Eklutna, Alaska

Eklutna Lake

I find myself driving the same roads, seeing the same signs and same exits and wondering where that road goes.  I think my dad started the adventure side of me.  He would take us to the end of a road, any road, just to see where it went.  We would take our bright orange '69 jeep (which my mom still has!) to follow electrical poles because "if the pole is there SOMEONE was once there, therefore we can do it again!"  Many times we got stuck and I can hear my mom scream, Loren and I in the back of the jeep, no seat belts, no helmets, hanging onto the roll bar, throwing our weight (as if THAT would help because we were so young), and trying to get unstuck.  My dad and Bob, Loren's Godfather, digging, pulling, finding traction, and getting us out.  

I love to drive and go for a drive.  Sometimes that's the best time to think and chill out and listen to new music you've downloaded to your phone.  Yesterday I plugged myself in and took off.  Just a short distance but still a road and sign that I've passed many times that I have wanted to explore.  Eklutna Lake.  If I go east where does the road go?  If I go west where does the road go?  First I followed the signs east to Eklutna Lake.  10 miles, no problem.  Nice road a little icy but wide and I would take it slow.  At about 8 miles to go the road narrowed and I slowed down.  I was in 2 wheel drive and I was good..... until I lost traction.  Front went to the right and rear went to the left and everything you learn went out the window.  I forgot to steer into the swerve and I put on the brakes.  WRONG on both accounts.  Okay, maybe 4wd would be better.  I put it in 4 and slowed wayyyyy down.  So if 35 mph was going to make me lose control, 25 in 4wd should work.  The car behind me slowed wayyyyy down too, I think I scared him too!  Eventually I let that car pass me as I continued on my journey to the end of the road.

I passed beautiful houses with sprawling views and shacks that looked like they were left over from the gold rush.  The road was narrow and steep then wide and flat.  As I approached Eklutna Lake I see a pay phone.  A pay phone out in the middle of nowhere!  That was funny!!  No one was at the pay station.  It's winter and you are on the honor system around here.  No one was around except the car that passed me way back when.  At that point I'm thinking maybe someone should know where I decided to go today.  I could get lost, slip on the ice or encounter an ax murderer.  (Yes, my mind does think that way)  Umm, okay... no service.  Maybe next time, but my daughter is going to be really mad at me, adventuring and not following protocol.  :)

I walked around a bit but it was very icy.  The lake is beautiful!  Frozen all the way across with foot prints of people and animals.  Sprawling mountains all around the rim.  The clouds were low and it was raining.  It wasn't the most beautiful day but to see places for the first time always has a beauty about it.  As I walked across a little bridge and followed the trail to the T and an old water pump.  A water pump?  Water available to all.  The sign suggests boiling first but I loved it!  My thoughts kept thinking of spring and summer and how this is going to be an awesome place to come back to.  This will be PERFECT to walk and hike and bring the ATV.  Trails for everything!  

As I drove back the 10 miles in 4wd on the ice, I enjoyed the views of the inlet.  I drive over the highway and take the road west and the end of the road was only about 1/2 mile.  It ends at a private residence and railroad tracks so I turn around.  I go back to an old church that I passed and went to check it out.  Meghan told me about the Alaska App and it can look where you are at and tell you what attractions are near.  Love this app!  So I open the app and get the information on the church and interesting looking cemetery that is in the back.  This is the home of the Eklutna Historical Park.  There is the St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church that dates back to 1650 when Russia still occupied Alaska and the cemetery of "spirit houses"  which is the final resting place of native and non-native members of the church.  

As I drive back to Anchorage and Adele's Hello plays for the 4th time I smile and think Adventure Accomplished and my dad would be proud that I went to the end of the road!

Always The Tour Guide, Never The Chaperone! (Until now!!)

It doesn’t matter where I go or who I am with, I’m ALWAYS the tour guide.  I have “the file” of things to do, places to go, where to eat, maps, yelp reviews, spa suggestions, etc.  While I may be mocked, I’m always the go-to person for information.  I’ve taken profession hockey players with their mascot and a hundred fans on a cruise.  I’ve escorted 200 science professionals with their families to Hawaii and I’m the leader on our annual girl’s trip    During my travel career I’ve been lucky to have many experiences of being the information booth and standing at the front of the bus describing points of interest.  When the opportunity came to chaperone my step son’s band trip to Southern California, I embraced the chance to go somewhere fun with the high school kids!  Sure, I’m ready for this! 

The experience of chaperoning incorporated all of what I’ve done previously to being responsible for 23 Anchorage high school students over 2000 miles from home.  The importance put upon us as chaperones hits like a brick.  What a culture shock from Alaska to Southern California;  temperature change of an 80+ degree swing and skin in desperate need of suntan location.  Add in the different ages, maturity and personalities of the students that have been put in our care for a week, some who have never been anywhere. 

Priorities are to keep them fed, hydrated, busy and above all, safe.  This task is exhausting!  The biggest help and the most fun is an app called GroupMe.  Advantage of this modern age is every student has a cell phone!  Have everyone in your group download the app.  It will be a saving grace and lots of laughs.  The leader or coordinator sends invites to everyone within the group and sets up the group.  Instead of doing a mass text and having everyone have your personal phone number, this provides the same type of platform for communication with added enhancements.  You can send pictures to the group.  You can meme the pictures and send them back to the group.  Members of the group can “like” the comments and/or photos and then see the most popular.  You can also personalize your settings with a personal photo.  This app can also be used on a girl’s weekend or family vacation.  Once you use the app, you can see the potential for a lot of uses.

Many of these students had never been to Southern California.  A few had never been out of Alaska.  Their excitement was contagious!  With redeye flights each way and four nights at the hotel, the package included as much as could be packed into a five day SoCal vacation.  The primary activity was to play for the World Strides Heritage Performance Program.  Each student brought their instrument and band attire and were playing for the scholars.  In addition to the performance we visited Hollywood with the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Redondo Beach, two days at Disneyland, California Adventure and Downtown Disney, Universal Studios Hollywood, Medieval Times, and an afternoon to enjoy the pool and activities at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.  It was nonstop from sun up to way after sun down!  Keeping the kids busy and exhausted also worked on us chaperones!

We had an excellent group of students!  Keeping them safe and allowing them their own independence is a balance.  They enjoyed staying with adults on and off throughout the days.  When not with us, we would have them check in via the GroupMe app at designated times and let us know where they were and with whom they were with.  The kids were great to check in prior if they were going to be on a ride.  If someone was late checking in, then the entire group was on watch for them and they were accountable to the group and not just the chaperones.  It didn’t happen often.  In the evenings, upon return to the hotel, the kids would have an hour or so until lights out.  After that time, we would do the bed check and tape the outside of their hotel door.  If the door opened in the middle of the night, we would know it and the kids would need to answer to us.  Again, very good students!

As I look at every experience as a learning curve, this chaperoning adventure was truly that, an adventure!  A good trip is one that you need to get back to everyday life in order to recover from.  This was no exception!  Being the tour guide, my responsibility is to provide an enjoyable time.  Being the chaperone, adds the level of safety to the already full job description.  Would I do it again, Hell YES!