Tyler and Emily in PNG

So what have we been doing for the past two weeks?

Two weeks ago, we had a road trip to interior Alaska for our attempt to see Mt. McKinley. Emily and I set out for a mid-week adventure 500 miles north to Denali National Park. Denali NP is home to North America’s tallest mountain at 20,300 feet. However, it is noted that the mountain shows its face 10 out of 30 days in an average month. The mountain is so great and so high that it actually makes its own weather. As we drove north that Wednesday we were able to catch a glimpse of the bottom half of the mountain but not the peak. The next two days were worse, with lots of big gray clouds. We camped two nights 75 miles south of the park and drove to the park entrance on Thursday for a day trip. We visited the park visitor center as well as a short hike for lunch at Horseshoe Lake.

We drove 14 miles on the park road before being stopped because private vehicles are not allowed past mile 14. If you want to go into the park further up to 80 more miles, you have to purchase a ticket to ride one of the park buses. However on the short 14 mile stretch, we did see a bull moose in the bush not to far off the road and a Caribou in the rocky Savage River stream.

On the way home, we stopped to get some fuel at $4.53/gal and a round of firewood. The mosquitoes were bad so a nice campfire was the ticket to chase them away. We enjoyed a nice campfire that night before crawling into our tent.

Last week, summer showed its face in Seward. For three miraculous days the sun was shiny bright and the sky was blue with no clouds. Temperature rose to upper 60s. A hot summer day so face this year in Seward. So last Wednesday, Emily and I set forth on a mountain climb to summit Mt. Marathon (3022 feet) here in Seward. It might not sound too difficult but when you start at sea level (0 feet), climbing 3000 feet is no small task.

The climb starts 45-50 degrees right from the start. Within 5 steps your heart rate doubles and you start to think the big breakfast you had was not a good idea. It didn’t take long before we were crossing snow patches from last years record snowfall. (Seward received over 200 inches of snow last winter.) We made it above tree line and turned around to see beautiful Resurrection Bay and the small harbor town of Seward below.

Once we climbed to the ridge, Emily asked, ‘where is the top?’ I said, ‘well you can’t see it from here but we have to go up along the ridge.’ I figured we were about half way there in elevation so the last hard push was ahead of us.

We finally made it to the top and had congratulatory high-fives along with an energy bar. We sat quietly to enjoy the majestic viewpoint that has made Seward famous.

Looking east to west from the summit of Mt Marathon (3022’). The town of Seward nestled on the Resurrection Bay.

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Our first full week in Alaska is over. We endured the huge 4th of July Mount Marathon race in Seward and lots of cloudy, rainy weather. I don’t think we saw the sun all week but finally yesterday, it poked through for a brief time before the sprinkles came back.

On the 4th, Emily and I journeyed to the bottom of the mountain to watch the women’s race come down the chute. At the base of the bottom is a very dangerous place and on the 4th this year it was wet, damp, and slippery due to the drizzling conditions. Following the that race we went to the finish line and walked the streets among the thousands of others who came to Seward. An estimated 30,000 people come to Seward for the 4th and to watch the race. This year was a lower turnout due to midweek celebration and wet/rainy conditions. I still got my bag of kettle corn and enjoyed it.

By the time Friday rolled around I was getting stir crazy and had to get outside for some physical exercise. There are endless activities in Seward even when it is not so good weather. Emily and I drove to a popular hike, Primrose Trail. The trail traverses 15 miles in total from Primrose to Lost Lake trailhead but we just hiked 4 miles round-trip. We hiked to Porcupine Falls overlook and had a snack as we enjoyed the peace and solitude of the Alaskan wilderness. I forgot how bad the mosquitos could be as they swarmed our heads and bodies but eventually hiked out of their attack soon. The next day I was prompted to buy mosquitos head nets and Deet.

Saturday I still had the bug (no pun intended) for more hiking. Emily and I enjoyed coffee and breakfast before packing a lunch/snack for our day hike. We went to another favorite hike of mine, Ptarmigan Lake. This trail is about 6.5 miles round-trip, half way at the turn around, you come to Ptarmigan Lake. A beautiful lake sandwiched between snow-capped mountains. Of course a light pity-patter of rain on the lake surface ascents the day. It was this hike 4 years ago that God spoke to me.

As I hiked to this exact location with very similar weather conditions, I sat on probably the same log and asked God, I want to hear you, I am listening please speak to me. As I opened the Bible that I brought alone with me that day, this is the passage God led me to:

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3

That ‘perfect peace’ was what God showed to me in Alaska. I had peace in the wonderful, majestic Creation that was Alaska. The short time I lived in Alaska, God continue to speak to my heart to find rest and peace in Him. As my soul searched for purpose and calling, I was led to full-time service in the Lord as a servant missionary.

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As I read the news and hear the stories of the extreme heat in the lower 48, I am glad to arrived in cooler Alaska. Emily and I left on Saturday and arrived into Anchorage just past noon from our flight from Seattle. We were greeted with partly cloudy skies and 61 degrees. Very pleasant Alaskan summer day. Sunday and Monday have been cooler and cloudy with temps in the mid 50s.

Saturday evening my aunt and uncle fixed a great Alaskan meal with salmon as the top course. Add sweet corn, pork chops, Greek salad, and some Colombian salsa, it was a very tasty meal to welcome us back to Alaska. Then Sunday night, we again had a great dinner with some church friends featuring grilled salmon and pork ribs. It has been very nice to be welcomed back with great food and fellowship.

I hear rumors that the salmon are finally returning to Seward to the Resurrection River. They are about 6 weeks later than normal but they are trickling in. Yesterday I opened my utility trailer to be pleasantly surprised that my stuff was still in great condition. I found most of my camping gear and fishing gear. Only missing item, my sleeping bag. Hopefully later today I might dawn my waiters and go snagging for those Seward salmon that I once knew.

I still have not got to my other stuff including clothes that were in my cousins basement for storage. If you remember in January he had a fire in his basement, he said he was able to salvage some of my stuff but I have yet to go through it yet. He moved his stuff plus mine into a storage unit in town. He has misplaced the key to the lock so I am hoping and praying he will find that soon.

Emily and I will be adjusting to Alaska in the next few days and perhaps enjoying a hike or two before the big festival held in Seward on the 4th of July. Seward will swell from 3000 to over 30,000 people on the 4th as they come to watch the Mt Marathon Race. I will be use to enjoy some kettle corn, watch the race and of course the parade.

Be on the look out for our first combined newsletter to be hitting our inbox soon.

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