Summer of Eric Part II

Can you believe we're approaching the one year anniversary of the Summer of Eric cross country expedition that started all this crazy blogging? To celebrate we have Part II of the expedition. We ended in California last year, so this year we're going all the way up to the 49th state - Alaska! Not driving this time, but taking a quick 10 hour flight to Seattle and then Anchorage, our base city. From there, we have separate hops to three national parks: Katmai, Denali and Kenai Fjords and we're hoping we don't get stuck, if the ridiculous posturing in Washington DC shuts down the government and our parks on August 2.  If you don't hear from me by Labor Day, please send out the huskies.

I'm taking it easy today in anticipation of an exhausting but exhilarating shopping trip to Gary's favorite store, Campmor. It is fun to be such loyal customers that you're greeted by name, as you enter the hiker's paradise on Route 17. And who doesn't hear the words "brand new rain suit" and not feel chills running up and down their spine? Is it from imagining the 40-60 degree temps in the rain or fantasizing that you are a great explorer, conquering America's last great wilderness?  I already have my zip and go pants, two sets of long underwear, a heavy fleece, hat, gloves, low cut hiking boots, polypro tees and UV protected long sleeve shirts. Gary easily has twice as much gear and clothing as I do, but somehow I think he'll find some new essential items. The challenge of this trip is we're supposed to pack lightly to facilitate travel on small planes, even smaller float planes, Park Service buses and cozy accommodations in cabins and lodges. Eric, who comes home for the holidays with all essentials stuffed into a backpack, should have no problem, but Scott and I may struggle and Gary's already relying on the ingenious idea of using the rental car as extra closet space, packing a light travel bag and an overstuffed supply bag.

I've always felt the planning and anticipation of a trip adds as much fun and excitement as the actual event. Last year I distinctly remember saying that while all the summer travel was great, I'm a beach girl and prefer not to stray too far from the Jersey shore during July and August. The summer just flies by too quickly. I had stated my case, so I was surprised to see books on Alaska suddenly appearing on the coffee table last January: Frommer's and National Park Service guides, Histories of Alaska, Alaska-the Last Frontier, the Quiet World, the Road to Denali, etc. Gary's reply: "That's the only time of year you can go there."  He threw himself into the planning and arranged the entire trip. You didn't really think we would take the popular cruise on the Inside Passageway/Glacier Bay that everyone else raves about, did you? No, we are striking out on our own. I did check the itinerary and noted we seemed to have no accommodations one night, but that turned out to be an errant confirmation email that was temporarily lost in cyberspace. I want to be a little surprised, so I didn't delve too deeply, especially after some disturbing revelations. 

Me: "You mean we're riding in a small plane and then transferring to an even smaller float plane?"

Gary: "Well, yeah."

Me: "You mean we ride on a Park Service school bus over gravel roads for 90 miles and it takes 6 hours?"

Gary: "Well, yeah."

Me: "You mean we visit Katmai to see bears scooping salmon out of the river at the end of the salmon run? What if the bears leave early?"

Gary: "They won't."

Me: "You mean we won't have a bathroom in our cabin?"

Gary: "Well, yeah."

I only use the facilities 3 or 4 times a night, so trooping off to the nearby lodge (with bear bells ringing) shouldn't be a problem. "Just don't drink anything after 4 pm," a friend suggested. As for the Katmai bears leaving early, a friend who lives in West Milford confirms that NJ black bears are finely attuned to the garbage pickup schedule and very punctual about appearing on the correct night. So as long as global warming doesn't end the salmon run early this year, we should be ok.  Are you listening, bears? Wait for the K family to arrive.