Friday, September 30, 2011
Yay Visitors!
My first visitors, Marina and Joe, arrived last night. I brought them home and then had 5 other people come over so we had a good dinner with friends and LOTS of wine. It was tons of fun and they got to sleep it off while I went to work. I also sent them on a hike and gave them lots of activities during the day. When I got off work, we all went for a group "walk." Anyways, they're here until Monday so I probably won't write much this weekend. Check back soon!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Heeeeeeeeeeeeey Bear
I hope you have all had a chance to view my most recent photos here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.760028779102.2245726.3100290&l=0d1f3cff78&type=1
I woke up to tons of sunshine and blue skies on Sunday. There was barely a cloud in the sky...it was as if I lived somewhere normal. Obviously, it was a hiking day. Jimmy and I had our already planned for a long hike if the opportune moment should come and Sunday was it. We had an ambitious plan: the Mt. Juneau trail (up and down can be a 7-8 hour hike), walk the ridge (for how many miles? it was unclear, even from the guidebooks), connect to the Granite Creek trail (although we had no idea what that looked like and neither of us had been on it) and then hike back down to Perseverance. Oh, and that "light dusting" of fresh snow on the ridge was visible from the ground...but we could still find the trail, right?
Our day started well. I was a bit shall we say "tired" and pushed back our start time by a half hour. Right after getting in the car to drive the 1 mile to the trailhead (why walk when that extra mile could be just the thing to do us in?), I realized that I had left all the food and snacks that I packed on the counter in my kitchen. Becca fail. So we turned around and went back (only a few minute detour). Well, as luck would have it, that was a good thing because on the drive back, we spotted the mama bear and her 2 cubs. If we hadn't gone back for my food, we would have missed the super close encounter. Getting to watch the bears was incredible...and we hadn't even started our hike! (And yes, when people want bears to "scoot," they often say "heeeeeeeey bear.")
The start of our hike was great, but super warm. It felt like it was 80 degrees with the sun shining down on us...and the first part is up a mountain so we gained elevation fast. We saw a ptarmigan (Alaska state bird, basically a mountain chicken with more interesting noises) and a guy with a gun (just in case he felt like shooting something...LOVE it). The Mt. Juneau trail is stunning, but the last 1/2 is fairly strenuous. During the last part, you're basically climbing up boulders. There is a "trail" but you have to put your hands down a lot too. Plus, apparently several people have died on it so it's not one you really want to slip and fall on. LOVELY. But I made it...after a lot of hemming and hawing, sweating profusely and apologizing to Jimmy for going so slow (actually, we were apparently booking it and made it up super fast...no wonder I was so tired!).
We ran into a few other people at the top of Mt. Juneau. They seemed not so sure that the weather would hold and questioned whether we could make it all the way to Granite creek with the snow-capped mountains (there is no real ridge trail, but the well-worn path is easy to lose at certain places). We figured we might as well walk until we lost the trail or felt like it was a good idea to turn around (although with Jimmy and me, the answer to that question is probably always going to be "never"). Luckily, after about a mile, we ran into an older couple that told us some markers to look for and roughly what the ridge trail looked like. They warned us not to turn down too early (a common mistake) or else we'd be heading right off steep cliffs and/or having to bushwhack our way down. NOT fun.
Obviously, we made it (look at the pics!). The snow was really fun for the most part (besides the parts when it was ice and with every step of the traverse, you start sliding down the hill). There were some downhill portions where I was basically snowboarding without the board. We were screaming like little kids. What better way to spend a Sunday?
Of course, it's Juneau so the rain caught up with us eventually. Luckily, we were pretty low down by that point and were just following the basin back out to Perseverance. At the end of our hike, the rain lightened and we got a beautiful view of a rainbow. A perfect end to a perfect day. I was so tired (and sore) afterwards that I passed out pretty soon and have still been recovering today. SOOOO worth it!
I woke up to tons of sunshine and blue skies on Sunday. There was barely a cloud in the sky...it was as if I lived somewhere normal. Obviously, it was a hiking day. Jimmy and I had our already planned for a long hike if the opportune moment should come and Sunday was it. We had an ambitious plan: the Mt. Juneau trail (up and down can be a 7-8 hour hike), walk the ridge (for how many miles? it was unclear, even from the guidebooks), connect to the Granite Creek trail (although we had no idea what that looked like and neither of us had been on it) and then hike back down to Perseverance. Oh, and that "light dusting" of fresh snow on the ridge was visible from the ground...but we could still find the trail, right?
