Dr. George Seifert

Alaska Is:

Alaska is…a tale of twelve vans
Of mosaic mountains and scalloped waters
Of caravan conversations and private reflections
Of stiff camp coffee and road-kill chili
Of warm church welcomes and wide open spaces
Of meandering bear families and lone still eagles on lampposts
Of community effort and personal triumph
Of beaming fathers and stellar daughters
Of impressed interviewees and an impressive program history
Of one quacky leader and many eager beavers
Of a marriage ban, or is that a married man?
Of first mountain climbs and tenth inning victory cries
Of amazing opportunity, and intriguing possibility
Of emerging leaders and returning beaders
Of an unparallel experience, and much more yet to come.
Alaska is…beauteous.

Final Reflection:
        The triggering event for my trip to Alaska, I will admit, was my daughter’s commitment to returning on the trip as a Junior Leader. While I have always wanted to see Alaska, am drawn to programs such as these, and have had my share of unique wilderness experiences, I probably wouldn’t have come on this one were it not for Britta. I therefore had the joy of climbing mountains and glacial valley trails, seeing whales, observing bears roam in their natural habitat, learning about Alaskan history and the pride and fortitude of its varied people and contemplating the spectacle of rugged mountain peaks, I also had an equally excited tour guide in my daughter, an experience unparalleled in my tenure as a father.
      While the scenery was enthralling, even more fascinating is watching the evolution of the group dynamics during the course of the trip. The excitement of “hug time” at the end of the day, the songs sung and music played, the Frisbees tossed, the rolling conversations over the CB radios, the joyful cries upon reaching the top of the mountain and the string of vans reaching over the hill and around the bend are images that, I hope, remain vived in my mind. These are all shared experiences that provided the milieu for the development of relationships, leadership skills and personal growth.
      Lastly, many of the participants and leaders were challenged to overcome obstacles, whether these were physical, emotional, organizational, or medical. Most of them did this very well, and it was a joy to be part of that process. In particular, I appreciate greatly the fortitude of Elizabeth Parker, who persisted in her effort to reach the top of the Exit Glacier hike in spite of significant symptoms due to some unforeseen difficulties in her diabetic control. These types of triumphs are an encouragement to us all.