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.
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