The other night I heard the Geese start heading south. The
leaves are changing and the rain is here to stay. I lay in the dark and silence of my tent the
other night trying to think of my accomplishments this summer…
I’ve heard complete silence, seen pitch black. I’ve been to
the top of mountains and inside glaciers. I’ve looked death in the eye and
looked out across all of southeast Alaska. I’ve seen the birds come and go.
I’ve witnessed the snow melt; the plants grow and then change colors before
dying. I’ve been lost under Thunder and have found heaven in the clouds. I’ve
been startled by bears and snuck up on mountain goats. I’ve made friends for
life and lost some too. I’ve been dry in a rainforest and soaked to the bones.
I’ve lain in fields of amber, purple, and green. I’ve watched the sun set and
rise in the matter of a couple of hours.
I’ve watched the Northern Lights dance during Folk Fest. I’ve been to
the Fortress of Bears. I’ve hiked almost every trail in Juneau. I’ve visited
old friends Mendenhall and Herbert and met Eagle. I’ve paddled in the Lynn Canal during sunset.
I’ve done a lot this summer, so I should feel happy and
accomplished. But all I hear is Time playing in my head. I feel like I didn’t
do enough. I hardly picked any berries! I’m sad to think my Alaska Adventure of
2013 is coming to an end, but I’m excited to see what’s next. It truly has been
an amazing summer. I look at the pictures and think of the great memories and
smile and “that’s all you need man.”
This post has taken me weeks to complete, I started this
forever ago. I just couldn’t find the words for my last call. How could I come
up with words for such an epic summer? I can’t, there aren’t any words to
describe what I’ve done other than adjectives. Less than 75 hours to go and I’ll
look out that window and watch Mendenhall glacier disappears in the fog and I’ll
hear John Williams playing as the credits roll.
