Saturday, July 9, 2011

Vacation!

Where does a truck driver go on vacation? Many truckers I know go someplace where there is absolutely zero chance of having to hear an engine running. (There are exceptions, like Dave, who is presently camped out at the Kentucky Speedway, but that's Dave.) I went as far from the lower 48 as I could without leaving the country: Alaska! I've been working for my company for 2.5 years and I've loved my 34-hour breaks on the beach in Southern California, my summer weekend off in the heart of Rocky Mountain Montana, harvest weekend with cousins in Northern Vermont, day off with an old friend in New York City, warm winter evenings in the hills of North Georgia, etc. But I haven't taken a vacation since I started trucking. Actually, I haven't taken a vacation since 2003. This one absolutely made up for lost time.



I have to admit I sleep a hundred times better in the truck than the tent, but I'll take the itinerary, the route, and the scenery here any day of the year. Wait. I should amend that. This is late June, with unmelted snow and winter parkas. I would prefer to be in the truck with engine heat, dry blankets, and a parking space any day in December. And some other months, too.



That's me hiking down a snowfield to get to a glacier. In late June. Truth be told, It was perfect spring skiing weather and I was thrilled to be there after running I-80 in 95-degree heat a few weeks earlier.










Alpine glaciers are one kind of place I'm sure have no truck parking.



A friend took this shot which I nominate for best-of-trip. Among other reasons, it shows the transition from snowy tundra in the Crow Pass to green valley of the Raven Creek, the runoff from the Raven Glacier above, and on down to the Eagle River.



It was so nice to have friends with me on my lunch break.



Most days I do 350 miles (with LTL stops, truckers). This day we did 8, and there didn't seem to be a drop of energy left in any of us at the end of it. This shot is looking several miles back up the valley to the pass.



An awesome spot to set up chapel, beside the Eagle River. A little while later, a bald eagle soared right over it! And nice stone work, gentlemen. New England farmers of past centuries would be proud of you.




See? A bald eagle!





Some impressive shots taken by one of my fellow hikers. We hiked 26 miles on the Crow Pass Trail, the second half or so along the Eagle River. It felt just like Middle Earth.



Alaska in June provides nearly endless daylight. We never set up camp, or ate dinner, or went to our tents, or woke up in the middle of the night, in the dark. I left my flashlight in Anchorage to spare the weight. This photo was taken on the summer solstice around midnight. I'm in love with Alaska.

(* Thank you to my fellow trekkers whose awesome photos I couldn't resist including here. If you'd like to take your photo back, just let me know.)