I'm leaving on a jet plane! Hello Utah!!

Well the time has come....and it can't come soon enough haha.  I was looking through all of the pictures that I have taken this summer and I decided that it is a gross misrepresentation of how it's actually been.  I hardly have any pictures of the rain.  I guess that I only liked to take pictures of the sunny days, which happen only about 1/4 of the time.  For example, it has been 10 days since I've seen the sun and it has been POURING rain.

Looking through my pictures has made me very grateful for the experiences that I've had in these past 4 months.  Being here has truly been a blessing and I've learned a lot about myself.  I've learned that it is possible to live without a cell phone, without a car, and without a grocery store.  I've learned that even though I strongly dislike animals, whales and porcupines are pretty cool.  I've learned that I really must have a testimony of the Church if I'm willing to bike 20 miles in the rain to get there every Sunday.  I've learned that it's more important to be with those I love than to be off having adventures by myself.

I can't wait to see everybody when I get home in 2 days!  Give me a call :)  Here are a few last pictures (sunny ones) to remind me of the good times here in Glacier Bay.

I'm turning into an Alaskan!

Fun at the tide pools

Eating a whole crab for my birthday dinner with Jen

In nursery with my favorite little guy

Sunset from my office

CUTE porcupine climbing a tree

Greetings from Gustavus

So I realize that I've been a slacker and I think it's just the result of the mid-season grind.  It happens every time!  I've been here long enough that things aren't as new and exciting as they once were and life becomes a little more normal.  Work has been great and I'm still really enjoying my job.  The weather is still cold and rainy most of the time (when's summer going to get here?!) and so I find myself spending a lot of time indoors.  That is weird for me but the rain is putting me into a little bit of seasonal depression haha.  Oh Utah how I love you.

I've had some neat experiences during these past few weeks though and I continue to be grateful for the opportunity that I've had to be here.  On the 17th of last month I got the opportunity to ride along with the US Coast Guard on one of their cutters.  It was AWESOME!  I was a little out-numbered guys to girls but it was fun to see how they live and work on the ship and we had a great day out on the water.

Some of the Coasties.  They were having an "ugly mustache" contest that week haha

On the 22nd my boyfriend John came to visit!  That was definitely the highlight of the summer and we had SO MUCH FUN!!  We got to do everything fun and the weather for the most part was pretty cooperative.  We got to fish, hike, spend a day on a boat seeing the glaciers, kayak, eat applesauce and pudding, swim, whale watch, etc. etc.  Lots of adventures were had!  He took most of the pictures because he has a nicer camera.

Kayaking with the humpback whales

Transporting one of the kayaks

Swimming in Glacier Bay....crazy cold water!

I did it too :)

After the cold plunge...freezing and ready to run home to get warm

Just a couple of days ago I was able to go out on the patrol boat with my favorite law enforcement rangers.  We were able to go out along the outer coast of Glacier Bay and it was absolutely beautiful!!  Dundas Bay is probably the most beautiful place I've been this summer.  After we saw the bay, we had a great time riding the HUGE ocean wave swells, bouncing up and down like we were on a Disneyland ride.  It was a great day at work.

A foggy day at Dundas Bay

Well, the clock is ticking and my time in Alaska is coming to a close.  I fly home on the 25th of this month and will be going right back to school on the 29th.  I can't wait to see every body!!

The Perfect Day

Can I just say that today was AMAZING?!?!  The sun was out and it was probably around 70 degrees...yes!  Sarah and I went out on a Park Service boat this morning to watch the rangers board the cruise ship.  We were a tiny boat right up next to that huge ship and it was really cool to be so close.  We got to ride on the top of the boat (I can't remember what it's called but it reminded me of a crow's nest kind of) and we watched at least 10 different humpback whales.

