I haven’t had a day at work yet where I’ve wanted to take the next day off. Weekends are such a weird thing here because 1) I am running out of time for video editing at work and I truly love putting these stories together, always wanting to spend more time on it and 2) I’ve never been in a place so full of things to do on days off. Not joking around here, I haven’t even looked into the recreation outside of hiking here, and there’s TONS of it (and tons of hiking for that matter).
Whether it be a 30 second walk to the bay to enjoy the mountain views or a two and a half hour hike on one of the many trails here, weekends are always playing with the heart strings. Do I want to be in the office working on video cuts of these stories? Yes. Do I want to be outside adventuring, trying to decipher if this landscape is a real thing or a mirage? Yes.
If it is truly possible to have too much of a good thing in terms of life, it’s surely in Seward, Alaska. I never want to leave. Here’s just a glimpse into a day off here, keeping in mind that I always take one day of my weekend to bike to the grocery store (which takes a few hours), do laundry, clean, and regroup for the work week.
Kaley Aposporos, a EPMT SCA intern at Kenai Fjords, steps from one rock to another on the shore of Resurrection Bay. When the sun hits just right, the mountains come alive with an orange glow (called alpenglow).
On the drive back from the air port, my boss and I stoppe dto take some pictures of these Dall Sheep. Their agility and sure-footedness is incredibly impressive. Especially when you’re looking 200 feet up at them.
This beach, called Lowell Point, was filled on this particular day. The sun was shining, and it almost felt like being on the boat in Michigan. (With the added bonus of stunning mountains in the background)
Going on hikes here took me a while to get into, but now it’s something that I will always crave. By nature, I’m am overly cautious person. I’m always planning, and I stress if I don’t have a solid plan. Being in Alaska has made me realize that I don’t always need a plan, and I don’t always need to know what comes next. Just trusting the path that has been laid out for you can lead you to unimaginable adventures filled with beauty and peace. It’s a truly special thing to turn the corner of a new hiking trail and not know where it’s going to take you, but trusting that what ever happens – you’re excited to be there and experience it.
Kaiti Grant 