Ginnylynnpeterson: Donnelly to Mckinley

Showing posts with label Donnelly to Mckinley. Show all posts

Monday, September 5, 2011

A Long Adventure Across A Very Small Part of Alaska: Donnelly to McKinley Village

This series of posts has been a long time coming. After a lot of trip digesting and technical computer difficulties I am back in business and ready to post one of the most mentally and physically challenging trips of all time....or at least of my all time (and yes jon cobb it was by far the hardest!).

In short, we started in a town called Donnelly and ended in McKinley Village - basically highway to highway. This route was the 2009 Wilderness Classic Route and after finishing this adventure I am 100% sure I have NO interest in ever doing a Classic!

We took 8 days to do roughly 130 miles of hiking and pack rafting....I've decided to not go into too much detail about the trip, but would rather share a few photos and journal entries along the way......Sherrie's Blog has more info and even more photos!! If you are ever in need of route betta, please feel free to contact me!

Enjoy the adventure

Donnelly to McKinley Day 1: Mountains in the forecast

"The sun isn't going to set tonight because we are so far north.....it adds to our excitement! We are anxious to get started and curious to see what lies ahead....."
journal entry 17 Jun 11

"Like all trips, that rush of nervousness and adrenaline fills my body.....so unknown. Except this is Alaska - bigger, longer, harder than all the rest"

journal entry 17 Jun 11

Day one ends with a bit of packrafting, lots of up-hill, and lots of smiles!

Donnelly to McKinley Day 2: Path of Least Resistance

"The packs feel heavy, but at least I won the rosh for cooking dinner last night and pack is just a little lighter than it was!"

journal entry 19 jun 11

The views are just beautiful!

"One of my learning lessons of the day is taking the path of least resistance, yet the path of least resistance isn't always the same for everyone......I feel this philosophy apples to other things in life."

journal entry 19 jun 11

"Crossing the glacier wore me out....I felt this photo of Ryan pretty much sums up how I feel right now!"

journal entry 19 jun 11

Donnelly to McKinley Day 3: TUS What?? Time to Start Thinking LIke a Moose

"It was supposed to get easier after crossing the glacier, but it hasn't eased up and we are REALLY out here......"

journal entry 20 jun 11

"Another long day with not as many miles covered as expected. Lots of rain, but it ended on a good note with beautiful mountains and blue skies....just enough to dry us out before bed."

journal entry 20 jun 11

Tus-sock noun \ˈtə-sək\:a compact tuft especially of grass or sedge; also: an area of raised solid ground in a marsh or bog that is bound together by roots of low vegetation.

Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary

All I got to say, is we had MORE THAN ENOUGH experience with this stuff!!!

Donnelly to McKinley Day 4: Party on the Sandbar

This picture makes me laugh as we look so happy, but when I think back, and read my journal, I was really suffering at this point! Glad to know I can still keep a smile on my face!!

"Today may have been the hardest day yet...more mountain passes and long river walks. Lots of rain today, with a lot of bush wacking. I lost my paddle poles off my pack today -- i just wanted to sit down in defeat and screem "You Win!!!", but instead we retraced our steps, found the poles, and were on our way. Note to self: figure out a better system to strap those things on!"

journal entry 21 jun 11

I'll be honest, these pictures don't give the day the justice that it needs......!

Donnelly to McKinley Day 5: The Three Bears

"Today started with three bears, well after the mosquito's in the tent. The bears left us alone, but it was certainly the closest I had ever been to bears in the wild. Really amazing to see."

journal entry 22 jun 11

"We made it over two passes today. Travel still seems to go slower than we would like, but its just been really hard. I'm impressed with how well my body is holding up."

journal entry 22 Jun 11

"No rain at the end of the day, mountain peaks surround us, and mosquito's attack us....overall an amazing day."

journal entry 22 jun 11

Donnelly to McKinley Day 6: We Travel Like Horses Headed to the Barn

"The riverbed finally eased up, and allowed us to move faster. Between the GPS and the map we pretty much know where we are at all times.....I find it amazing, and wish my skills were dialed in....couldn't do it with out Sher and Ry."