Later we went kayaking up into the Beardslee Islands.  It was so serene and peaceful.  We had the Beartrack Mountains behind us and the snowy Fairweather Mountains in front of us.  On the way back into Bartlett Cove the wind had picked up and we got to navigate through some whitewater...which was awesome by the way...and got lots of sun and horsefly bites :)

After that we went hiking out to my favorite spot along the beach.  We wandered for several hours, constantly stopping to watch the whales near the shore that were jumping and feeding.  I tried to get some good pictures but I was never fast enough so I gave up and decided to put my camera away so that I wasn't watching all the action through a camera lense.

The splash after the whale jumped

Two of my friends came to church with me yesterday which was great and I'm just really having a fun time being a member missionary.  Despite the fact that I am a little anxious to get back to Utah, I must say that I am very grateful to be where I am and to be given so many wonderful opportunities.   I am happy to be in Glacier Bay!!

Photo Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

Wildflowers

Another week come and gone...I can't believe it.  I went hiking this weekend by myself.  I've never been one to go alone, but lately I feel like it has been very much needed to have my own time to think and reflect.  I hiked along the beach to my favorite spot where the Bay opens up to the Icy Strait and you can see for miles and miles on a clear day.  I like to sit there and watch the whales and listen to the eagles while my hair blows in the wind and there isn't anyone around to distract me.

I've been thinking about something this past week, mostly because of a conversation that I had with Kelly.  Up here in Alaska, these last couple of days have been "invasive plant (weed) awareness days" and every morning I get an email that has a picture of a weed that is not supposed to be growing in the area.  What I've noticed is that these plants are mostly beautiful wildflowers that apparently are okay to get rid of.  My question is - who gets to decide what is a weed?  Who has the right to put a label on something and to determine what is okay and what is not?  If I had it my way, my whole backyard would be full of wildflowers!  Even if they are "weeds", that would make me a very happy girl.

My thoughts didn't just dwell on weeds and flowers, but this attitude of labeling and making judgements is so prevalent and I'm just a little sick of it.  I have been having a rough time lately because of various labels that have been placed on me since I got here.  We all seem to have in our minds this preconceived idea of what is good and what is not and it can be so destructive.  We are all special and beautiful to our maker.  We all have the ability to bless and to uplift.  We all have something to offer and we were all created to be different.  I was walking through a field of wildflowers today and I was just thinking to myself "you may not belong but you have the ability to bring beauty and happiness to an otherwise dreary world."  If I had to be a plant, I would choose to be a wildflower!

I would not make a very good mermaid...

This past week I was able to spend a day kayaking by myself.  I think I definitely prefer having my feet on dry land.  By the end of the day I was "ready to walk, ready to run, ready to play all day in the sun!  Out of the sea, wish I could be."  Just to quote one of my favorite childhood movies....

It was amazing to see and experience something completely new to me.  I'm really not too familiar or comfortable with life in the ocean and to be experiencing it on my own, by myself was very rewarding.  I started out early in the morning when the water was completely glassy.  As I was paddling, I could hear breathing behind me, so I turned around and realized that I was being followed by a seal.  Curious little creatures.  In the distance I could hear noises so I stopped and looked real close at the other side of the bay.  I could see fins coming up and out of the water.  I was hesitant to continue moving in that direction, but that was the way I needed to go and so I kept paddling.  Before long I was in the middle of the ocean with many black fins around me as the harbor porpoises came up to breathe.  Then they started to jump.  Then I started to freak out a little bit because they were within a few feet of my kayak.  At one point I looked down to see one swimming underneath me.  Yep, not okay with me.  They followed me the rest of the day and I must say, I never got used to having them around.  Everytime they'd come up to breathe, I'd jump a little bit in my seat.

Overall it was magical though.  Words can't really describe how peaceful and serene it was to be that close to the underwater world.  Hopefully next time I won't be so cowardly!

Kayaking Glacier Bay

I liked them from this distance and wish they would have stayed right there!