Our day started well. I was a bit shall we say "tired" and pushed back our start time by a half hour. Right after getting in the car to drive the 1 mile to the trailhead (why walk when that extra mile could be just the thing to do us in?), I realized that I had left all the food and snacks that I packed on the counter in my kitchen. Becca fail. So we turned around and went back (only a few minute detour). Well, as luck would have it, that was a good thing because on the drive back, we spotted the mama bear and her 2 cubs. If we hadn't gone back for my food, we would have missed the super close encounter. Getting to watch the bears was incredible...and we hadn't even started our hike! (And yes, when people want bears to "scoot," they often say "heeeeeeeey bear.")
The start of our hike was great, but super warm. It felt like it was 80 degrees with the sun shining down on us...and the first part is up a mountain so we gained elevation fast. We saw a ptarmigan (Alaska state bird, basically a mountain chicken with more interesting noises) and a guy with a gun (just in case he felt like shooting something...LOVE it). The Mt. Juneau trail is stunning, but the last 1/2 is fairly strenuous. During the last part, you're basically climbing up boulders. There is a "trail" but you have to put your hands down a lot too. Plus, apparently several people have died on it so it's not one you really want to slip and fall on. LOVELY. But I made it...after a lot of hemming and hawing, sweating profusely and apologizing to Jimmy for going so slow (actually, we were apparently booking it and made it up super fast...no wonder I was so tired!).
We ran into a few other people at the top of Mt. Juneau. They seemed not so sure that the weather would hold and questioned whether we could make it all the way to Granite creek with the snow-capped mountains (there is no real ridge trail, but the well-worn path is easy to lose at certain places). We figured we might as well walk until we lost the trail or felt like it was a good idea to turn around (although with Jimmy and me, the answer to that question is probably always going to be "never"). Luckily, after about a mile, we ran into an older couple that told us some markers to look for and roughly what the ridge trail looked like. They warned us not to turn down too early (a common mistake) or else we'd be heading right off steep cliffs and/or having to bushwhack our way down. NOT fun.
Obviously, we made it (look at the pics!). The snow was really fun for the most part (besides the parts when it was ice and with every step of the traverse, you start sliding down the hill). There were some downhill portions where I was basically snowboarding without the board. We were screaming like little kids. What better way to spend a Sunday?
Of course, it's Juneau so the rain caught up with us eventually. Luckily, we were pretty low down by that point and were just following the basin back out to Perseverance. At the end of our hike, the rain lightened and we got a beautiful view of a rainbow. A perfect end to a perfect day. I was so tired (and sore) afterwards that I passed out pretty soon and have still been recovering today. SOOOO worth it!
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Lions and Tigers and BEARS, Oh My!
So as the title of this post may suggest, I once again will be writing about the wildlife. First, I had moose for the first time on Tuesday night. Actually, it was the main ingredient in Moose Chili and it was DELICIOUS! It's not gamey at all, but has a good flavor (at least in chili). I highly recommend it. I also have reindeer sausage in my freezer, eagerly awaiting the arrival of Marina and Joe on Thursday (this is as close to "foodie" culture as we get up here).
I also had my first downtown bear sighting last night which was pretty awesome (at least, I think so...mostly because I was located at a safe viewing distance). Bears walk around downtown all the time (allegedly), but I (and most of the clerks) always seem to miss them. I've heard neighbors chatting about the bears they saw here or there, but I never seem to encounter them (unfortunately? fortunately?). However, on my way back up the hill from trivia, one hungry guy had gotten into a trash can. Luckily, there was a couple that stopped me before I got close, pointed out the animal and ensured I didn't get too close. I was beside myself with excitement. I'm obviously a super authentic Alaskan now.
I have started getting questions about my job. After all, it may seem like all I do up here is drink and hike. And while I enjoy those activities, I actually work quite a bit as well. So why not share the detes? Well, it's actually a strategic move. Most (or all) of the cases I work on are strictly confidential. The court is very concerned with ensuring that nobody finds out who is writing the opinion until after the case is published and if people know I am working on a case and they know that I work in Bud's chambers, it's pretty easy to find that out ahead of time. I get it; what does this have to do with all you lovely people a zillion miles away? More than you think. Juneau (and Alaska, in general) is a small legal community and word travels fast. Most people have family or friends down south and a little slip here or there can be more significant than it seems. (For example, we had oral arguments in Juneau last Friday. I walk into the courtroom for the first case and who is arguing it? The father of a good friend from law school, who I've already met. SMALL WORLD.) Hence, I have been erring on the side of non-disclosure.
