July 10, 2004
Instant Oatmeal, Trail Mix, and Summer Sausage
I went grocery shopping yesterday evening, and it was the highlight of my last few weeks. Is that a reflection on the state of my summer? Somewhat, but this wasn't jsut any old trip to the market. I was picking up provisions for my upcoming trek. Last August, I was in JH, WY, and Jim joined me for a backpacking trek through the Tetons. We decided that we would have to try and outdo ourselves this year. An opportunity presented itself when Misty moved to Alaska for the summer. So it is Yukon ho!
I really did get excited while shopping last night. It is the kind of shopping trip that I would always make the night before leaving on the trip. There is just something about buying jerky that brings out all the anticipation. It made me feel like I needed to hurry home and pack everything so that I could get some sleep and still hit the trail early. I won't be leaving until later in the week this time, but preparations have to be done. The travelling and the tight schedules worked out with the outfitters mandate that all food and preparation be done before leaving home.
The trip this year will be a bit of a departure for me. I have never flatwater kayaked before, but the first week of my two-week trip will be just that -- paddling Glacier Bay National Park. I am sure that kayaking will be just another outdoor activity that I will fall in love with (neccessitating the purchace of at least $2000 worth of bulky equipment), but I am a bit concerned about the staying power of my arms and back. There won't be any better way of seeing the remnants of the last ice age, though, or a better opportunity to see Alaskan wildlife. They say that the humpbacks are so willing to play that they can capsize your kayak if you are not careful. How incredible is that?
From there, we will fly directly to meet up with Misty in Skagway, where the itenerary becomes a bit more lax. We know that we have to spend at least 4 days on the Chilkoot trail (the trail that the stampeders took to the gold fields), and that we have to be as obnoxious as possible on Misty's jeep tour (she's a guide).
Man, if only the alarm would go off at five tomorrow morning. I'm ready to go. Well, ready enough.