Aloha Hawaii, Waqaa Alaska

Aloha everyone!

Waqaa (wa-ka) is an informal hello in Yup’ik, one of the Native Alaskan tribes (Eskimo). It’s similar to saying “what’s up?”.

Friday – May 7th: The Beginning of my Trip

It’s so hard to say goodbye to my friends, the hostel, and Maui.

The reality of leaving hasn’t sunk in yet.

I take a quick 30 minute flight over to Honolulu where my friend Schae picks me up.

I’ve got a 6 hr layover so we get some food, cruise the mall, and hang out near the bay. Schae’s awesome and knows everyone at the Pearl Ridge Mall. One of the photos is of us playing supermarket baseball. Schae’s onion curve ball is lethal.

Saturday – May 8th

Red eye to Anchorage, full flight, trying to sleep.

It’s 40 degrees outside and the Hawaiian song “Somewhere over the rainbow” by Iz is playing.

We fly over countless lakes, surrounded by jagged snow-capped mountains. With the

orange sunrise in the background, it feels like I’m dreaming.

I arrive at 5am to find stuffed animals (taxidermy – bears, deer, etc) all over the airport. My eyes are so blood-shot, I look stoned out of my mind.

I wait 2 hours for the bus and walk to the hostel, seeing city trucks spray the streets with water. Anchorage streets are gray and dusty, and you can barley see the lines. Gas is $3.35.

The Arctic Adventure Hostel is incredible and the owner Joseph is very accommodating. I scored my own room for $15 per night. I am feeling very grateful.

After walking along a greenbelt to downtown, I come upon the first Farmer’s Market of the year. It’s 55 and sunny as I walk past souvenir shops, knives, furs, skins, stuffed animals, and ivory.

Downtown there’s a trail along the water and the Anchorage Museum. The museum showcases mostly WWII and several native houses, cultures, clothes, and tools.

I catch the bus to a store called Health Pantry for some rawfood before heading to the hostel to sleep -

for 15 hours (whew!)

Sunday – May 9th

Lucky for me the Native Alaskan Heritage Center is free today for Mother’s Day, so I enjoy a native film and watching some Eskimo high kickers (look it up). They have an outdoor trail with native dwellings, totem poles, exhibits, hand-made crafts,

and giant whale skeletons (yum).

It’s too late for the zoo, so I catch Iron Man 2 at the local theater.

Rain gently falls as I walk 4 miles past Lake Hood

to the airport to pick up my rental car.

It’s hard not to say “aloha” to everyone.

Monday – May 10th

As I drive south towards Seward, the mountains are so beautiful that they

distract me form the road signs saying “avalanche area, do not stop”. The snow melt

is forming countless waterfalls and streams along the road side.

I take a break along frozen Summit Lake and notice a trumpeter swan.

But wait! A bald eagle, and a nest! Too cool. Now, where’s my moose?

It starts raining so I hop in the car. It’s 39 degrees as my blue Chevy Aveo and I arrive in the coastal fishing town of Seward (130 miles).

After witnessing the Kanai fjords, I discover a rainbow along the road to Exit Glacier. The state road sign literally reads, “Do not go down this road, but if you do…”.

I play in the snow like a Hawaiian tourist in front of the park rangers before driving

to Whittier. I’m greeted by icebergs and more glaciers, so I dip my hand into the water. It sucks the heat out of my hand in 5 seconds. Whoa.

The tunnel to Whittier is the longest in North America, about 4 miles long and traffic only goes in one direction at a time. You drive on railroad tracks, passing several safe-houses and giant wind turbines inside (they look like airplane engines).

On the other side is Prince William Sound (Exxon Valdez) and what looks like a Siberian ghost town.

I hurry back to Anchorage for food and gas before continuing on through Wasilla (Sarah Palin).

It’s nothing but endless Birch and Pine trees for the next 290 miles. Then out of the corner of my eye:

Moose!

(brakes)

He pauses and looks at me, then decides I’m too far away and continues grazing. Awesome.

At last I arrive at beautiful Denali National Park (6 million acres, the largest in North America), home to Mt. McKinley (20k ft., largest in NA).

Luckily I arrive when they just happen to be allowing free camping, so I try to fall asleep in my car while watching the mosquitoes bounce of the glass.

It’s 37 degrees and I turn on the car every 3 hours for heat. The sun partially sets at 11:30pm and there’s no Northern Lights (awe…).

Tuesday – May 11th

As I begin driving back to Anchorage, I come across caribou (reindeer) and 65mph wind gusts. It begins snowing and I pass countless beaver dams,

and I also notice I’m running out of gas in the middle of nowhere.

Uh-o. After some quick math, I learn that I have 62 miles of gas left and it’s 60 miles to the nearest gas station. I roll into the gas station just as the gas light comes on. (ha ha)

Back in Anchorage, it’s on to the Alaskan Zoo and some polar bears. But it’s the huge

wolves that steal the show, wrestling and howling.

The camel caught me by surprise, as so did the Muskox that charged me

(love that fence!). After staring at the giant claws on the brown bears, I learned that black bears can actually have blue fur.  (that’s fascinating Mr. Wizard!)

Back at the hostel, I get ready for my 12:30am flight to LAX (via Seattle). In my future

I have a 40 minute layover in LAX before getting on a non-connecting international flight to Japan with another airline. I’m also unable to print my boarding pass in advance.

I will not make that flight….

or will I?

Be on the look out for the next Post of “Scott’s Trip Around the World!”

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