Crow Pass, Alaska

Here are some photos from a backpacking trip Alex, Trixie, and I took with our friends Kate and Rodney.

For Information about this trail click here:
Crow Pass Trail
Crow Pass Cabin
Visitor Guide Anchorage through Fairbanks

roadin'

My plan was to keep a daily journal during my 3 month road trip, but as we can see that did not work out too well. Internet is not very accessible on a daily basis while driving, camping, and hiking as I should have guessed, but then again all my assumptions about this trip proved me wrong. Like how many clothes I thought I would need, how much I believed trixie (my dog) loved road trips, and my fearlessness of bears to name a few. But then again that is why we travel, right? To learn by experience, to see the unseen, and to discover more about who we are...

So here are some things Alex and I learned while on this journey to Alaska...

1. The first applies to solely me: Do not bring a suitcase full of clothes.
2. Make sure to always travel with plenty of water, like a 5 gallon jug.
3. Make sure the truck's camper you might be sleeping in is water tight before leaving on a trip.
4. Do not give your dog Benadryl, even if the vet recommends it.
5. Make sure to pack your hiking boots first!
6. Do not expect to find a coastal campsite on a summer weekend along Washington, Oregon, and California!
7. Do not bring ANY cookbooks.
8. Avoid dirt roads unless you do not mind dust all over your stuff.
9. When it rains take advantage of dirt roads.
10. Make sure to bring mosquito coils.
11. Pack Uno and Scrabble and any other games you might fancy.
12. Always have extra batteries for lantern and headlamps.
13. Always bring wipes they are super handy.
14. Think more than twice about taking your dog on extended road trips.
15. Do not let your dog drink from puddles, streams, or lakes.
16. If your dog poops four times a day make sure to always carry poop bags.
17. Stock up on Starbucks instant coffee it is great for backpacking.
18. Bring plenty of firewood and water on the Denali Highway.
19. In National Forests you can camp for free along the road, excluding major highways.
20. Driving to Alaska is an awesome experience.

A ship about to sail...

Two more days and I will be leaving for Alaska. As of now I am cleaning up what will soon be another apartment I left to go and see the world. I am excited. Driving up to Alaska has been a dream and I am finally making that dream come true. Alex and I are driving his truck, Betsy, and my dog Trixie will be joining us too. It will be the three of us and together we will travel at least 7 thousand miles.

So many have asked what I will be doing up there and where I will stay. Others ask why Alaska, while others warn me of mosquitoes, and others tell me their stories. Here is my reason...

I love the rugged outdoors.

A velcro chandelier? Awesome!

I think this is really neat when artists use obscure objects, like velcro to create art. This artist/designer is Rachel O'neill from Ireland. I love her inspiration: the ocean.

Animals by Joshua Chavira

This is my nephew Joshua's first drawing on canvas.

When Joshua comes over to visit the first two things he does is one look to see if there are candies where I usually store the sweet stuff, and two, walks straight over to where I keep my marker collection. After grabbing his markers of choice, he then asks for paper to draw on only this time Auntie Gloria handed him a canvas for experimentation. While his art may look like scribbles to any ordinary person, it is actually the exact opposite. Here he used his unique mind, left hand, and big heart to draw all the animals he loves. When asked who he was going to give this beautiful picture to he said, "to you tia." Slowly he is decorating my apartment and I love collecting his pieces.

Psalm 23:4

"Even when I walk through a dark valley, I fear no harm for you are at my side"

*This photo was taken while hiking a trail off ortega highway in Southern California.

If there is a heaven I hope to see you there grandma

stretch those lips and show those teeth

changing the world one smile at a time.

my be continued...

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
-Mark Twain

point vicente

Exploring Palos Verdes. To learn more click here:
Palos Verdes Penninsula
Palos Verdes Wiki Travel Guide

i love hiking for many reasons and this is one of them!

The views along the coast in Palos Verdes, California are sensational especially on beautiful clear days like this.

goodbye 2009, hello 2010!

What a great year! I started grad school, I turned 30, I took a few awesome road trips, I learned a lot about me, and my year once again ended nicely.