Letter of Intent (Alaska or Bust)
Well, today I committed to something I have been thinking about for awhile. I purchased the non-refundable tickets to Fairbanks, AK on Aug 21st. This sets me to head to Alaska and then find my way home so to speak. I would like to call it more of a pilgmage. Completion of one part of my life (BS. Biology, Minor Geology), and beginning of a new phase of exploration.
Out of Fairbanks, I want to head down to the base of Denali at Denali Lake and Campout for a few days. Then head up to the transform Plate Boudary in the Alaksa Range where the Pacific slides past the North American Plate, (Same action as San Andreas, yet with Alaskan epic proportions. There is a glacier that makes two right angle turns due to the motion on the plates. There is a mountain overlooking it, I want to go there...
Then after that head by train down to the Mananuska Valley/Glacier and Eagle River, where I will head on by backpack acrossed the Chugach, till I reach Telegraph Pass and Anchorage, AK. Then head by train again till I reach Kenii Fjoids and explore the Glaciers there. After that hike to Seward, and explore that town and the area around Cordova. I am not sure, but heading into the Prince William Sound would be cool. But my next leg would likely be to Yakatat...
Out side Yakatat there is a large Glacier that comes out of the Saint Ellies Range, the Malispina. It is huge and reaches the sea where it makes a flat plane. It would be cool to see that and maybe even the mouth of the Aleka River that comes out of the interior of Klune Lake. Then continue by Ferry to Juneau.
In Juneau, I want to check out UAS, and the Mendenhall Glacier there. Climb to the top of Mt. Juneau and look out across the Juneau Ice Fields. From there you can see Devils Paw. I want to explore this town if it may be one of the places I end up. Taku Bay, Auke Bay and the Northern part of Douglas Island. Then catch a Ferry up to Skagway. From there get on the trail, at Dyes, and hike the 24 someodd miles to Lake Bennett. This area is the Gold Rush Pass (Chilkoot Trail) as well as the place they filled Never Cry Wolf. That movie has been a life long inspiration, and part of what I think makes me tick inside. After reaching Lake Bennett, I want to turn around and head back to Skagway via the White Pass Train, that I remember taking long ago when I was a kid, and have a nice restful night in Skagway with all the other Tourists... hehe... There is a little Lake overlooking Skagway, if I have time, I want to explore that trail and look at upper Lynn Canal all the way to Lutak Bay.
Intend to head to Haines. This was the place where I spent summers from 2 till 10 years old. I have memories to this day of perfect days, they seem to revolve around this place. This is where I first began hiking on my own. I want to revisit these places.... Battery Point, Cannery, Mud Bay, Pyrimiad Harbor, Klukwan, Mt Repenski (my first mountain hike). If I get a chance I want to try and hitch to Chilkat Pass (27 miles up the road, with it's sweeping vista overlooking the Yukon. Somewhere out there is Klune, a mystic lake that I will make a pilgramage to another time. These places stir me more then I can possible tell anyone. Likely I will be noticed in the town by my family there... I really don't intend on saying anything to them, rather camp out on Portage Bay, and remember those times before... And just enjoy...
Then from there the long boat ride down. If I can, catch a ferry to Tennekee Hotsprings. this is a mythical place on Chernicoff Island. Soak my worn bones in these waters, and then on to Sitka, the old Russian Capital. There is an old forest indain village remains that I want to walk amongst as well as taking in those Tlingit Cultural neuances the entire time. Sitka is another possible destination, and the thrid town on my way with a Buddhist Retreat Center that I want to check out. From there the boat will either go to Petersberg or Wrangel. Stay for a little bit and then on to Ketchikan. Each place I want to explore the forests of the Tongass. Southeastern Alaska is really the Alaska I know. I want spend some time in the Alaskan Yellow Cedars.
After Ketchikan, I will take the MV Columbia all the way back. I figure 1 1/2 months of travel. No rush, if it takes m longer, or if I find somewhere I intend to say... I will.. get a job and work to take it in... I don't know where my future after that lies, and realize that much of this will be decided on my trip. This is also that Buddhist Pilgramage to places of natural awe. It is an old Tibetan saying, that to pilgramage is not just the destination, yet the journey one takes that purifies and grows the soul. After this trip, I am not sure how I will be effected, but there is no way NOT to be effected. I just want to see where the wind takes me. In all reality this will be the biggest trip I have ever taken.
To get ready for this all here is what has to happen...
- (Become poor in though, save like a mother, and work) I will need around 2000 to make this trip.
- Finish out my Biology degree through the 7 classes I need to take
- Study independantly Nihongo so that I can place out of the course leaving more room for geology classes
- Take the three geology classes I need at this point to finish my Geology Minor. Also to prepare me to understand the topography that I will see
- Begin diligant Buddhist studies to keep my focus, meditation and to begin the new path of my life.
- Cardio-vascular to make it so that these trips will be good.
- Need to complete 3 climbs with the crew, Adams, Rainier, and Baker... (This will proably be all I can do with everything else.)
- Focus on this all, while letting go of the attachments that have misguided my life so far... It feels that where I am going, I have to go alone, independant. There is no room to distract myself with any relationships beyond friends. That is just not my direction in life... And I am truely at peace with my new understanding with this...
So that is it. My Letter of Intent to myself on where I am going and what I am doing. The Nonrefundable tickets are purchased and paid for to Fairbanks for Aug 21st. It is my job to make the trip back from Fairbanks and adventure worth the distance travelled...