Suffice it to say, I love my job. It is truly one of the best jobs I will probably ever have as a lawyer. Besides the flexibility that Bud allows us to have, he really values our opinion and our advice on cases. What I say about deciding important questions of law really matters to Bud and the other justices and although I feel like some of this responsibility is unwarranted, it is nice to be respected. I have worked on some really important cases (some that you too would find interesting and some that may cause you to chuckle). I would not be surprised if a few of them made it to the U.S. Supreme Court. I'm actually acting like a lawyer and recommending outcomes based on precedent, the strength of the arguments and any overriding policy considerations. My co-clerks and I discuss cases all the time (after all, they're the only people that I can talk to about cases) and sometimes we spend tons of time working through arguments or reasoning through our suggested opinions. Sometimes, we also play ping pong in Bud's office (which we did today). It's both intellectually fulfilling, challenging and fun (in a nerdy sort of way). Of course, all this work only has me questioning what I want to do next...where do you go when you start with such a good experience? Thoughts?!
Also, I want to hear how you are doing, but I know I suck at calling people (especially with the time difference). Send me an email and let me know you're still alive!
I also had my first downtown bear sighting last night which was pretty awesome (at least, I think so...mostly because I was located at a safe viewing distance). Bears walk around downtown all the time (allegedly), but I (and most of the clerks) always seem to miss them. I've heard neighbors chatting about the bears they saw here or there, but I never seem to encounter them (unfortunately? fortunately?). However, on my way back up the hill from trivia, one hungry guy had gotten into a trash can. Luckily, there was a couple that stopped me before I got close, pointed out the animal and ensured I didn't get too close. I was beside myself with excitement. I'm obviously a super authentic Alaskan now.
I have started getting questions about my job. After all, it may seem like all I do up here is drink and hike. And while I enjoy those activities, I actually work quite a bit as well. So why not share the detes? Well, it's actually a strategic move. Most (or all) of the cases I work on are strictly confidential. The court is very concerned with ensuring that nobody finds out who is writing the opinion until after the case is published and if people know I am working on a case and they know that I work in Bud's chambers, it's pretty easy to find that out ahead of time. I get it; what does this have to do with all you lovely people a zillion miles away? More than you think. Juneau (and Alaska, in general) is a small legal community and word travels fast. Most people have family or friends down south and a little slip here or there can be more significant than it seems. (For example, we had oral arguments in Juneau last Friday. I walk into the courtroom for the first case and who is arguing it? The father of a good friend from law school, who I've already met. SMALL WORLD.) Hence, I have been erring on the side of non-disclosure.
Suffice it to say, I love my job. It is truly one of the best jobs I will probably ever have as a lawyer. Besides the flexibility that Bud allows us to have, he really values our opinion and our advice on cases. What I say about deciding important questions of law really matters to Bud and the other justices and although I feel like some of this responsibility is unwarranted, it is nice to be respected. I have worked on some really important cases (some that you too would find interesting and some that may cause you to chuckle). I would not be surprised if a few of them made it to the U.S. Supreme Court. I'm actually acting like a lawyer and recommending outcomes based on precedent, the strength of the arguments and any overriding policy considerations. My co-clerks and I discuss cases all the time (after all, they're the only people that I can talk to about cases) and sometimes we spend tons of time working through arguments or reasoning through our suggested opinions. Sometimes, we also play ping pong in Bud's office (which we did today). It's both intellectually fulfilling, challenging and fun (in a nerdy sort of way). Of course, all this work only has me questioning what I want to do next...where do you go when you start with such a good experience? Thoughts?!
Also, I want to hear how you are doing, but I know I suck at calling people (especially with the time difference). Send me an email and let me know you're still alive!
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Another Busy One...
