, in Palmer, Alaska.  I miss that hat dearly. 

Crow Pass Crossing

Last weekend I hiked Crow Pass, a 26-mile traverse from Girdwood to Eagle River!  Here are some pictures of my adventure.

We borrowed someone's car and couldn't get the trunk open
so had to revert to packing all the gear in with us...
it was quite a squeeze but we managed for the drive down to Girdwood.

Starting out!

Marie and I heading up towards Crow Pass

Random Waterfall (there were a lot of those)

Raven Glacier, from the top of Crow Pass

The morning of the second day we had to cross Eagle River.
Here is the ford site.

After the successful (and cold) river crossing

I'm pointing to Eagle Glacier, the water source for Eagle River.
Needless to say, the water was frigid. 

Campsite for the second night

Eagle River at Echo Bend, almost done!

The trail ended at the Eagle River Nature Center,
here's some history of the trail.

There were a lot of bears...
We actually only saw 4, and one with a cub!
(thankfully all a good distance away)

Crow Pass complete!

I made a quilt!!!

I have never been one to sew; I think I get that from my mom.  Whenever something needs sewn at my house my dad is always the one to do it.  That is why I am super proud of the fact that I made my very own quilt.  In some ways this was a harder feat than the marathon,* but it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while using old tee-shirts**.  I could not have done this without exponential help and patience from my grandma, who fixed the sewing machine after I messed it up about every five minutes.  Here it is!

*That’s a testament to how much I do not enjoy sewing.

**Which I know all you real quilters out there think is totally cheating, and I totally agree.

A box of screws

You never know what’s gonna happen.  Period.

Growing up in Alaska, where the weather can change without warning, where you can get hypothermia in the summer, where you can take a wrong turn in the woods and be lost for days, I have learned the importance of being prepared.  I’ve gone hiking a lot this summer, and each time I start out I debate which layers of clothing should accompany me and which I should leave in the car.  I usually end up bringing everything just in case.  Then I start up the mountain, am sweating in about 5 minutes and after a few hours of hiking still as warm as can be, wondering why on earth I decided to bring a long sleeve shirt, pull-over, fleece, rain jacket, hat, and gloves.  Then I get to the top, am surrounded by clouds, wet, at 5000-6000 feet elevation, and shivering wearing every article of clothing I have.  Every single time.  I am not prepared.  I am prepared for the expected, and if something were to happen that would necessitate spending the night out there… it would be a very long night indeed.

The bottom line is that you cannot be prepared for everything.  You can carry as much with you backpacking as you can so that if something were to happen you would be as comfortable as possible, you can save all your money instead of spend it so that if the economy collapses or some other unforeseen expense comes up you can handle it, you can wear your seat belt and drive the speed limit and still be in a car crash, you can have all your ducks in a row and still a tidal wave can come through and smash everything to pieces.  You never know what’s gonna happen.