In Retrospect

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I just looked back over my 'adventure list' from this spring. I didn't make it through all of them, but I was able to cross a few off. Hope, AK happened. It was pretty awesome. And I did get to take the 10 mile walk out to Gull Rock and back. All in all, it was a good weekend of camping with friends.


I also went on a road trip...not the full loop that I wanted to do, but I did travel the Parks highway with a couple of friends, and also drove through Hatcher's Pass. It was such an incredible drive. I would definitely do that again. And I would plan enough time to do some hiking up in there, because it is amazing country.


I didn't get to go out to Eagle and Symphony Lakes, or Hidden Lake, but I did go to Rabbit Lake. It is an incredible hike up into a mountain valley. Of course, what hike in mountains in Alaska isn't gorgeous! There were also several trips up Bear Valley/Mountain. Also gorgeous, and the kind of hike that I like--short-ish, and not too intense.

But the highlight of my summer was having my friends from Ohio visit. It was like being in college again, but without the stress of classes and homework. We were able to cram quite a bit into a week--a day trip to Whittier where we hiked up Portage Pass. A trip out to Glacier View, AK to hike on a glacier. An ill-fated camp out--I'll give you a hint--lots of rain and a rain fly that was not put on properly. Oops! Let's just say that we may or may not have ended up driving back to Anchorage, getting back to the apartment after midnight...

Matanuska Glacier. Well worth the price of admission.
When summer comes, it feels like it will last forever. It doesn't, obviously, but it is also a good reminder that winter does not last forever either. There is always an end in sight. At some point, the darkness comes to an end and the warmth and light return. So I hold on to that promise as the colors of fall come. It's gorgeous, as all seasons are in Alaska (except maybe the first half of spring, it's mostly just muddy and brown).

It's a beauty that is almost indescribable, and leaves me with no doubt that this world was not created by chance, it leaves me in awe of my Creator.

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