Talkeetna Treasures...

We are about halfway through our Talkeetna hike, and today Jane and I were Leaders of the Day. I have gotten more and more confident in my abilities each time I have done it, and now it feels really good to be able to recognize that I have grown a lot. I feel that now I can easily see the best place to cross a river, when the group needs a break, how to pick a good campsite, and even what the lines on the map mean. And I truly love being out here. Today, as I hiked in the back, I kept thinking about how small a being I am in this vast, vast land. How each of us is so different, but here we all are, sharing and working together in order to live together out here in nature. I can't help but think how great it is to have things so simple. We carry whatever we need on our backs. We cook our own meals. There are no distractions from the urban world. Our conversations are real. When we leave a campsite, we leave nothing behind, no sign of our stay. I think being out here has allowed me to reconsider my priorities, and now I have a clear sense of what in life is important to me. I have no doubt that the rest of the group feels the same way.
-Brady

Breaking Glass?...

Yesterday as we kayaked, we watched two eagles fight over a fish. I heard someone once say that the call of an eagle sounds like beautiful glass breaking, and it really does. When we got to camp, we talked about the eagles trying to take the fish, and we got into a long talk about the ecosystem of Prince William Sound. We were talking about all the wildlife we've seen - seals, sea lions, eagles, loons, a bear, Orca whales, and how they have been affected by the presence of humans. We all stayed up talking, late into the night. It was one of the best discussions I've ever had. It was so interesting to hear what perspectives people brought to the circle and it made me think a lot about my own perceptions.
-Kaile

Silent Chefs...

Hiking during the day here in Grizz Country means that we make a lot of noise. All day long we are talking, picking the best routes, making up bear calls, and laughing. For dinner tonight, we decided to prepare our meal, chicken curry, in complete silence. It was amazing (and not just because I love curry!). Communication is difficult when you have to gesture all of the time, when you are not able to express specifically what you want, and something like a meal can easily go wrong if the cooks are not all working as a team. Even the simplest tasks, such as when to add the garlic or how long until the rice is ready, become increasingly difficult as silent chefs angle for elbow room. It was a great exercise in listening without the benefit of being able to hear. Since we have grown so close over this trip, though, we could understand each other pretty well, though there was a whole lot of laughter that reduced us a number of times to complete and total unproductivity.
-Charlie

Layover Couscous...

The best part about a layover day when kayaking is the food. It felt like we spent all day cooking. It was pretty experimental. Tony, Luke, and Jed spent most of the morning making cinnamon rolls, so we had a nice brunch. Rebecca tried to make some chips out of the extra tortillas, but they came out still limp and coated with butter. Still, it tasted fine with the hummus she managed to make. The afternoon saw us doing a nice day paddle, in and out of some small coves not too far away. When we got out to explore a nearby stream, we saw bear tracks from a mama and baby bear. The paw print was as big as my head. Kind of puts you in your place in the scheme of things, you know? Back at camp, we spent a lot of time journaling. We ate seaweed (well, some of us did!) for the first time. Not my favorite, but now that I have had bull kelp, I feel like a true gourmet. Dinner was a fantastic couscous meal, and Kerry and Cassandra made a rice pudding dessert. There's something so peaceful about being out here, where nothing matters other than how everyone is feeling today. I can't imagine a more beautiful day.
-Sally