Last night, a group of friends and I hiked up the John Muir trail and spent the night at the cabin up there. (You have to reserve the forest service cabins in advance and they're super popular so we were lucky to get one.) We had 9 people, a ton of food, a fire and too much booze. It was tons of fun, but I am exhausted! We really lucked out with the weather too and didn't get poured on while hiking up or down (a rarity in Juneau). It was even clear enough to see stars and the moon! We all hiked up with packs and my small group (Amber, Sam and I) carried up firewood. Carrying the extra 20-30 pounds was annoying, but we took turns and we had the fire going all night long so it was totally worth it. It was beautiful up at the top of the cabin (pictures to come soon). Sleeping in a cabin at the top of a mountain is fairly unique and definitely makes you think, "wow, I am so lucky to live here."
Although I had a ton of fun, this week has me beat. I got back from Anchorage on Monday night and have not stopped moving since then! My friend Sam is leaving town for good on Wednesday and we're all going to miss him so we've been trying to spend a lot of time hanging out. Sam also had a college friend in town on Tuesday-Thursday so we've basically been partying non-stop. On Tuesday, we hiked up to Mt. Roberts and went to dinner; Wednesday was trivia; and on Thursday, we hiked the Dupont trail at the end of Thane, went to dinner and had a bonfire on the beach. On Friday, all the justices were in Juneau so besides getting to watch oral arguments live and having tons of people pop in our offices during the workday "just to say hi," all the clerks gathered with the justices at Bud's after work for "wine and snacks." That was only the beginning of a crazy night and then after last night's cabin adventure to top it off, I'm ready to collapse.
So, I'm off to nap, but I wanted to flag something for you all. Alaska Airlines just released it's PFD sale. (The PFD is the oil dividend and many people use it to travel.) You can book tickets from now until next August. These are probably going to be some of the lowest prices you'll get so you may as well look now if you're thinking about visiting...
Although I had a ton of fun, this week has me beat. I got back from Anchorage on Monday night and have not stopped moving since then! My friend Sam is leaving town for good on Wednesday and we're all going to miss him so we've been trying to spend a lot of time hanging out. Sam also had a college friend in town on Tuesday-Thursday so we've basically been partying non-stop. On Tuesday, we hiked up to Mt. Roberts and went to dinner; Wednesday was trivia; and on Thursday, we hiked the Dupont trail at the end of Thane, went to dinner and had a bonfire on the beach. On Friday, all the justices were in Juneau so besides getting to watch oral arguments live and having tons of people pop in our offices during the workday "just to say hi," all the clerks gathered with the justices at Bud's after work for "wine and snacks." That was only the beginning of a crazy night and then after last night's cabin adventure to top it off, I'm ready to collapse.
So, I'm off to nap, but I wanted to flag something for you all. Alaska Airlines just released it's PFD sale. (The PFD is the oil dividend and many people use it to travel.) You can book tickets from now until next August. These are probably going to be some of the lowest prices you'll get so you may as well look now if you're thinking about visiting...
Friday, September 16, 2011
Because A Picture is Worth 1000 Words, A Video Must Be Worth Like A Trillion...
My friend and fellow HLS grad, Cari, is clerking in Anchorage. This weekend, I got to meet her fiance Nathan. He is quite the amateur filmmaker and documented our Seward trip. You can view it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qstcsrsmr5I&feature=player_embedded
Although we were all extremely sleep deprived (we had to be on the bus by 6:45 AM), it gives you a little glimpse of our fun-filled day. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qstcsrsmr5I&feature=player_embedded
Although we were all extremely sleep deprived (we had to be on the bus by 6:45 AM), it gives you a little glimpse of our fun-filled day. Enjoy!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Big City Livin' (aka My Trip to Anchorage)
My trip was AMAZING (look at the pictures). The flight to Anchorage is a tour in itself; on a clear day, you can see mountains filled with glaciers and ice fields. It literally looks like another planet. As we neared Anchorage, we saw something we hadn't seen in a while...a nice flat valley! Again, this place was strange to us, not what we've come to know as Alaska.
After we landed in Anchorage, I think all three of us (me and my co-clerks) had a strange sensation. Where were we? Juneau is so unique that being in Anchorage was a bit scary at first (the big city, oh my?!). Then, we saw the Chili's in the airport and knew we had found civilization and Am-er-i-cuh. The cab ride to our hotel was surreal as well. Anchorage looks a lot like California; big city in a lush valley with water on one side and mountains in the distance. This false comparison would quickly evaporate with moose encounters, but more on that later...
