Into the Sunset

Trite but true: What a difference a week makes.

After our Campmor shopping trip last week, I thought we were all set:

Mosquito netting hat - check!

Rain suit- check.

Then came an interesting news story this week about the 7 teen NOLS hikers who were attacked by a grizzly bear mother in Talkeetna. Yes, folks, we'll pass by there. Talkeetna is about a third of the way to Denali from Anchorage. My bear anxiety level right now on a scale of 1-10 (low to high) is about 8+. Gary's is a 1. 

HIM: "Think of how many people are in the wilderness, how rare attacks are, blah, blah, blah...".

ME:  "Yeah, but what about the recent attack in Yellowstone, where the husband got killed?"

(I did read that when they saw the mother and cub they just kept hiking, instead of turning back. No way I'd do that.)

I don't even care now if the salmon run has ended early and the bears have already left Katmai. I think I'd be happier not seeing any bears, although seeing them from the comfort and security of the fenced off viewing platforms sounds nice. As for Denali, I don't know if I'll be getting off the bus. There is a ranger hike at one stop, so that might be ok. Do NPS rangers carry guns? Do they at least lead the hike, so they'd take the first hit?

You have to love the comments people have posted after the Talkeetna story online. Here are a few gems and my comments:

"Going to Alaska without a gun? That's crazy talk!" (thank you Sarah P.)

"I never leave home without my 350 magnum." (Is this Clint Eastwood?)

"Did the hikers have bear bells on?" (somehow I don't think it would make much difference to have little,tinkly bells warning a big, angry mother bear...A la Jaws...I think we're going to need a bigger bell....)

I'm still excited about the trip and the relaxation breathing seems to be helping, so I'm definitely going to get on the plane. (Getting off may be another story).I am wondering if we need to re-visit Campmor and stock up on bear spray, bear bells (big ones), guns, ammo, etc...

Highlights to come:

Driving past Wasilla (photo ops!)

Looking at the Katmai bears, from a very safe distance

Pictures of hiking and no bears!

Kayaking at Kenai Fjords

Eating fresh caught salmon (every day?!)

Circling Mt McKinley (in a plane that's too small!)

Being digitally free - no Internet or Email for 12 days

Hiking the Valley of 10,000 Smokes (while high?)

Staying up until it gets dark at midnight

Wearing my new rain suit (every day?!)

Surviving without a private bathroom

Gary buying coffee mugs and tee shirts wherever possible

Eric complaining about his parents' slow transition times

Scott frustratingly searching for a cell phone signal

Missing Beth, who can't come.

  

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.