Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
Norwegian
Trad climber
dancin on the tip of god's middle finger
|
|
|
Oct 18, 2015 - 01:58pm PT
|
i knew that i had to go crazy
to find my voice.
i resigned myself,
almost excitedly to the downward
and inward journey due
upon my immature soul.
i embarked upon a risky
path, with one foot
left in eternity,
the other astray
upon chaos.
i had aspirations to
maintain my worldly
position;
as a father, and a husband.
as a designer.
as a man.
i found my arenas:
climbing;
alcoholism;
hazard treeisms;
the muddy banks
of the transient culture;
and college.
none of these endeavors
did i approach with
a static mind.
i wanted crazy.
lots of it.
i got it.
but i knew that
i could not go too far;
for in doing so i'd
lose my opportunity
to realize the fruits
of my psychotic pursuits.
so i'd run to the very
edge of reason nearly
crossing irreversible
thresholds; only stopping
just in time to reel
the dream back.
i liked the verge.
it drew me to it.
it held me.
i hated leaving it.
i usually would stay awhile.
sometimes too long,
and my sanity would
go missing.
but alas, i've done it, now.
my antics have haunted
every living creature within
a heartbeat away from
my love.
no apology can suffice;
no hug can de-ice
the hearts that i've destroyed.
so look out alaska.
make room for one more.
i'll be there in nine-years,
arriving slowly, by bike.
with pent-up verve
and absolute enthusiasm.
we'll get on well.
|
|
Larry Nelson
Social climber
|
|
|
Oct 25, 2015 - 10:46pm PT
|
My old friends Steve Garvey and Tim Doyle climbing Bridalveil falls in Keystone Canyon near Valdez. WI 5, 600 feet.
|
|
Mike Friedrichs
Sport climber
City of Salt
|
|
|
Feb 10, 2016 - 11:00am PT
|
I've never been to Alaska and have an opportunity to go to Anchorage for a conference in June. I could extend my trip for a few days. If so, other than eating salmon what are things I shouldn't miss. I don't expect to go climbing but would love to see a small part of what makes Alaska so special.
Oh, and being from Wyoming that doesn't need to include mosquitoes and grizzly bears. Been there, done that.
|
|
Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
|
|
Feb 10, 2016 - 01:29pm PT
|
Do you like to fish?
|
|
christoph benells
Trad climber
Tahoma, Ca
|
|
|
Feb 10, 2016 - 07:31pm PT
|
Mike,
scenic flight over denali,,,
or glacier landing in the ruth/kahiltna
of course thats fairly touristy, but dang for the price and the views you cant beat it!
|
|
christoph benells
Trad climber
Tahoma, Ca
|
|
|
Feb 10, 2016 - 07:51pm PT
|
to the OP
"There’s a land where the mountains are nameless,
And the rivers all run God knows where;
There are lives that are erring and aimless,
And deaths that just hang by a hair;
There are hardships that nobody reckons;
There are valleys unpeopled and still;
There’s a land — oh, it beckons and beckons,
And I want to go back — and I will.
Robert Service"
on top of the mountain named after robert service, Mt. Service, AKA border peak 100 (or is it 101)?
and atop adjacent peak mt. jack london
|
|
climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 10, 2016 - 07:53pm PT
|
Whoa! Great Pics C.B.!
Here is a short list of really excellent things to do from Anchorage.
Weather Dependent as always. If the weather is really clear up North go to Talkeetna do the flight seeing trip.
Drive to Whittier and then hike to Byron glacier on the way back by Portage. Or take one of the day cruises out of Whittier.
Halibut Fishing out of Homer or Seward.
Hiking, Powerline pass/Flattop in Anchorage or much better would be Crow Pass near Girdwood.
There are of course more serious climbing venues in the area if interested.
|
|
mooser
Trad climber
seattle
|
|
|
Feb 10, 2016 - 08:00pm PT
|
Desperate times...desperate measures, in SE Alaska...
|
|
tolman_paul
Trad climber
Anchorage, AK
|
|
|
Feb 10, 2016 - 08:27pm PT
|
Extend your trip. The tough thing is to suggest what to do in a few days. I'd say must do/see would be a drive South to Whittier or Seward. If you don't enjoy fishing, take a glacier tour out of either port. If you enjoy fishing, you'll pretty much see the same scenery and get in some great fishing.
