- Elizabeth Morrison

The Nature Guy

       David Palchak is a twenty- five year- old van driver with the AGLP. He has been to Alaska only once before with the AGLP and remembering his trip from eighth grade inspired him to come back. Memories of his first experience were brought back when David read Two In the Far North, a book about Margaret Murie, an outspoken advocate of preserving wild Alaska. This was what motivated David to return to the Last Frontier for a second trip with AGLP.
       So far David’s favorite part about Alaska was camping at Grizzly Bear Campground because there was a lot more wilderness than any other place we’ve been to so far. He is mostly looking forward to revisiting Homer and Seward. David hopes he can gain more leadership skills from this trip and is looking for a challenge.
       Before he came to Alaska this year, David prepared himself by reading more about Alaska’s history and studying maps of the wild country. David was both excited and nervous about coming back because it has been ten years since he’s been here. The idea of spending time with fourteen and fifteen year- olds was intimidating to David as well because he hasn’t spent much time with them recently.
       David says,  “After my trip in 8th grade, I got really interested in nature. I pretty much shaped my life around the wilderness. Alaska made me start caring for the environment more.” David has lived in California, Montana, and is now living in Colorado where every morning he wakes up to mountains.
       David says he most remembers the run in Fairbanks because it’s a really fun celebration where everyone in the town gets together. He says,      “In the run I feel more like a local, like this is my home, rather than a tourist. Everyone cheers you on and it feels really good just to be out there hearing everyone yelling.”
       David tells me he still has pictures up on his wall from his last trip and is looking forward to adding some more to his collection. He just loves seeing everyone together and seeing people put others before themselves. David plans to keep camping and spending time in nature with his friends. Alaska has truly changed his life.