Where are my bloomers?

Alaska has been like stepping back in time. Saturday when I arrived in Anchorage I was greeted by a very friendly Meena-- who promptly took me to REI to get a better rainshell. I ate clams that night and went running on a trail that took me to the ocean and a huge moose was eating right next to me! I've already seen a grizzly and three black bear. Skagway is the most adorable and beautiful little town. Everything I can walk to in minutes. Then houses are all different colors and the store fronts like something straight out of the 1800s. THe mountains tower over the little valley and the cruise ships just dwarf the place.

from Red Rocks to White Glaciers

I recently read The Alchemist. I feel like Santiago in search of my personal legend. It's true that when we want something bad enough the Universe conspires in our favor to help us achieve it. I suppose I wanted to go to Alaska quite a bit b/c things just sort of fell into place with relatively little effort on my part.

I quit my rafting job yesterday after training ended. It was a bit bittersweet. I loved turning south toward Moab instead of North to Provo. It felt more like my home and I liked belonging there. I loved the red rocks and I grew to love the Colorado River. . . but I am SOOO excited to fly out tomorrow morning and explore the Alaskan wilderness. I got a job as a park ranger in the National Park in Skagway. Brian is there. Convenient, ey?

Dang Gina

I live in Moab, Ut. The past two weeks have been rather intense--but that is the way I like it. The week before last we spent almost entirely on the river. Westwater we ran 4 times. It's a burly section of the Colorado and probably the biggest rapids I've ever run in my life-- and I got to row almost the entire whitewater section. The water was so strong it would pull me completely off my seat when I was fighting to pull back. When we got back to the warehouse, we de-rigged and re-rigged, took off for Desolation canyon (a 90 mile section). I paddled nearly the entire thing in a ducky, but ended up with tendonitis and an inflamed wrist. Luckily we only did the daily section here in Moab Mon & Tues. We are leaving today after church for Cataract Canyon for the next two days. I'm excited to be behind the oars again. Life on the river is wonderful.

Friday night after Wilderness First Aid training was finally done, Jess and I took off for the San Rafael Swell where we met up with Derek and a few others from BYU to do a canyon Sat morning, then we hiked around Goblin Valley, hiked another canyon (no rapels) called wild horse, then ended up swimming in green river, cooking dinner and playing guitar under the stars and warm breeze.

I miss my family today. A lot. To the point that I want to pack up and leave this adventure behind-- so I can see Lindsey and mom, dad, Catherine, Sarah, Emily, Kevin (and ryan if he ever comes out again) and make oatmeal cookies and play Catan.