- Andrew Stevens

The First Time Experience

       This is Jeremiah Steele’s first time going to Alaska with the AGLP group. However, he is not a participant, but an adult.  He is experiencing all the things my friends and I are for the first time.  I was interviewing him to see what he thought about Alaska, and it turns out, this isn’t the first time he has visited The Last Frontier.
         He heard about Alaska through Liz Smith, his girlfriend and current co-driver of the Bear van.  He thought it would be fun, so he came. Jeremiah went to Marshall from 2nd grade through the end of high school. When he had the opportunity to go to Alaska as an eighth grader, he couldn’t go. Jeremiah has lived in North Carolina for the last three years.
         Preparing for Alaska wasn’t a big deal for him.  Jeremiah only needed to pack his equipment and buy a plane ticket.  He drove from N.C. to Marshall, and the rode with us on the Charter buses to Chicago.  He had mixed feelings about coming to Alaska.  He was happy to be going, but sad to leave his dog behind.
         Back in N.C., Jeremiah liked to camp so his favorite thing to do in Alaska is camp in the mountains.  He likes to get away from the noises of the city, and to just relax.  He’s looking forward to hiking Mt. Healy and Exit Glacier. He says driving hasn’t been his favorite thing, but he loves to look at the landscape of Alaska.  He said his favorite landform was “all of them combined”.
         When we leave Alaska, Jeremiah will be sad because he won’t be in, or be able to see Alaska anymore. However, he’ll be happy to be back home.  He wants to bring back memories from his Alaskan experience to N.C.  I hope he has as much fun as the rest of us, because it’s just beginning.