- Mark

Alaska Is...  

        Alaska is a kaleidoscope of images and sounds, towering mountains, slow moving glaciers, milky glacial water, mountain flowers, tumbling, clear, snow-fed mountain streams, fog rolling in on Exit Glacier, Resurrection Bayís sparkling waters, low tides, kettle lakes, Seaside Farmís eagles soaring, grizzlies foraying, sea lions sunning, moose and caribou grazing, otters frolicking, lone wolves exploring, puffins diving, coyotes on the hunt, humpbacks defying gravity, a lynx prowling, salmon swimming upstream, Midnight Sun Run fun, caravan of vans, smiling faces on Healy, birthdays, ring around the rosy, mealtimes, tent city, pre-trip fundraisers, whale watch cheering, confidence gained, Exit Glacier cheering, halibut happiness, hug time, friendships made, memories forever.

Final Reflections

As I look back on this trip, several things come to mind. First is what a wonderful classroom Alaska is for demonstrating the biodiversity of plants and animals, the sheer magnitude of earth building and erosional forces, and the delicate balance between human activity and earth’s ecosystems.
Alaska was also about people, those we met along the way and those we came with. Some we met had family roots in Alaska that went back generations. Others were nomadic travelers making Alaska one of their stops. And some came to Alaska seeking a new start. Many had unique stories; having climbed Denali, worked on fishing boats, bear hunting adventures, a family visiting Alaska with the help of the Make a Wish Foundation to fulfill their 8-year old son’s dream to see mountains and whales.
The 76 individuals we traveled with came with different background stories, and evolved into an AGLP family during the trip. New friendships formed as we worked, played, and explored together. Individuals grew in confidence through our climb and adventures. Teamwork and cooperation grew from setting up camp together, making meals together, doing laundry together…Concern for others grew in helping others complete the 10K run, the Healy an Exit Glacier climbs, and the plunge into a mountain lake. With a few bumps along the road, our 76 individuals grew into our AGLP family. This was seen daily as we ended our day with hug time. From the first night’s tentative, uncomfortable hugs, to our last night’s warm, all embracing hugs, we came home from this trip changed for the better.