Alaska: Just North of Normal (Zip Zip Away)

Our last little adventure in Alaska was to go zip-lining through the forever tall trees. It was beautiful and fun and a total kick in the shorts. First thing first, we had to get securely tied into harnesses and helmets just in case. We didn't like to think too much of just in case of what... but just in case.



The first zip line wasn't too far. A mere bunny hill compared to the others to come. The scariest part was the fact that each zip line was attached to a tree and therefore you are hurdling as fast as the zip line lets you towards it.

View from the beginning. 

Thankfully they has someone on that end running the brake and catching you so you don't fall off the platform. All in all, it was a BEAUTIFUL way to end our adventure in Alaska. The air was crisp and refreshing. The ride was thrilling, but not too scary. It was fun and funny all at once. You could do tricks like lying back or twisting so that you would spin on the way down.

John throwing down a trick on the first run. 

Catching the brother, coming in hot! 

At the end of the long walk down the hill we had a random bout of axe throwing. Not sure why, but it was part of the package. So we did it. And didn't do too shabby either. 

All in all, Alaska is pretty cool. It reminded me part of a small town in the mountains of Colorado as well as Tampa, Florida because of the majority of the sea paraphernalia. It also feels like small towns in Arizona and New Mexico because of all the native art. The art is VERY different, but a lot of it has the same feeling when it comes to what they would worship or make art about.

Juneau, as a capitol isn't very impressive, but the surrounding area and adventures more than make up for it. Unless you're looking for that small town charm. In which case, you found the right place! I think next time: Anchorage. 

Alaska: Just North of Normal (Juneau and Taku)

In Juneau they have a tram, a gondola really, that brings hundreds of tourists every day to the top of Mt. Roberts. They cut out a swath out of the tall trees so the tram had a way to get to the top. What I noticed most about the ride up was that the slope was much steeper than expected and the height of the trees in Alaska continues to astound me.

Once we got to the top we had the exact opposite view than the one we have from the condo at which we were staying. The beautiful mountains were sharp against the clear sky and the water sparkled with the light from the sun. The best part was the bald eagle circling around us.




The top of Mt. Roberts is a full tourist trap. It has a gift shop and pictures they will shop Sarah Palin or a grizzly depending on your bravery. They also have a beautiful rescued eagle named Lady Baltimore, and equally beautiful hiking trails if you're up to the climb.

Mom, Eli, John, and I took a short hike up one of the trails before coming back and heading back down the mountain to cruise the town. The trail, trees, and view reminded me so much of the Colorado Rocky Mountains that I wasn't sure just how far we had flown. I felt like I was right back hiking up Horsetooth in Fort Collins.

The road just up the mountain behind the main street in Juneau.
It's a beautiful mountain town that reminds me of Central City, Colorado. 

Apparently I am found growing naturally in Alaska.  

Where to next?

After another evening of napping and enjoying time with the family, we planned a helicopter trip to one of the glaciers. Taku glacier to be exact.

Brother: Eli, Dad: Charles, Mom: Kirsty, Boyfriend: John, Me: Alexandra

We had to put on special booties over our shoes and don fancy looking head sets for the ride. Let me tell you what, riding in a helicopter only made my passion to become a pilot blossom even more. It was so thrilling and exciting. It may have partially been to the uplifting and mild music playing in our ears the entire ride but hey. Still wanna do it.

View of Juneau and the bridge to Douglas Island from the Helicopter

Did you know that glaciers break up rock and turn the dirt into silt and act as a REALLY SLOW conveaor belt and deposit it in the water? I didn't. I just knew they were big blocks of ice. Did you know that they are noisy? They creak more than you'd expect. Did you know they are brilliant blue inside? They are beautifully blue. The water in them is clear and beautiful and I'm still kicking myself for not taking a big swig of some.

The helicopter that brought us in. 

The crevasse starts at a few inches apart then grows to feet apart. 

The silt deposit from the glacier. 

The ride back was even more beautiful because I got to sit in the front seat. Flying through the vallies of the mountains was breath taking. Near the tip of the peaks I could see nothing but the points of mountains for as far as the eye could see. I got hit by a moment of wanderlust like it was lightning. I want to travel the Alaskan mountains like none other.

The glacier breaking off into the sea.

Glaciers are so much more vast than we could imagine. 

It snakes all the way up between the mountains.

Looking at the peaks disappearing into the distance. 

Alaska: Just North of Normal (I'M ON A BOAT)

We woke up to a bleak morning in which the fog hung so low off the water, Juneau was just a slight glimmer across the water. It also happened to be the day we were going to go whale watching. We got up, packed up, donned out rain coats, and made the trek to my aunt and uncle's boat waiting for us in the marina. The tide was out so we had to make sure we didn't trip and break our necks coming down the steep ramp to the boat. 