The state put us up in the nicest hotel in Anchorage (score!). However, it's so fancy that they charge for access to their "fitness club" (fail). We spent our first night roaming town, sampling the local breweries, checking out the coastal trail and watching one of the most gorgeous sunsets ever.
Orientation was kind of bland, but the best part was visiting the Native Heritage Center. I didn't take any pictures there because I felt it was rude and/or disrespectful. Plus, our tour guide had chin strap tattoos and I'm pretty sure she could take me.
On Saturday, we arranged a trip for the 3 of us and some of our new Anchorage friends to go visit Seward, a town about two hours from Anchorage. We did the "combo tour," meaning we boarded a bus (or "luxury motorcoach") in Anchorage by 6:45 AM, arrived in Seward and had 1.5 hours to wander (prob about 1.25 hours longer than necessary), took a 6 hour sight-seeing boat tour and then returned on the Alaska scenic railroad, a 4-hour journey. It was well worth the journey and sleep deprivation. Although some of the big ticket animals, like whales, are starting to head south, we saw a TON of stuff and the weather generally held out too. Here is a list: bald eagle, black bear, mountain goat, moose, orca whales (5), humpback whales (2), dall porpoises, calving glaciers, sea lions, harbor seals, regular seals, sea otters, puffins and a ton of seabirds. I didn't get all of these marvels on camera because a lot of them pop their heads out of the water to play, but then go down so fast that it's nearly impossible to catch them. I only got seasick for a portion of the 6 hour boat-ride (mostly when we were cruising up and down 15 foot swells...yay, Gulf of Alaska!). I can tell you one thing, being out in the middle of the ocean in the Northwest really seems like the end of the Earth. It requires a huge leap of faith that the boat will somehow bring you back to land. I have no idea how Columbus, Captain Cook and all those other seafarers did it back in the day. All I know is that their lives on land must have been PRETTY miserable...
On Sunday morning, I got up early to accompany a new friend on a training run (he's running his first marathon in about a month). This meant a chipper 20 mile run, which was great for getting to know Anchorage and its great trails. We encountered two moose up close, which was quite terrifying. The first one I spotted by the steam coming out of its nose (if that gives you any indication of how close we were). We hid behind a tree to observe it walking out on the trail, but luckily we didn't startle it (which will likely make the animal charge). A few miles later, we encountered another moose and literally almost ran into it. We calmly walked back up the trail and this moose was curious. She decided to follow (terrifying). Although she walked up the trail after us, she eventually lost interest as we hid behind neighboring trees and headed back into the forest next to the trail. Then, we politely trotted past and hoped she didn't get angry and charge. It really gave us the adrenaline rush we needed to keep running! On Sunday afternoon, we went to Lake Eklutna, a beautiful lake with hiking trails, camping and canoing areas. About half the clerks went and we hiked/wandered and canoed (or attempted to). One girl in my canoe flipped out and while half-crying demanded we take her back to shore. So we did. After we were exhausted, we started a campfire and made s'mores. Just like summer camp...
On Monday, we had more orientation. The highlight of that day was our "safety orientation," telling us what to do if we see bears, moose, run out of drinking water, get trapped by a flowing stream, etc. Basically, it was "How NOT to Die in Alaska 101." Cross your fingers for me!
Apparently, the actual Palin quote was that she could see Russia from Alaska (not "her house"). Apparently, this is true. Wasilla, her hometown, is close to Anchorage (just a bit farther North). I did not see Russia from Anchorage.
Lastly, Bud drove us back to the airport in his "official state use only" vehicle. I felt so special. However, it's good to be home. Goodbye chain stores and bar scene, hello rain!
After we landed in Anchorage, I think all three of us (me and my co-clerks) had a strange sensation. Where were we? Juneau is so unique that being in Anchorage was a bit scary at first (the big city, oh my?!). Then, we saw the Chili's in the airport and knew we had found civilization and Am-er-i-cuh. The cab ride to our hotel was surreal as well. Anchorage looks a lot like California; big city in a lush valley with water on one side and mountains in the distance. This false comparison would quickly evaporate with moose encounters, but more on that later...
The state put us up in the nicest hotel in Anchorage (score!). However, it's so fancy that they charge for access to their "fitness club" (fail). We spent our first night roaming town, sampling the local breweries, checking out the coastal trail and watching one of the most gorgeous sunsets ever.
