It still seems odd that I'm so far away, but I feel surprisingly comfortable up here. I spend the majority of my free time alone with my thoughts and my camera. And I am extremely content with this. I am however still very passively seeking people my own age. I'm having a great time dipping my toes into a wide variety of projects with my firm. There are several residential projects that I am working on that I have free range on to do whatever I want. I've been sent to evaluate job sites, consult with clients, done graphic design work, and worked with the community for brainstorming and open charette sessions. I'm doing all the things that I was taught about in school and much more, and it feels great to be putting my education to use, while still learning more and more each day. Learning is something I am still doing a lot of. Being Alaska and all, there are some unique projects. One current project is a moose mitigation project for the Alaska Railroad and the Alaskan Moose Federation. Sustainable Design Group (SDG)has been hired to analyze and assess segments of the existing railroad and design and develop strategies to reduce the number of moose and train collisions. This project is huge. It is first and only of its kind, and has received great interest and support from multiple national organizations. Needless to say, I am extremely excited that the project is in our office.
Another project is located on Point Makenzie, the area of land that sits across the inlet from Anchorage. There are plans to build a bridge across the inlet within the next few years. This is a huge deal because a bridge would cut the driving time from one side of the inlet to the other from about 2 hours down to 20 minutes. It would also connect Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska, to a natural deep water port. There are plans to develop this side of the inlet now that the bridge is approved, and SDG has been hired for the initial design analysis and conceptual design for a new town site. This is a project that I have spent a lot of time on over the last week. I was given the task of developing the set of analysis diagrams that will go into the promotional and informational packet that will be shared with the community and government on Tuesday this week.
All of this design work has been great. I've been given tons of opportunities. But not everything has been office oriented. I've also had many chances to get out of the office and do some real hands on work in the community. One of these outings was especially fun and also quite memorable. For example, last week I had an interesting day of working that I think will stick with me for a while.
The task for the day was to hike a trail that ran along King's River, and do a initial trail assessment of the general condition and features of the trail as it exists now. This is a historic trail that has routes with the gold rush and the initial settlements of Alaska, and it is still one that is used for hiking and snowshoeing. Specifically, these observations will later be used to make a variety of improvements to the trail including signage, trail maintenance, and way finding to both the trailhead and to specific points of interest that sit adjacent to the trail. I was pretty excited to get out of the office and hike along a river bottom with my boss, Eric, and his two dogs, Matanuska and Susitna. We hadn't been hiking for more than 45 minutes when, after having to digress from the trail because it was flooded with a foot of ice cold water from the snow melt, we ended up walking along the bank of the King's River. This is not the river, but the flooded historic trail.
As we came up to a patch of snow that still remained in the woods we stopped and looked up. As we look in front of us there stands a moose. No more than 40 feet in front of us. I was completely caught off guard by its presence, and since our tromping through the woods was covered up by the noise of the rushing water, I'm pretty sure we spooked it too. I was so taken aback by this moose being so close, I completely forgot to take a quick picture. I had got my phone out, turned on my camera app, and then forgot to take a picture with it. It would have been a poor excuse for a picture, but still, I'm disappointed I didn't snap one. Anyways, when the moose saw us and the dogs it climbed up the river bank and lumbered off into the thick brush. It left in a straight line, making its own path through the underbrush. The entire encounter only lasted maybe 15 seconds, but it was a pretty cool sight to see, and was my first close encounter with big Alaska wildlife.
I also learned a few things on that hike. I know what moose poop looks like. And now you do too.
I also found some bear scat, but didn't snap a picture, sorry guys. I'm not sure when or how knowing this will ever come in handy, but you never know.
I also learned that this job, especially because I'm in Alaska, will give me tons of opportunities to leave the desk and computer behind and actually get out and see the landscapes that I'm working with first hand.
I think the biggest accomplishment for me over the past two weeks has to be from this weekend. Yesterday I finally got out and climbed one of the mountains that surround Palmer. Lazy Mountain sits east of Palmer across the Matanuska River. It looks pretty small from where I'm sitting now, maybe like a lone knob from southern Indiana if you were viewing it from New Albany. Lazy mountain has a peak elevation a little over 3,200 feet, and the length of the trail that takes you to the peak is only 2.2 miles one way. This hadn't sounded like too hard of a hike to me, even though my trail guide rates it as difficult. I had taken a bike ride up to the trailhead a week or two ago to see exactly where the trail starts, to get a feel and prepare myself for the hike that I was planning to make. This is where i realized this would take some effort. The 5 mile bike ride to simply get to the trailhead was grueling in its own right, but I re traced the bike ride two weeks later to try to continue on and make the ascent.
Leaving Palmer, crossing the river, and continuing down the Old Glenn Highway to the base of the mountain was smooth sailing. There is a well kept paved pedestrian and bike path that takes you to the base of the mountain. But the base of the mountain is not where the trail starts. To get to the trailhead would be only a couple minute drive if you were in a car, no big deal. But me, on my bike, with my day pack and camera, it takes a bit longer, and requires quite a bit more effort that the pressure of my big toe to a gas pedal. The ride up to the trail head takes me about half an hour, lots of sweat, and a few breaks to catch my breath. I do, however, make it to the trail, lock my bike, and,stupidly, without stopping to catch my breath and lower my heart rate begin my ascent. I suddenly realized why this trail was rated as difficult; even though the elevation change and linear distance were not huge amounts. The Lazy Mountain trail is a straight shot to the peak. No switchbacks. No flat resting spots. No mercy for the hikers. Woe is me who thought that this hike would be easy.
The straight shot up this mountain was grueling. The slope was unreal, and my tennis shoes provided little to no traction on the dirt trail. A few times I was on all fours climbing what seemed like a wall. Anyway, I think the picture describes how steep it is it pretty well. The beginning of the trail is a steep dirt path through young forest. As you emerge from the forest you enter a lower scrubby growth with lots of wildflowers. As you reach the first false peak the low growth turns to loose rocks and rubble. A big change in climbing surfaces, but thankfully it seemed to level out slightly as you pass the second false peak until you reach one last steep push to the summit.
I am glad to say that I did make it to the peak. The time elapsed from me leaving my apartment here it Palmer was probably a little over three hours though. And I still had to hike/slide/skid and fall all the way to the bottom, and then bike the 5 miles back home. Needless to say I took my time when I emerged from the forest and shrub cover and was blessed with the views of the valley.
Lazy Mountain was my first ascent in Alaska. It was a great experience, and one hell of a workout. I think that is is something that I will continue to do on a semi regular basis. Its a great way to stay in shape, see the valley, and meet new people. I had a chance to chat with several different groups of people. One group was with me at the peak of the mountain. We took pictures for each other and chatted about Alaska, where they were from, where I was from, and how much we enjoyed Alaska.
It has been interactions and experiences like the ones on Lazy Mountain that give me great confidence that me being in Alaska in the right thing for me. I am young, healthy, single, and in lots of debt. So it only makes sense for me to move across the country, right? (haha) Anyway, I am truly happy to be here, and even though I miss my family and friends I am happy to be up here getting the unique experience of living and working in Alaska, the last frontier, the land of the midnight sun, the great white north, whatever you want to call it.
Thank for reading.