Search and Rescue

Well, I got to participate in the first Search and Rescue of the season this past week.  It was awesome actually because nobody got hurt and we found the people we were looking for....definitely the best outcome.  I was given a radio and some bear spray and I was asked to do the dirtiest job, which I have to admit I was SO excited about.  I got to hike up the river, cross it several times at the low tide, go through nasty smelling sinking mud, sand, and bushwhack through heavy brush.  It was a gorgeous day I was in heaven!  Did I mention we found the people?....I was looking for them as well when I wasn't getting distracted by the scenery and taking self-timed pictures of myself :)

Things here are starting to green-up.  If you look closely you can even see the lupines.

The ocean is very respected by South-east Alaskans.  It is it's own entity, it's own force.  Here they don't try to control it or wish it behaved differently.  They just embrace the fact that it will do what it wants and that it is a force that cannot be tamed.  When you try to go against the natural way, you get into trouble (which is what happened to the people we were searching for).  The water and tides change for no man and I'm starting to learn and experience the real meaning of wilderness.  In a world where people strive to have control and dominion of all things, its nice to know that there are still things that we absolutely cannot restrict or contain, as hard as we may try.  We get to leave that to God.  It's a great feeling to be so small and to recognize that we are not all powerful like we think we are.  He is still completely in control and we just get to enjoy it!

These boots are made for walkin'

This summer, I've traded in my chacos for rubber boots.  Everyone in Southeast Alaska wears these big brown boots called X-tra tufs and I've decided to try them out.  You can't be considered an Alaskan if you don't own a pair of these!  They do come in handy when I go tide-pooling or fishing but boy oh boy they are BAD for hiking in.  Example....Sarah and I went on a 25 mile hike in X-tra tufs and I ended up in a knee brace and she is on crutches.  They were nice to have while we were hiking along the beach and falling into sinkholes, but now I know that I will NEVER hike in them again.

My X-tra tufs

The hike was beautiful though and the day was perfect.  We started at Bartlett Cove and followed the beach the whole way, walking over rocks and sinking into the mud.  When we got to Point Gustavus we could see up into Glacier Bay from one direction and the whole Icy Strait from the other.  We concluded that this would be the perfect place for pirates to hang out and stash their booty.

The desolate sandy beach covered in seashells

Me at Pt. Gustavus

We're trapped!!!

I've had some great missionary experiences this week as well.  Being somewhere beautiful definitely helps people feel God's love and reach out for something higher.  It's hard to be surrounded by His creations and not yearn for something more.  I've been able to share my testimony with a few close friends that are looking for guidance and direction.  I'm so grateful for the peace and the love I feel everyday and I'm happy to share it with everyone I meet!

Glacier Bay at it's finest!

I've noticed that when I write in my journal, the most exciting times in my life never really get written about.  That is a shame, because those are the times that I want to remember the most.  I guess it's good to be out having adventures and creating memories though!  This week has been a wonderful week and I've been able to do a couple of things that I've never done before.  I love adding new skills to my list!

So, first off....as part of my training last week they took us on a sightseeing trip through Glacier Bay for a couple of days.  The weather was amazing (still cold, but blue skies) and we just got to cruise through virtually untouched wilderness.  I spent the night in a tent on Russell Island in the West Arm of Glacier Bay and saw two HUGE brown bears right by where I was camping.  We saw whales, porpoises, mountain goats, eagles, land otters, seal lions, seals, and moose.  I got to row to shore and stand right up next to a big blue tidewater glacier.

East Arm - McBride Glacier and icebergs

Blue glacier ice

Drinking (or trying to) the glacier run-off

West Arm of Glacier Bay

Next adventure.... last Friday I had my cold-water kayak training and it was INSANE.  For the whole day we got in our kayaks, rolled ourselves into the water, and practiced different ways to get back into our kayaks.  I was freezing (to say the least) but it was awesome.  Just so everybody knows, I would be happy to go kayaking with you and I would be able to save you if necessary.  It was so much fun!