On the evenings of the conference I'd highly recommend getting in some hikes. On a clear day flattop should not be missed as the panoramic view from the top is incredible. (hazy day so you can't see Denali)
On less clear days, head down the Seward hwy. Past potters marsh there is a trail head every few miles and plenty of great evening hikes that skirt the hwy on an old access trail used to build the railroad.
You could plan to head North to get a closeup view of Denali, but the mountain is only visible ~30% of the time.
Despite Alaska's bountiful seafood, you'd be hard pressed to find a truly world class seafood restaurant in Anchorage. But a good selection of local breweries.
|
|
Mike Friedrichs
Sport climber
City of Salt
|
|
|
Feb 10, 2016 - 08:37pm PT
|
Thanks everyone. Great suggestions. Already getting psyched. I do like fishing, and beer drinking. Trail running sounds really good too.
|
|
Mike Friedrichs
Sport climber
City of Salt
|
|
|
Mar 10, 2016 - 09:15am PT
|
Looks like I am going to Alaska. I have about a week after the conference in Anchorage. Going to spend a couple days in Kenai. Looks like ample cheap camping possibilities around there.
Then heading to Talkeetna and Denali National Park. It's all pretty expensive. If I choose to do a fixed-wing flight out of Talkeetna, who do you recommend? Any ideas on less expensive places to stay in or near Talkeetna? Also, is there camping on public (national forest) land near Denali National Park?
I'm trying to camp as much as possible, or get cheap lodging. Even Airbnb places are $150 a night. Alaska is expensive. I'm a civil servant.
|
|
cyndiebransford
climber
Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
|
|
|
Mar 10, 2016 - 09:38am PT
|
Mike, there is camping at Denali State Park. Very nice campgrounds, some are near lakes and have nice hiking. Denali State Park is one of the best viewpoints of the big mountain.
|
|
Vitaliy M.
Mountain climber
San Francisco
|
|
|
Mar 10, 2016 - 12:22pm PT
|
Anyone knows if there is a link to the monthly average precip amounts for Gates of the Arctic NP (Arrigetch)? Trying to understand if it is better to go earlier July/Aug or later to like late Aug. Likely not much difference, but maybe colder but less precip later in the summer?
Anyone from the forum been there aside from Kelsey? Seen his report, which is pretty cool!
|
|
Vitaliy M.
Mountain climber
San Francisco
|
|
|
Mar 10, 2016 - 03:51pm PT
|
Cool beans, thank you. haha Basically it is wet and maybe you can get lucky once in a while.
|
|
climbingcoastie
Ice climber
Sacramento, CA
|
|
|
Mar 10, 2016 - 06:57pm PT
|
Mike,
If you fly TAT you can stay at their bunkhouse for free. I don't think they'd want you staying a week, but a couple days probably wouldn't be a problem.
|
|
crusher
climber
Santa Monica, CA
|
|
Great thread, I need to read through it.
We are going to fly into Anchorage at the end of next July - will have about 4 days to "do stuff" before getting on a cruise that goes south to Vancouver (this is with my 80 year old Mom who is active but probably not going on long hikes with us).
We have to choose - go up to Denali (which seems like a lot of train/car/bus travel for just a couple of days, but ??) or spend a day or so in Anchorage then head down to Gridwood area, then Seward (I'd like to do a boat tour of the Kenai Fjords). If we do that we'd rent a car. Suggestions welcome!
Can you see the Northern Lights at all this time of the year?
|
|
Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
|
If you go to Talkeetna you could take Mum on a flight to Denali, weather
provided.* A boat trip out of Seward is also excellent and not so weather
dependent. If your ship stops in Ketchikan there are great flights out of
there. If you stop in Juneau the top dollar E ticket ride is a chopper ride
up to Juneau Icefields. It's pricey but worth it especially when they shoot
you through the notch between the Mendenhall towers!
*Be sure to do a head count before TO if you land on the glacier! :-)
|
|
christoph benells
Trad climber
Tahoma, Ca
|
|
I spent March 2016 in Valdez/Thompson Pass, camped out in a snowed-over, broken down airstream in the woods. It was great.
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!