Mal and Darrens Great Alaskan Trip

I decided that i wanted to visit my buddy Darren who lives in Alaska. i have been wanting to visit him for years now and the time was right to do so. ABOVE IS THE FIRST CABIN WE STAYED IN ON OUR TRIP. THE ALASKAN STATE PARK SYSTEM HAS ABOUT 40 OF THESE SPREAD AROUND THE STATE WHICH ARE AVAILABLE FOR ABOUT $40 A NIGHT. WE AGREED IT WOULD BE BETTER THAN SLEEPING IN OUR TENTS. DENALI PARK IS RATED ONE OF THE BEST PARKS IN AMERICA. VERY EXCITING. THE GREAT ALASKAN PIPLINE. IT RUNS LIKE THIS FOR 1300KM'S


A PRETTY FOX ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, CHILLING NO DOUBT
UP NORTH ALOT OF THE FOLIAGE WAS QUITE WIND AND SNOW SWEPT.
THE COLORS OF THE GLACIAL RUNOFF ARE AMAZINGLY DEEP
THIS IS A PANORAMIC PIC THAT DARREN TOOK OF DENALI, 20 000 FEET HIGH AND THE HIGHEST POINT IN NORTH AMERICA. IT IS RARELY SEEN BY VISITORS OR LOCALS AND USUALLY LOOMS BEHIND A CURTAIN OF FOG. WE WERE LUCKY. IT IS MAGNIFICENT. THE BASE IS AT 2000 FEET SO IT SHOOTS STRAIGHT UP LIKE NO OTHER MOUNTAIN IN THE WORLD.
WE TOOK A FJORD CRUISE WHICH WAS NICE. WE WERE IN A BOWL LIKE BAY WHERE THE MOUNTAINS MET AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN 1 MILE DOWN!



DARREN AND I IN FRONT OF DENALI...GOOD TIMES
MORE GOOD TIMES ROUND THE POT BELLY STOVE THIS TIME.
READY TO HEAD OUT FOR THE NIGHT. WE LUGGED IN OUR FOOD BOOZE AND FIREWOOD ON THIS SLED. MOSTLY BOOZE THOUGH. ITS COLD OUT THERE.
WE WERE REFUSED ENTRY TO THIS INN AS WE DIDNT FIT THE PROFILE OF THE SIGN.
OUR THIRD CABIN WHICH WAS A DRIVE UP, NICE. WE MADE IT TO THE ARCTIC CIRCLE. QUITE A LIFE ACCOMPLISHMENT IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF. HERE I AM WITH THE WORLD ON MY SHOULDERS. ON THIS TRIP I HARDLY HAD THE WORLD ON MY SHOULDERS. MORESO I FELT LIKE A MOSQUITOE MOST OF THE TIME BUZZING AROUND IN THIS VAST STATE. IT IS THE LARGEST OF STATES BY 3 TIMES AND THERE ARE ONLY 600000 PEOPLE LIVING THERE. MOST OF THEM KNOW EACH OTHER.
TWAS VERY COLD NEAR THE ARCTIC CIRCLE. I WAS PUTTING ON CLOTHES HERE AS WE WERE RUNNING OUT OF FUEL. IT WAS A LONG DISTANCE BETWEEN GAS STATIONS AND AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE GAS GAUGE BELOW WE CAME VERY CLOSE TO RUNNING OUT OF FUEL. DARREN AND I WERE QUITE STRESSED AS TIME WENT ON. BUT JUST AS THE GAS LIGHT CAME ON WE SAW A GAS STATION IN THE DISTANCE. WE DID A DANCE TO CELEBRATE WHICH IS NOT PICTURED HERE.
WE WENT FOR A MOUNTAIN FLIGHT IN A SMALL 4 SEATER CESSNA. IT WAS AMAZING FLYING ABOVE ALL THE MOUNTAINS AND LOOKING DOWN ON THE GLACIERS AND CREVACES. ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL, BUT I AM SCARED OF HEIGHTS AND MY BODY STARTED SEIZING UP ON ME WHICH WAS QUITE UNUSUAL AND DISTRACTING. I DID MAKE IT BACK WITHOUT PASSING OUT MUCH TO THE DELIGHT OF MY PILOT AND DARREN.


ALL IN ALL THIS WAS A WONDERFUL TRIP. IT WAS GREAT TO GET AWAY FOR A BIT TO SUCH A REMOTE PLACE. IT REALLY FELT LIKE THE EDGE OF THE EARTH. MY FRIEND DARREN TOOK GREAT CARE OF ME AND AS MY BAGS WERE 3 DAYS LATE I BORROWED HIS GIRL JEANNAS GEAR WHICH WAS VERY NICE OF HER. IT WORKED VERY WELL THOUGH IT WAS A LITTLE TIGHT... AND RED.