Orientation was kind of bland, but the best part was visiting the Native Heritage Center. I didn't take any pictures there because I felt it was rude and/or disrespectful. Plus, our tour guide had chin strap tattoos and I'm pretty sure she could take me.
On Saturday, we arranged a trip for the 3 of us and some of our new Anchorage friends to go visit Seward, a town about two hours from Anchorage. We did the "combo tour," meaning we boarded a bus (or "luxury motorcoach") in Anchorage by 6:45 AM, arrived in Seward and had 1.5 hours to wander (prob about 1.25 hours longer than necessary), took a 6 hour sight-seeing boat tour and then returned on the Alaska scenic railroad, a 4-hour journey. It was well worth the journey and sleep deprivation. Although some of the big ticket animals, like whales, are starting to head south, we saw a TON of stuff and the weather generally held out too. Here is a list: bald eagle, black bear, mountain goat, moose, orca whales (5), humpback whales (2), dall porpoises, calving glaciers, sea lions, harbor seals, regular seals, sea otters, puffins and a ton of seabirds. I didn't get all of these marvels on camera because a lot of them pop their heads out of the water to play, but then go down so fast that it's nearly impossible to catch them. I only got seasick for a portion of the 6 hour boat-ride (mostly when we were cruising up and down 15 foot swells...yay, Gulf of Alaska!). I can tell you one thing, being out in the middle of the ocean in the Northwest really seems like the end of the Earth. It requires a huge leap of faith that the boat will somehow bring you back to land. I have no idea how Columbus, Captain Cook and all those other seafarers did it back in the day. All I know is that their lives on land must have been PRETTY miserable...
On Sunday morning, I got up early to accompany a new friend on a training run (he's running his first marathon in about a month). This meant a chipper 20 mile run, which was great for getting to know Anchorage and its great trails. We encountered two moose up close, which was quite terrifying. The first one I spotted by the steam coming out of its nose (if that gives you any indication of how close we were). We hid behind a tree to observe it walking out on the trail, but luckily we didn't startle it (which will likely make the animal charge). A few miles later, we encountered another moose and literally almost ran into it. We calmly walked back up the trail and this moose was curious. She decided to follow (terrifying). Although she walked up the trail after us, she eventually lost interest as we hid behind neighboring trees and headed back into the forest next to the trail. Then, we politely trotted past and hoped she didn't get angry and charge. It really gave us the adrenaline rush we needed to keep running! On Sunday afternoon, we went to Lake Eklutna, a beautiful lake with hiking trails, camping and canoing areas. About half the clerks went and we hiked/wandered and canoed (or attempted to). One girl in my canoe flipped out and while half-crying demanded we take her back to shore. So we did. After we were exhausted, we started a campfire and made s'mores. Just like summer camp...
On Monday, we had more orientation. The highlight of that day was our "safety orientation," telling us what to do if we see bears, moose, run out of drinking water, get trapped by a flowing stream, etc. Basically, it was "How NOT to Die in Alaska 101." Cross your fingers for me!
Apparently, the actual Palin quote was that she could see Russia from Alaska (not "her house"). Apparently, this is true. Wasilla, her hometown, is close to Anchorage (just a bit farther North). I did not see Russia from Anchorage.
Lastly, Bud drove us back to the airport in his "official state use only" vehicle. I felt so special. However, it's good to be home. Goodbye chain stores and bar scene, hello rain!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Oh, Sunny Days
It's funny how quick the transformation occurs...after one day of sun, it has been notoriously absent for the past 3 weeks. Every now and then, we'd get a glimpse of blue sky or a brief respite from the rain but we've come to accept cloudy, overcast and often rainy skies as part of our routine. On the few occasions where the sun did make a brief appearance, it was mostly behind clouds or still raining at the same time.
