When we moved our home-base from Antigua, Guatemala to Alaska in May, we thought that it would be a perfect time to have a blog about adventuring around the world and taking jobs as a couple that are outside our comfort zone helping us learn about the world. We quickly sorted out that we were working on a team that operated like a family with some of the most passionate and fun-loving travelers imaginable. We were so lucky that our Alaska family attracted equally incredible and fascinating guests from around the world, all interested in learning about the pristine wilderness.
About two months into working as guides in Alaska, we had hundreds of pictures of wildlife, from orcas to caribou, pages of notes on articles we wanted to write, tips we wanted to share and incredible stories about what playing in the wildland is like…but very little time or fast internet to get them out to share. Shoot. So we launched our little adventure travel blog in May 2015, then had to kick ourselves for five months for not being able to actually use it. Well, our summer adventure guiding in Alaska is over as is the delayed Alaskan storytelling–we’d like to jump back in the blogging saddle with a quick recap using our unedited phone pictures to start!
11 EXPERIENCES AND LIFE LESSONS FROM OUR SUMMER IN THE GREAT NORTH!
1. We looked into many prospects to make our riches in the rivers, but they didn’t really pan out. HA! Gold panning (or sluicing ) is not nearly as lucrative as hoped.
2. We had more moose and bear encounters than were really needed, learning that, yes, moose fight on two feet…or hooves.
3. To add to the list of many other nicknames, Adam earned the ability to be officially called El Capitan…or Senor Capitano…or Cappy…basically, he got his Captain’s License!
4. Christine landed on the West Buttress to make snow angels on the mountain. Obama quickly renamed it.
5. We started our education in Alaskan botany learning things like the sweet, sweet taste of old man’s beard (appropriately named!), appreciation for a special fungi named lichen (pretty fun!), how many petals of a monk’s hood are required to be eaten to be toxic and how to read the colorful native Alaskan calendar known as fireweed.
6. We attempted to master the art of quiet canoeing under a calving glacier in a lagoon filled with icebergs and hauled out harbor seal pups.
7. Adam began his professional raft guiding career in Class III rapids…almost crashing into a bear. Close one.
8. Adam learned that bear poo is as colorful as Christmas lights. And moose terds are one of Alaska’s most popular tourist souvenirs.
9. We determined that even Alaskan summers feel cold to us, as Christine was often found wearing four pairs of pants (four only because she doesn’t own five!).
10. We discovered the hard way that no matter how much you try, you can’t make the Northern Lights come out when you want to see them. And we tried. At 2 am. So many times!
11. Adam found out that cheap hip-waders are only a good idea if you buy one pair. Four pairs later, leaky cheap hip-waders were pretty spendy.
So, in conclusion, hope everyone had an amazing summer–we definitely did. Many stories to come, but they will also be intermingled with our current local: Bali! Yes, we’re in Bali for a few weeks, then off to Thailand, all in the search for adventure worldwide! Here we go!!!
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