And for my last adventure this week, I was very blessed to go halibut fishing for a day.  My friend Sarah and her dad are way into fishing and so we all went and it was an experience that I will remember forever.  I was a little nervous haha but found that I'm actually quite a natural :)  I have never seen such a big fish in my entire life!  We are allowed to keep two each and by the end of the day, I was looking at 140 lbs of halibut to fill up my freezer.  Sarah's dad said that he has never seen someone get so excited about a fish!  We caught the fish, gutted the fish, cut up the fillets, vacuum packed them, and froze them.  We left some out and had a big fish fry that night with a bunch of friends.  I got to see the complete process of enjoying halibut and it was incredible.  My arms were so sore from reeling in a fish that weighed half as much as me and that was fighting for his life.  The blood and guts didn't freak me out too much....

Too heavy for me to lift

All in a days work....

Here comes the sun :)

The weather this week has been AWESOME but I've been told that it's very uncharacteristic of Southeast Alaska.   I sat outside today on a rock on the beach, listening to the seabirds and watching a land otter jump and swim around.  The mountains off in the distance are completely snow covered and look almost translucent in the sunshine.  I went camping the other day!  Yay summer has officially started.  This week we are taking the motor boats up the bay for a couple of days as part of our training and I'm giddy like a little schoolgirl.

I went on a hike a few days ago to a glacial lake and I want to say that it was beautiful...I suppose in its own way it was...but the terrain was so strange.  No elevation gain!  Just lots of roots and mossy rocks to jump over and water to trudge through.  It was a pretty long hike and one of the guys that was with us didn't think to bring any water.  In my mind, I'm thinking "what an idiot.  Everyone knows they should bring water."  It seems like common sense to me, but for someone who has never spent much time in the outdoors I guess he can be excused.  But that gets me to thinking....I'm pretty sure there are people here in Gustavus that think that I'm an idiot because I don't know anything about boating or tides or sea creatures or...fishing.  So I will try not to judge others because I am totally out of my element up here.

Friday we had Survival Suit training in the cove.  I was the clown in the big red suit and was the brunt of many jokes because the suit was at least a foot and a half too long for me.  I thought I would include pictures because they are funny.  It was so much fun being in the icy water and staying completely dry and warm.  I didn't weigh enough to bring me down into the water, so for the most part my suit was just full of air and I floated above the water way higher than anyone else.

Next week, expect pictures of the glaciers (finally!!!).

Sunset from my home - Bartlett Cove

Same sunset, entire Fairweather Range

My HUGE survival suit

Part of the survival suit training

By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea!!

I've been really busy this past month, but I am happy to announce that I am officially living in Alaska again!  Woohoo!!  And so begins another adventure.....

I am living and working up here in Glacier Bay National Park.  This is a marine-based park.  I am a mountain girl.  I have been completely overwhelmed with new information about tides, boats, whales, etc. so when I get back home I am going to be so smart :)  I have been introduced to a completely new ecosystem which I am thrilled to learn about.  I live right on the rocky shore and it is common to see little sea creatures and beautiful shells on my way to work.  I'm loving it!

I've got some fun excursions planned in these next few weeks, including a camping trip, a kayaking trip, and a boating trip further up in Glacier Bay.  I've already eaten large amounts of halibut and salmon (YES!!) and I know some people that are willing to take me out fishing with them on my days off.  It is cold, and I saw the sun for the first time yesterday since I got here.  It rains A LOT.  I've never seen so much rain in my life. 

My favorite thing about working for the Park Service is that I get to meet amazing people from all over the world, people that have had many more adventures than I have.  My supervisor is one such person.  He has done everything and has so many wonderful stories.  We were hiking the other day and I was asking him about where I should even start to learn all of these new things about the job and the area.  He gave me some great advice.  He said that the beauty of the park is in all of the small things, and as soon as I experience and learn about the things that are right at my feet, the big picture will start to make sense and I will begin to appreciate everything so much more.  That applies to my job, but it also applies to my life.  How easy it is to overlook the beauty of life that is right at our feet!

Here are some pictures.  If they don't load at first, try refreshing your browser, it sometimes is a little picky.

I got to see my Alaskan family....the Verhagens!

In front of the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau

I was the only passenger on a tiny plane over to Gustavus

The view from my my house in Glacier Bay!