So today, we were truly blessed when the sun came back and bright skies reigned supreme. Bud moved around our meeting schedule to accommodate tram rides up Mt. Roberts (which provides perhaps some of the best views of Juneau and the surrounding area around). He bought us lunch, had us meet one-on-one to do "official business" while sitting in the mountaintop cafe and let us wander around while he met with other clerks. Getting an opportunity to hike midday but after a three-hour "field trip" from the office, it's definitely hard to get any work done. Here's two of my favorite pictures from our adventure:
After work, the sun held up so we had only one thought: what can we climb before the sun sets? Although we were a bit ambitious, we decided Mt. Jumbo was a good idea (it's often described as a 7-8 hour round trip with advanced and strenuous climbing conditions). Yes, the trail is sometimes straight up roots, rocks or the mountain. Yes, we left to go home and change at 4:15 PM and got to the trail by 5. Yes, we did it in 4 hours instead of 7-8, but we were still descending in darkness part of the way (the sun set at 7:40 today...yikes!). However, getting to the top was definitely worth it and some of the pictures on the way down were truly amazing. Here are 2 of my favorites:
Tomorrow, I leave for Anchorage. Work is sending us on an "orientation" trip, which includes a nature "heritage" hike. We get back late Monday night. This means a few things: 1) I will not be bringing my laptop so there will be no new posts until next week and 2) You will have to wait until at least Monday or Tuesday to see the rest of these amazing pictures on Facebook. I will incorporate all the Anchorage additions too so get excited.
So today, we were truly blessed when the sun came back and bright skies reigned supreme. Bud moved around our meeting schedule to accommodate tram rides up Mt. Roberts (which provides perhaps some of the best views of Juneau and the surrounding area around). He bought us lunch, had us meet one-on-one to do "official business" while sitting in the mountaintop cafe and let us wander around while he met with other clerks. Getting an opportunity to hike midday but after a three-hour "field trip" from the office, it's definitely hard to get any work done. Here's two of my favorite pictures from our adventure:
After work, the sun held up so we had only one thought: what can we climb before the sun sets? Although we were a bit ambitious, we decided Mt. Jumbo was a good idea (it's often described as a 7-8 hour round trip with advanced and strenuous climbing conditions). Yes, the trail is sometimes straight up roots, rocks or the mountain. Yes, we left to go home and change at 4:15 PM and got to the trail by 5. Yes, we did it in 4 hours instead of 7-8, but we were still descending in darkness part of the way (the sun set at 7:40 today...yikes!). However, getting to the top was definitely worth it and some of the pictures on the way down were truly amazing. Here are 2 of my favorites:
Tomorrow, I leave for Anchorage. Work is sending us on an "orientation" trip, which includes a nature "heritage" hike. We get back late Monday night. This means a few things: 1) I will not be bringing my laptop so there will be no new posts until next week and 2) You will have to wait until at least Monday or Tuesday to see the rest of these amazing pictures on Facebook. I will incorporate all the Anchorage additions too so get excited.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Life Through A Plastic Bag
So I know, I talk about the rain a lot. Mostly because, it rains a lot here. BUT I have come up with a genius idea in order to be able to share all of my rainy hiking sights with you...it's called a ziploc. I tried it out during my 5 1/2 hours of hiking today and I think overall, the pictures turned out pretty great.
Also, I'm not really going to post a lot of pictures on the blog anymore since they take about 15 minutes each to load. Instead, I'll put them up on facebook and add the link here. Not the most efficient, I know.
Where have I been this week? Well, we lucked out and got three consecutive days where it was not rainy after work. We even saw real genuine sun (not "Juneau sun") on Thursday (hence, the mobile upload). I hiked both Monday and Tuesday and the sights were amazing. On Monday, my friend Amber and I went up the John Muir trail. We didn't get to the cabin at the end because it started getting fairly dark and we figured it was a good idea to turn back. We're actually losing light at a rate of about 5-6 minutes per day. That may not seem like much, but the sun is setting about 35-40 minutes earlier each week. Ouch.
Tuesday, my friend Neil and I went out to Boy Scout Beach, so named for the boy scout camp located nearby. It is a legit beach with sand and seagulls and some of the most amazing views of the Chilkat mountain range. The cool thing about Juneau is that each new hike leads you to such amazing views, but they are all different in their own way. The pictures may look great, but they barely do it justice.
Look here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.752412761662.2243395.3100290&l=9364f74528
On Wednesday...well Wednesday is trivia day. My team actually came in 2nd place this week....which entitled us to $40 worth of free booze. I <3 you too, Juneau.
Thursday, we got some sun so I ran 10 miles...in a t-shirt. Life was good and the sky was blue. I was squinting a lot (it's funny how you quickly you acclimate to a much lower light level). Then, I went to the local movie theater (not the big commercial one). It's called the "Nick" (or Nickelodeon) and it's pretty sweet. There are couches in the back and each seat has its own couch pillow, there are lamps inside and the person running the movie just yells stuff from the projection room. Popcorn costs $2. I was sold.
