Sarah V

Alaska Is

            The amazing splendor of snowcapped mountains, the warming sun rising low in the sky, the midnight moon rising low in the sky, the midnight moon rising over the homer spit, the cold blue of slowly receding glaciers, the lush green forests with wild flowers and trails that lead everywhere and nowhere….
Alaska is
            The plethora of wildlife, from the lowly annoying mosquito, to the silent, secretive lynx, the elusive wolf, the magnificent moose, to the otters, seals, sea lions, and great whales of the water world.
Alaska is
            Midnight sun festivals and races, farmer’s markets, the people of Alaska who love their land and traditions and are proud of them, and who are happy to share their history and art forms, the people who share their churches and camping meadows with us.
Alaska is
            Mr. Dale Rosene, Ishtar to most, without whom hundreds of young people would know nothing of this great wild place. Steve Washburn, the right-hand man, steady, kind to all, the man with all the answers, who brings up to the rear making sure no one is left behind. The van drivers, the junior leaders, and last but certainly not least the 8th grade students, experiencing something that very few people do.
Alaska is
            Way too much to put into a few words. It’s huge, wild and wonderful.  

Final Reflections

            There is as much to look back upon and remember, that it’s impossible to put it in a few words, and to pick one favorite thing. So here are a few of them.
            Mountain climbing, moose watching, and glaciers, glittering blue in the cold wind. Organizing food, rain and wind in Homer, more bald eagles than you can count. Huge pods of wild off-shore orcas, a frolicking young humpback whale, shy, elusive rafts of adorable sea otters. These are a few of my favorite things.
            Ed the tooth carver, jack the halibut boat captain, mossy the owner of extraordinary Seaside Farms, Ishtar and Steve, these are a few of my favorite things too.  A special thank you to Steve and Sam and the members of the eagle van for making otters feel welcome and part of the eagle clan.
            The most valuable thing I take away from this trip are the friends I’ve made, not an easy thing for me to do. Now, when I see Dale or Steve, or any of the drivers, or participants, I will be happy to see them and remember this time together and ill give them a big hug.