With hope and Inspiration,
Jorj Aldair
Ridgewalker
Out of Fairbanks, I want to head down to the base of Denali at Denali Lake and Campout for a few days. Then head up to the transform Plate Boudary in the Alaksa Range where the Pacific slides past the North American Plate, (Same action as San Andreas, yet with Alaskan epic proportions. There is a glacier that makes two right angle turns due to the motion on the plates. There is a mountain overlooking it, I want to go there...
Then after that head by train down to the Mananuska Valley/Glacier and Eagle River, where I will head on by backpack acrossed the Chugach, till I reach Telegraph Pass and Anchorage, AK. Then head by train again till I reach Kenii Fjoids and explore the Glaciers there. After that hike to Seward, and explore that town and the area around Cordova. I am not sure, but heading into the Prince William Sound would be cool. But my next leg would likely be to Yakatat...
Out side Yakatat there is a large Glacier that comes out of the Saint Ellies Range, the Malispina. It is huge and reaches the sea where it makes a flat plane. It would be cool to see that and maybe even the mouth of the Aleka River that comes out of the interior of Klune Lake. Then continue by Ferry to Juneau.
In Juneau, I want to check out UAS, and the Mendenhall Glacier there. Climb to the top of Mt. Juneau and look out across the Juneau Ice Fields. From there you can see Devils Paw. I want to explore this town if it may be one of the places I end up. Taku Bay, Auke Bay and the Northern part of Douglas Island. Then catch a Ferry up to Skagway. From there get on the trail, at Dyes, and hike the 24 someodd miles to Lake Bennett. This area is the Gold Rush Pass (Chilkoot Trail) as well as the place they filled Never Cry Wolf. That movie has been a life long inspiration, and part of what I think makes me tick inside. After reaching Lake Bennett, I want to turn around and head back to Skagway via the White Pass Train, that I remember taking long ago when I was a kid, and have a nice restful night in Skagway with all the other Tourists... hehe... There is a little Lake overlooking Skagway, if I have time, I want to explore that trail and look at upper Lynn Canal all the way to Lutak Bay.
Intend to head to Haines. This was the place where I spent summers from 2 till 10 years old. I have memories to this day of perfect days, they seem to revolve around this place. This is where I first began hiking on my own. I want to revisit these places.... Battery Point, Cannery, Mud Bay, Pyrimiad Harbor, Klukwan, Mt Repenski (my first mountain hike). If I get a chance I want to try and hitch to Chilkat Pass (27 miles up the road, with it's sweeping vista overlooking the Yukon. Somewhere out there is Klune, a mystic lake that I will make a pilgramage to another time. These places stir me more then I can possible tell anyone. Likely I will be noticed in the town by my family there... I really don't intend on saying anything to them, rather camp out on Portage Bay, and remember those times before... And just enjoy...
Then from there the long boat ride down. If I can, catch a ferry to Tennekee Hotsprings. this is a mythical place on Chernicoff Island. Soak my worn bones in these waters, and then on to Sitka, the old Russian Capital. There is an old forest indain village remains that I want to walk amongst as well as taking in those Tlingit Cultural neuances the entire time. Sitka is another possible destination, and the thrid town on my way with a Buddhist Retreat Center that I want to check out. From there the boat will either go to Petersberg or Wrangel. Stay for a little bit and then on to Ketchikan. Each place I want to explore the forests of the Tongass. Southeastern Alaska is really the Alaska I know. I want spend some time in the Alaskan Yellow Cedars.
After Ketchikan, I will take the MV Columbia all the way back. I figure 1 1/2 months of travel. No rush, if it takes m longer, or if I find somewhere I intend to say... I will.. get a job and work to take it in... I don't know where my future after that lies, and realize that much of this will be decided on my trip. This is also that Buddhist Pilgramage to places of natural awe. It is an old Tibetan saying, that to pilgramage is not just the destination, yet the journey one takes that purifies and grows the soul. After this trip, I am not sure how I will be effected, but there is no way NOT to be effected. I just want to see where the wind takes me. In all reality this will be the biggest trip I have ever taken.
To get ready for this all here is what has to happen...
- (Become poor in though, save like a mother, and work) I will need around 2000 to make this trip.
- Finish out my Biology degree through the 7 classes I need to take
- Study independantly Nihongo so that I can place out of the course leaving more room for geology classes
- Take the three geology classes I need at this point to finish my Geology Minor. Also to prepare me to understand the topography that I will see
- Begin diligant Buddhist studies to keep my focus, meditation and to begin the new path of my life.
- Cardio-vascular to make it so that these trips will be good.
- Need to complete 3 climbs with the crew, Adams, Rainier, and Baker... (This will proably be all I can do with everything else.)
- Focus on this all, while letting go of the attachments that have misguided my life so far... It feels that where I am going, I have to go alone, independant. There is no room to distract myself with any relationships beyond friends. That is just not my direction in life... And I am truely at peace with my new understanding with this...
So that is it. My Letter of Intent to myself on where I am going and what I am doing. The Nonrefundable tickets are purchased and paid for to Fairbanks for Aug 21st. It is my job to make the trip back from Fairbanks and adventure worth the distance travelled...
With hope and Inspiration,
Jorj Aldair
Ridgewalker