On Friday, Bud and his wife, Annie, hosted us for our "welcome" dinner (so we've already been working for 3 weeks, whatever...). The food was delicious and the wine was overflowing. Mmmm, just the way I like it.
Today, it's poured basically all day. So, my friend Jimmy and I took it upon ourselves to go hike for 5 1/2 hours. First, we did the treadwell trails and played on all the old mine ruins. Afterwards, we figured we may as well go find Mt. Jumbo (the highest peak on Douglas Island and possibly in the area). We originally planned to go up only about 30-40 minutes to get a better view of the treadwell "Glory Hole." Instead, we did the whole trail (if you can even call it trail, most of it included walking up waterfalls and climbing up root systems). Although visibility sucked, it was still one of the coolest views around. I got startled when a brave deer intercepted our path, but Jimmy got him to go away. (Good thing it wasn't a grizzly!) It was raining the whole time, but as I mentioned earlier, I still took pictures. My xtratufs definitely got some good use today.
Here are the pictures:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.752418180802.2243398.3100290&l=78a2215b94&type=1
Ciao!
Also, I'm not really going to post a lot of pictures on the blog anymore since they take about 15 minutes each to load. Instead, I'll put them up on facebook and add the link here. Not the most efficient, I know.
Where have I been this week? Well, we lucked out and got three consecutive days where it was not rainy after work. We even saw real genuine sun (not "Juneau sun") on Thursday (hence, the mobile upload). I hiked both Monday and Tuesday and the sights were amazing. On Monday, my friend Amber and I went up the John Muir trail. We didn't get to the cabin at the end because it started getting fairly dark and we figured it was a good idea to turn back. We're actually losing light at a rate of about 5-6 minutes per day. That may not seem like much, but the sun is setting about 35-40 minutes earlier each week. Ouch.
Tuesday, my friend Neil and I went out to Boy Scout Beach, so named for the boy scout camp located nearby. It is a legit beach with sand and seagulls and some of the most amazing views of the Chilkat mountain range. The cool thing about Juneau is that each new hike leads you to such amazing views, but they are all different in their own way. The pictures may look great, but they barely do it justice.
Look here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.752412761662.2243395.3100290&l=9364f74528
On Wednesday...well Wednesday is trivia day. My team actually came in 2nd place this week....which entitled us to $40 worth of free booze. I <3 you too, Juneau.
Thursday, we got some sun so I ran 10 miles...in a t-shirt. Life was good and the sky was blue. I was squinting a lot (it's funny how you quickly you acclimate to a much lower light level). Then, I went to the local movie theater (not the big commercial one). It's called the "Nick" (or Nickelodeon) and it's pretty sweet. There are couches in the back and each seat has its own couch pillow, there are lamps inside and the person running the movie just yells stuff from the projection room. Popcorn costs $2. I was sold.
On Friday, Bud and his wife, Annie, hosted us for our "welcome" dinner (so we've already been working for 3 weeks, whatever...). The food was delicious and the wine was overflowing. Mmmm, just the way I like it.
Today, it's poured basically all day. So, my friend Jimmy and I took it upon ourselves to go hike for 5 1/2 hours. First, we did the treadwell trails and played on all the old mine ruins. Afterwards, we figured we may as well go find Mt. Jumbo (the highest peak on Douglas Island and possibly in the area). We originally planned to go up only about 30-40 minutes to get a better view of the treadwell "Glory Hole." Instead, we did the whole trail (if you can even call it trail, most of it included walking up waterfalls and climbing up root systems). Although visibility sucked, it was still one of the coolest views around. I got startled when a brave deer intercepted our path, but Jimmy got him to go away. (Good thing it wasn't a grizzly!) It was raining the whole time, but as I mentioned earlier, I still took pictures. My xtratufs definitely got some good use today.
Here are the pictures:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.752418180802.2243398.3100290&l=78a2215b94&type=1
Ciao!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Be Back Soon!
I know, I haven't posted at all this week but we had a few days without rain and due to my busy social calendar, I've been out and about doing activities and spending time with friends. Literally, I haven't even been home for the 1.5 hours necessary to do a load of laundry (except when I'm sleeping) and the basket is overflowing. I promise to post soon (maybe tomorrow...maybe Saturday). I've done some more awesome hikes and have some great pictures to post. Toodles!
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