Adventure in Alaska

By James Gore

1/15/11

I’ve had an amazing and important expedition over the past week in Alaska.

People often rave about the beauty of Alaskan summers; however, with our trip taking place in the dead of winter, I have experienced a far different Alaska. And while those stories of summer travels often wax poetic, evoking images of vibrant colors and flush natural life, the Alaska I visited was one of frigid and austere beauty: snow capped mountain tops, snow drift laden roads, frozen lakes and rivers, thick winter-coated animals, temperatures in the zero to thirty below zero range, and winds upwards of fifty miles per hour.

But also within this striking landscape, I have experienced a dazzling warmth from these people and this land. I have met those whom at first look resembled layers of winter gear more than they did people, but I also found smiles and kindness once those layers were removed. I encountered days that more resembled nights, with a mere 5 hours of dusk-style sunlight; however, within those days of darkness, I have also found the dancing colors of the Aurora Borealis as they taught me that the cold brings beauty as well.

My colleagues and I have undertaken meetings with Alaskan tribal leaders through which I have learned about their lives and their battle to hold on to their culture, their autonomy, and their rights to continue a subsistence based life.

I have learned a ton, and I have loved doing so.

Although I want nothing more than to now return to my family and to my home, I feel full having experienced so much in such a short amount of time.

In that same breath, the next few blog posts will detail a few slices of life from our adventure in Alaska.