Alaska redux

(photo by Rita Bates)

I don't really know what to say and I'm not often speechless. Before we left the lower 48, Michael said this would be a life changing adventure and he was right.

I always resent coming back to real life from a wonderful trip, but this time it's worse than ever. New York City is the anti-Alaska, far too full of people, noise, litter, and general crap. Out there, in the bush, there was nothing between us and the world (except a tent at night). The raw immediacy of life was intoxicating and I want more. I'm no fool. I know I couldn't live like that all the time. But I also know I'm going back for more.

Until I get my thoughts together more eloquently, here are some images to outline the story. More to follow.

Departure from Fairbanks to Bettles; this was the big plane. It held the pilot plus 6 people and gear.

Ours is the red canoe.

Grizzly tracks at the first night's campsite.

Bear proof food containers are courtesy of the National Parks Service. The night's menu included lemon pudding (upper left) and seafood (clams, shrimp, octopus) vindaloo over brown rice w/zucchini & sun dried tomatoes.

Plentiful driftwood made campfires easy. This photo was taken at 11:30 pm. It never got dark.

Gunsight Mountain (left)

These wolf tracks were near our tent when we woke up in the morning. They were not there when we went to bed at night.

We are so small.