Adventure Packed

I never thought I'd set foot in a packraft.  Frankly, I hadn't even heard the term "packraft" until I moved to Alaska.  And even then, I thought it was fantasy land - an adventure you only read about in books.  At this month's Becoming an Outdoors-Woman weekend event, I learned exactly what it means to packraft - and I had the time of my time.

Packrafts are small, portable, and inflatable boats, designed to be light enough to be carried long distances.  Along with eight other adventurous souls, we explored the edges of Echo Cove and the boundaries of Berner's Bay, a pristine location about 40 miles north of Juneau.

Starting out, we hiked for about half an hour across the warm Cowee meadows with our packrafts and paddles in tow.  It was a pleasant hike, but we quickly found ourselves shedding layers with the unseasonably warm climate.  It was 72 degrees and brought back memories of Alabama humidity.  Before too long, we found a nice rocky beach, a perfect spot to put our pack rafts in to the chilled waters of the Cowee Creek.

Floating down the waterway, we practiced our ferrying technique, learned more about reading water, and worked to steer clear of boulders as we negotiated the creek.  I had a blast with the group as we learned new skills together in a beautiful and breathtaking environment. 

The whole packrafting experience was something I'm anxious to experience again soon.  Next adventure on the water?  Maybe I'll try my hand at fishing or crabbing from a packraft!  Stranger things have happened, so stay tuned!

Kayaking the Golden Hour

As the old adage goes, do one thing every day that scares you.  And that's pretty much how it began. 

What started as a “let’s stay close to shore” excursion quickly turned into my first, long distance, open water, channel crossing of North America’s longest and deepest fjord.

Juneau has been blessed with spectacular weather this month, so I jumped at the chance to join my friend and internationally acclaimed, award-winning nature photographer, Daniel Buck, on a kayaking trip north of Alaska’s capital city.

Initially, I just wanted to get a seal’s eye view of the spot I had camped at a few weeks earlier.  But as we paddled along the foreboding granite cliffs high above our 14 foot kayaks, the surge of adrenalin was unmistakable.  My mind encouraged me to “just go for it.”  And so it began.  Baby steps transformed into leaps of faith which led to an unforgettable adventure of a lifetime. 

We found ourselves leaving the protected cove and venturing out into open water.  Little did I know at the time, but our kayaks were cruising above the historic shipwreck site of the SS Princess Kathleen, a steamship that met her dark watery grave just 63 years prior.

Unfazed, we scanned the horizon for the jubilant exhale of humpback whales, occasionally spotting playful harbor porpoises close by.  With this remarkable encounter alone, my trepidation and fear of the unknown subsided.

As the waves catapulted us closer and closer to our wilderness destination, at one point with my rookie hand I felt the tide taking my kayak in one direction, the wind pulling me in another.  Powering through, we arrived at the shores of Shelter Island after an ambitious and arm-clinching paddle.  Completely worth it. 

Securing the boats above the tide-line, we scrambled along the rugged and rocky shore to gain a higher vantage point on the ocean landscape we had just traversed.  The first half of the journey was now complete, though it felt like a journey just beginning.

After some time exploring the island's unprotected eastern shores and doing a bit of beach-combing, we paddled back to the mainland, surrounded by God’s wonderland stretching as far as the eye can see.

As the sun set behind the majestic snow-capped peaks, the waters we had just conquered were bathed in the warm glow of the golden hour.  During a particularly Zen-like moment, I paused in the middle of the waterway, letting the silence of the world engulf me, comforted only by the presence of nature and the sound of the cerulean waves gently lapping the boat.

There, at sunset, as the small kayak gently rode the ocean swells, I had a revelation.  Growing up in Alabama, I lived an unexceptional life.  Now in Alaska, I am living a life without exception - a life where each day I do one thing that scares me, strengthens me, and fulfills me.  Where each day is nothing less than an epic adventure, all in America’s Last Frontier.

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Here's a big THANK YOU to Daniel for taking many of the photos above and sharing them with me so I can share them with you. 

Check out Daniel's other awe-inspiring photographs at Wilderness Peaks Gallery, Alaska's premiere fine art photography gallery.

Bravo for Brewskis

Before I moved to Alaska, I didn't really care for beer. Okay, I'll be honest: I hated the taste of it.  But having now lived in Juneau for six years, I've discovered that my taste buds just weren't well developed enough in the Deep South with all that Coors Light and Budweiser floating around (no offense, Clydesdales).

The exciting thing about Juneau is that it's home to the Alaskan Brewing Company, an internationally recognized, award winning craft brewery founded in 1986. And I must say, I actually like beer now!

This evening, our hometown brewery hosted an invitation-only event at the Twisted Fish restaurant downtown near the cruise ship docks.  It felt like half of Juneau showed up to sample different flavors and welcome in summer. 

I sampled the (new to me) Icy Bay IPA, but Raspberry Wheat is still my favorite.

Thanks, Alaskan Brewing, for rolling out the red carpet for your fans! 

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With co-founder, Geoff Larson.  Learn more about the founders, Geoff and Marcy, in this Craft Beer feature.

With co-founder, Geoff Larson.  Learn more about the founders, Geoff and Marcy, in this Craft Beer feature.

My good friend, Gretchen, was visiting from Anchorage. She runs an awesome blog - www.gretchenlovesanchorage.com - which I encourage you to check out!

Cinco de Mayo

Winter in Juneau this year was practically nonexistent. We didn't get a lot of snow, which made the winter days drag on and on. What I've discovered through my years of living in Alaska is that sometimes you just have to get out of town. And get outta dodge we did!

Along with two good friends who joined me for a Mexico adventure, I traveled to Puerto Vallarta for some much needed rest, relaxation, and sunshine. 

Mucho gracias to the Westin Resort and Spa for a truly memorable and luxurious stay.  

Here are a few snapshots from our time South of the Border.  

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