Last Wednesday was a blue sky day in Seward. When this happens I try to seize the opportunity to enjoy it to the fullest. Emily and I set out for another great hike along the Harding Icefield trail. The hike started at 500′ and went up to 2500′ which I stopped to enjoy a spectacular view at the cliffs overlook.
Archive for August, 2012
Seeing Through the Mist
Posted in Alaska, Newsletters on August 27, 2012| 2 Comments »
This week I am re-posting what Emily wrote for our branch website, pbtpng.org. As I am responsible for administering the branch website, I ask every missionary to write a short article once every three or four months. This week it was our week to write an article. Here is what Emily wrote:
Seeing Through the Mist
During the two months we lived in Alaska, I experienced a few frustrations with the weather. If you have ever been to Alaska you know that many days there is a fog or mist present. On those days the mountains are covered and your line of sight isn’t very far. It’s frustrating to not be able to see the glory of the mountains or the big blue sky when the midst or fog is present. But of course this is written by as someone who grew up in the BIG SKY state and gets homesick when she can’t see the skies for miles.
On those frustrating misty days in Alaska, I was reminded of many frustrating, impatient days I have had in my past with God because He was only showing me so much of the path ahead of me. I like a plan. If I had it my way I would have a plan for the next five years at least. I don’t like not seeing what is on the path ahead and I want it clear. I laugh as I write this because I believe God chose the year 2012 to be a misty, foggy year for me and is breaking me of strong desire to always have my plan. As we approach the month of September, I reflect on the first eight months of this year and realize God has only shown me a little part of this year’s pathway at a time. But I couldn’t have planned the events of the past eight months better. I say this recognizing how much I felt like kicking and screaming and not surrendering myself to dependence on the Father. These instances are yet another reminder of how great it is to have God’s promises in my language, that I may find rest and confidence in Him.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11
As Emily and I mesh our two lives together into one, I will be asking her to write more frequently for our blog.
Alaskan Kayaking Ending…For Now
Posted in Alaska, Newsletters on August 20, 2012| 1 Comment »
As I have been making preparations for leaving Alaska and eventually going back to Papua New Guinea I have come to realization that it is time to sell my possessions. One of my prized Alaskan possessions is my Necky Looksha 17′ seakayak named ‘Lizard’.
I bought this kayak in the spring of 2009 with hopes of many kayaking adventures in Alaska. The adventures have not failed as I have paddled next to tidewater glaciers, whales, sea otters, stellar sea lions, and passed many bald eagles. A few weekends ago Emily and I took my last opportunity to paddle and kayak with the ‘Lizard.’ We left on a Friday morning for a 6 mile paddle to Thumb Cove outside of Seward. After a short 3 hour paddle we landed on a private black sand beach in Thumb Cove. We spent the rest of the afternoon and evening resting and enjoying the day, beach side Alaskan style. Emily took a nap in the hammock and I went kayak fishing. Emily succeeded while the pink salmon were more interested in going upstream than taking my hook. That evening we enjoyed a nice beach campfire and played our favorite game of Skip-Bo. As the sun started to set just past 10pm, we retired to our tent for the night.
After sleeping in and waiting for the sun to come up over the mountain top, I made coffee and waited for Emily to crawl out of her sleeping bag. I cooked up hot pancakes then we broke camp and loaded the kayaks for our 6 mile paddle back to Seward. With the wind at our backs we landed on the beach in Seward 2.5 hours later. Along the way back a Resurrection Bay wildlife cruise tour stopped to snap pictures of a bald eagle perched high above. We kept paddling and I am sure both Emily and I are featured in many of their Alaskan photo albums along with the eagle.
As I said my Alaskan kayak adventures are ending. I posted my kayak on Craigslist and the next day I had a buyer. So following our overnight kayak adventure to Thumb Cove it was time to sell the ‘Lizard’. This past Monday I sold my kayak to another paddler from Anchorage. As this adventure closes, another one begins.
I still have one big possession that I am trying to sell, my 1999 Jeep Wrangler. I am praying that a buyer will come before my departure in early September.
Glaciers Galore
Posted in Alaska, Newsletters on August 6, 2012| 1 Comment »
I realized once again that I live among giants. These giants are extremely cold, well rather melting as I type, and blue in the face. There are over 10 different types of these giants. In south central Alaska, every degree you turn you can spot one of these cracking, popping, and sometimes thundering glaciers.
This past week can be summarized as a glaciate week frozen in time. Monday afternoon a friend Emily and I met while working in Papua New Guinea visited us during her tour of the USA. She is from Australia so Emily and I had plenty of ice adventures awaiting.
Tuesday, we cruised the must see tour of the Kenai Fjords National Park. The 6 hour cruise took us on a wildlife and glacier viewing cruise. We saw puffins, humpback whales, sea otters, sea lions, bald eagles, harbor seals, and many other species of birds I cannot recall. However the highlight was pulling along side Aialik Glacier. This is a tidewater glacier which regularly calves and displays its mighty gentle energy. As we enjoyed our prime rib and silver salmon buffet, we were entertained by nature and the moving glacier.
Also along the tour we saw Bear Glacier the park’s largest glacier at over 15 miles long. All of these glaciers call the Harding Icefield home. The Harding Icefield is the largest icefield in the USA and one of four remaining icefields in the USA. The icefield is 400 sq miles and spawns over 40 glaciers of all kinds. This past week we had the experience to visit three well known glaciers: Bear, Aialik, and Exit Glacier here in Seward, AK.
Later in the week, we planned a hike to view Grewingk Glacier in Kachemak Bay outside Homer, Alaska. We boarded a water taxi in Homer and they dropped us from 20 minutes later at the trailhead in Kachemak Bay State Park. This is a very well known and well traveled hike. I have never done this particular hike but I knew I had to explore the glacier creek hand tram. There is a 2 person tram car that enables you to cross the glacier creek.
Emily and Missy pulled themselves across the cold glacier filled creek for an enjoyable once in a lifetime experience. Have you ever cross a glacier creek in a tram car?
After the tram car, we continued our hike to see Grewingk Glacier. We ate a power bar and hiked on to our lunch date with the glacier. 3 miles later we were standing at the glacier lake feeling the cold glacier wind coming off the face of Grewingk. We enjoyed our lunch guest and snapped many pictures of the giant.
Alaska is truly a special space. I am humbled to be able to call this place home and feel so unworthy of what God have given us to ponder with amazement.
Watch the video of the hike on my blog or at Vimeo here.
Tyler and Emily in PNG 