John was so excited to learn about boats that he ran around following my aunt and uncle and constantly asking them if they needed help because he wanted to do it so badly. It was fun. I think I see a boat in our future....

The rain really made for a beautiful day. 

Drawing out of the marina, we spotted a couple of bald eagles just sitting on the corner we pulled around. I know that in Alaska they are considered pests, but I still thought it was so cool to see the bird of our country just sitting there, watching us pull into the ocean. 

The cabin of the boat was cozy as we sped along the water around the island. We passed a little island called Skull Island that peaked the interest of the Goonie inside me. We didn't get close enough to explore so my aunt regaled me with tales of her camping with some friends on a nearby island and how wildfires get started in Alaska. Apparently many of the wild fires in Alaska are caused by people who don't put out their camping fires correctly. The loam on the ground is so thick that the embers and continue to burn under the leaves and plans causing a fire that doesn't show itself until hours or days later. 

At one point my Uncle put John and I in charge of driving the boat...which may or may not have been the best idea. 

Once we got to the other tip of Douglas Island we followed some whale watching boats around until we saw whales. We never saw one breach, but it was fun sitting on the upper deck and waiting with baited breath for another viewing. We saw one orca, a pod of dolphins, and a pod of humpback whales. After a quite a few fuzzy pictures we decided to put our cameras away and just enjoy watching these HUGE and gentle creatures swimming around us.

However, I did get a few pictures before I put my camera away.

My brother chilling out on the prow
while looking for more whales. 

Alaska: Just North of Normal (Day 1)

As you may or may not have heard, my wonders parents brought me to Alaska as a graduation present. Let me be the first to inform you that Alaska really is breath taking. I also want to inform you that this post is going to be one of many. Trying to condense a week's worth of adventures into one post doesn't lend to brevity.

We took Alaskan Airlines up to Seattle, and the flight was gorgeous. One of my favorite views from the flight was the glimpse I got of Mt. Rainier as we were circling to descend to the Seattle airport.

Beautiful full moon over the Seattle clouds

On a fun side note, I've done a lot of research about Mt. Rainier. In my last semester of college I directed a scene called Precipice that takes place on the side of Mt Rainier. If you're interested to see my actors perform the final product for the professor, just click the link here. Anyway, back to the adventure!


Even in the summer, Alaska is often over cast and rainy. This made for an almost theatrical reveal when descending through the clouds to see the mountainous terrain on which Juneau was built. The only flat land in this area was caused by mine trailings from the Alaskan Gold Rush. The mountains sink into the sea like a graceful trailing dress. The small plane flew down to Juneau through the crux of a valley. As it turns out the sun was setting at this time, casting all of the low hanging clouds in a pink glow through the deep green of the enclosing mountains.

The next morning I got to see the full splendor from my aunt and uncles deck. They live on the island directly across from Juneau called Douglas Island. Their cozy condo has a deck with a full view of downtown Juneau and the Juneau harbor. We could watch the cruise ships come in and out all day long. 

Not long after waking up, a group of us decided to go get waffles from a local shop called Gonzos. It makes delicious specialty waffles that rivals anything I have ever eaten. Let's just say, I would happily go to back to Juneau just to taste these waffles again. 

The waffle has lemon custard,
salmon berries, mint, and graham
crackers. It was delicious! 

After we went out for waffles, some of us thought Sandy Beach was the perfect way to start out our adventures in Juneau. My mom, my aunt, my boyfriend, and I put on some rubber shoes and hoodies then made our way to the beach hoping to find sea glass or other treasures. As we were walking down the beach, picking up every rock, sifting through barnacles, and generally having a good time I looked up and saw this cute little building sticking out of the high tide. I took so many pictures because Alaska is like that annoying friend who looks beautiful no matter how off guard they are when you snap the picture. 

 

As it turns out that little building is a pump house for Prosperity Mine. Either Alaska likes how it looks or they just don't care about having mine junk all over the beach. It does make it kind of cool, but it also tints all the water a slightly orange/brown. There was old mine tools all over the beach and tucked in the forest just up the hill. 

Just inside the forest off the beach, we followed a trail back to the car passing by old mine building on the way. The soaring trees and the old buildings tucked under the low lying plans made me feel like I was in an adventure movie. I climbed around an old admin building as well as the mill used for the mine. After going home we all decided napping was the best idea and spent the rest of the day periodically walking onto the balcony, sighing, and then going back to bed to nap. 

It was a fun filled first day, but I was very excited to explore more in Juneau.