And days and days and days.
I am a girl who tends to like consistency. I prefer stability and routine to my schedule. So while I’m always down for a little adventure… it usually takes me a few days to readjust once I return to the real world.
Which is where I am now. Adjusting.
I’ve got a lot of pictures from my time spent out in the Alaskan bush, but because I was out there for work – I’m a little hesitant to share too much here about the villages I was visiting. Suffice it to say; it was an experience. One unlike anything else I’ve ever done in my life. And it looks like I’ll be having at least a few more trips like this as the summer progresses. One can only hope that I become more accustomed to being so remote as time goes on. As it stands; I have to admit that I spent my days more than a little fearful that I would somehow hurt myself out there (which let’s face it – wouldn’t exactly be a rare event) and that no one would be able to get me proper medical attention before it was too late.
Before I died.
Because yes – my brain really does work like that.
I do have to say though, some of what I saw out there was just breathtakingly beautiful. I don’t know what I was expecting as I went off on this little adventure of mine, but views like this definitely had me in awe:
When I got back in town, I immediately ran home and jumped into the shower (because it’s fair to say that I was pretty rank by that point), and then went off to meet the boy. We spent Friday night around the campfire at his house with some friends, and then Saturday we threw some bags together and hiked down into a local canyon to camp out by the creek at the bottom.
There is something you should know about me – I haven’t slept in a tent in a very (very) long time.
I remember doing things like this when I was a kid. And then there was the time when I was 15 and my best friend and I snuck out to go camping with our then 18 year old boyfriends (yes we got caught, and yes, I’m pretty sure I’m still grounded). And I think there may have been one trip when I was 18 where we went just outside of town and got so drunk on jagermeister that I’m pretty sure I threw up on myself (meaning – sleeping in a sleeping bag was the least of my worries). But that was it. Anytime I’ve ever gone camping in my life since then – I’ve been in a cabin.
So this really was quite the adventure for me.
Quite the adventure that I clearly wasn’t prepared for – as evidenced by the muddy tennis shoes I left you all with last night.
The sad thing is, good boots were the one thing gear wise that I actually had. I was just a dummy who didn’t think twice about grabbing them out of the car until we were already half-way down the muddy canyon.
Which was really only the beginning. My feet were soaked through by the time we got to the bottom, and I was immediately freezing. Sure, things around Alaska are warming up slowly but surely. But…
There are still plenty of leftover reminders of winter.
And as much as everything is trying to green up:
We just aren't quite there yet.
Thankfully, I did remember to bring extra socks. And once the boys started up the fire, I stripped off my shoes and set them up near the flames to dry while I propped my stocking feet as near to the heat as possible.
Of course, good shoes weren’t the only thing I forgot to pack. It had been 60+ degrees in town when we had taken off, so I only thought to bring a sweatshirt with me. No jacket at all.
Luckily, the boy had an extra he let me borrow. And a hat too. So the good news is – I didn’t freeze to death.
I just sat there shivering by the fire feeling like an idiot.
When we woke up in the morning (after a night spent so far cocooned inside my sleeping bag I'm not sure I realized there was a world outside of it), I turned to the boy and said only “I suck at this camping thing.”
At least he laughed. So I’m pretty sure my being a complete and total novice didn’t push him too far over the edge.
I did have to listen to everyone telling me several times that I’m going to be needing to take a trip to the local sporting goods store ASAP to get myself some acceptable gear though.
Fair enough.
I think.
The truth is, had I not been freezing the entire time – I would have had a blast. So new gear probably is the way to go, because I do have to admit that I enjoyed everything else about camping.
Besides – I managed to get some pretty fantastic pictures of this state I love while we were out there.
Hiking out of the canyon was quick (15-20 minutes tops), but it was definitely a workout. A little more steep than I had remembered it being on the way in. Between all the mud, my tennis shoes that refused to grip, and the pack on my back – I was a sight to be seen. And while I swore up and down last night that I wasn’t sore, in all honesty – I could barely get in and out of my chair at work today.
Which I think sadly means that I may not be in as great of shape as I would like to believe I am.
But hey – I’ve still got the entire summer to get myself where I want to be.
And I fully intend to take advantage of every ounce of sunshine we get.
I’ll be a full fledged Alaskan girl before you know it.
After all – I’ve been here 3 years now. It’s time to embrace every single adventure this state has to offer.
Even if it means a few nights sleeping somewhere other than in my comfy bed.
