a new year of life
perhaps it's not right to create traditions, but i've decided to start a birthday tradition of my own:
to begin each new year of my life by doing something (anything) that challenges me. and to invite anyone and everyone who would want to celebrate it with me.
i celebrated my 24th birthday (yesterday!) by hiking crow pass in a day with a friend of mine (who i absolutely adore for going with me)
if you're not familiar, crow pass is 26 miles from girdwood (a little further than the mines) to eagle river (the nature center). if you ever have a chance to do it, and aren't in a hurry, i suggest overnighting it so you can really appreciate the nature around you.
the first four miles is a nice climb up a mountain, another hour across snow (at least it's still snowy in june), beautiful glaciers, an ice cold river crossing (and several stream crossing), and bears.
a few highlights:
1) sledding down mountainsides on garbage bags (great time and energy saver)
2) wildlife!
3) getting a second wind at about mile 16 from a potential bear scare (we were chilling out at a creek ready to filter water when we realized here were chunks of carcass around us. decided to leave before the bear came back for the rest of its meal)
a few things i learned:
1) a 26 mile trek when you haven't done any physical activity for 6 months is doable, but perhaps not the smartest thing
2) alaska is perhaps one of the most beautiful places i have ever lived in
3) i never knew i could move so slowly up a mountain
4) lightweight gear is one of the greatest things in life, and if REI were a man, we would be so happy together
it was incredible. it took us 14 hours from start to finish and i've seriously busted up my right knee, but it was totally worth it.
now i'm thinking i have to do something really great for my quarter century birthday (25!) next year.
c.
to begin each new year of my life by doing something (anything) that challenges me. and to invite anyone and everyone who would want to celebrate it with me.
i celebrated my 24th birthday (yesterday!) by hiking crow pass in a day with a friend of mine (who i absolutely adore for going with me)
if you're not familiar, crow pass is 26 miles from girdwood (a little further than the mines) to eagle river (the nature center). if you ever have a chance to do it, and aren't in a hurry, i suggest overnighting it so you can really appreciate the nature around you.
the first four miles is a nice climb up a mountain, another hour across snow (at least it's still snowy in june), beautiful glaciers, an ice cold river crossing (and several stream crossing), and bears.
a few highlights:
1) sledding down mountainsides on garbage bags (great time and energy saver)
2) wildlife!
3) getting a second wind at about mile 16 from a potential bear scare (we were chilling out at a creek ready to filter water when we realized here were chunks of carcass around us. decided to leave before the bear came back for the rest of its meal)
a few things i learned:
1) a 26 mile trek when you haven't done any physical activity for 6 months is doable, but perhaps not the smartest thing
2) alaska is perhaps one of the most beautiful places i have ever lived in
3) i never knew i could move so slowly up a mountain
4) lightweight gear is one of the greatest things in life, and if REI were a man, we would be so happy together
it was incredible. it took us 14 hours from start to finish and i've seriously busted up my right knee, but it was totally worth it.
now i'm thinking i have to do something really great for my quarter century birthday (25!) next year.
c.
posted by le rawr at 5:22 PM
2 Comments:
oh that sounds like fun. let me say though that that trail in the dark and in constant rain forver is horrible. i attempted it and it was not good. also, it was my first time hitchiking!
i'm glad you had a wonderful bday carrie!
Wow, happy birthday indeed! That sounds like an awesome trek through nature. Did you take pictures at all? If so, you ought to post 'em. ;)
Oh yes, how was the wedding? ^^
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