Saturday, July 30, 2011

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.



7 Comments:

At July 30, 2011 at 5:15 PM , Blogger Rita said...

Noatak 2013

 
At July 30, 2011 at 5:48 PM , Blogger Ellen Zachos said...

Rita! Now I have witnesses. Noatak in 2013!

 
At July 31, 2011 at 7:39 AM , Anonymous Leda Meredith said...

Looks absolutely amazing!

 
At July 31, 2011 at 9:00 AM , Anonymous Mark said...

Having seen Ellen and Michael in the flesh since their return, I can tell you they are changed. There is a light, an energy, and a calm that is beautiful to see and to be around.

I'm going.

Mark

 
At August 1, 2011 at 3:30 PM , Anonymous Sara said...

Wow.

 
At August 3, 2011 at 7:10 AM , Blogger Ellen Spector Platt said...

Did you pack in freeze dried meals or was that zucchini fresh? love the bear prints,

 
At August 4, 2011 at 11:14 AM , Blogger Marie said...

Cooooome to Namiiiiiibia with us :-)

 

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