journal entry 23 jun 11

"Seeing the Wood River and knowing we were about to float, made me move faster. However, a new nervousness begins to fill inside myself as I know new risks and skills are now in front of me."

journal entry 23 jun 11

"We pulled out at Big Grizzly - its late and we are all cold. We made a huge fire, ate some food and warmed up. My sports bra has been soaked for many days now after falling into the river the other day. I'm not sure it will ever dry. Sherrie's GPS broke today and that was a bummer. Hard to believe we only have two days left of this crazy adventure."

journal entry jun 23 11

Donnelly to McKinley Day 7: Counting Sheep

Not much in my journal on this day, other than I couldn't sleep!

However, I can remember the feelings of the day....another long day.....taking it all in, knowing we are close to the end.

Part of me wanting it to end, and go eat that huge burger and drink a cold beer that awaits me, but another part that feels so comfortable and at peace out here in the middle of nowhere.......

Donnelly to McKinley Day 8: One more Cup of Coffee Before I Go

I love this shot! So great to wake up in a tent every morning! We actually took the mega mid which worked pretty well. A little wet on some days, but it fit three and our gear really well...and didn't weigh very much.

Ryan having a little bit of trouble getting up on our last day!

The view of our last valley from the river....A long river float back, a short hike, and then we will be back in town.......burgers, beer, showers, and Raphael!!!!!!!

"And now we are back where we started with new experiences under our belt. Always odd to come back....transition....a mixed feeling of wanting to run around and tell everyone what we just did, and another part that just wants to keep it all inside....."

journal entry 27 jun 11

Meet Joe Black Quote

"Love is passion, obsession, someone you can't live without. If you don't start with that, what are you going to end up with? Fall head over heels. I say find someone you can love like crazy and who'll love you the same way back. And how do you find him? Forget your head and listen to your heart. I'm not hearing any heart. Run the risk, if you get hurt, you'll come back. Because, the truth is there is no sense living your life without this. To make the journey and not fall deeply in love - well, you haven't lived a life at all. You have to try. Because if you haven't tried, you haven't lived"

To Lucy Barfield (The dedication in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe)

My Dear Lucy,
I wrote ths story for you, but when I began it I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books. As a result you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound you will be older still. But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. You can take it down from some upper shelf, dust it, and tell me what you think of it. I shall probably be too deaf to hear, and too old to understand, a word you say, but I shall still be

your affectionate Godfather,
C.S. Lewis

Ithaka

When setting out upon your way to Ithaca,wish always that your course be long, full of adventure, full of lore.Of the Laestrygones and of the Cyclopes,of an irate Poseidon never be afraid; such things along your way you will not find,if lofty is your thinking, if fine sentimentin spirit and in body touches you. Neither Laestrygones nor Cyclopes,nor wild Poseidon will you ever meet,unless you bear them in your soul,unless your soul has raised them up in front of you.

Wish always that your course be long;that many there be of summer mornswhen with such pleasure, such great joy,you enter ports now for the first time seen;that you may stop at some Phoenician marts,to purchase there the best of wares,mother-of-pearl and coral, amber, ebony,hedonic perfumes of all sorts--as many such hedonic perfumes as you can;that you may go to various Egyptian townsto learn, and learn from those schooled there.

Your mind should ever be on Ithaca.Your reaching there is your prime goal.But do not rush your journey anywise.Better that it should last for many years,and that, now old, you moor at Ithaca at last,a man enriched by all you gained upon the way,and not expecting Ithaca to give you further wealth.
For Ithaca has given you the lovely trip.Without her you would not have set your course.There is no more that she can give.

If Ithaca seems then too lean, you have not been deceived.As wise as you are now become, of such experience,you will have understood what Ithaca stands for.

Constantine P. Cavafy

I am Vertical - Sylvia Plath

But I would rather be horizontal. I am not a tree with my root in the soil Sucking up minerals and motherly love So that each March I may gleam into leaf, Nor am I the beauty of a garden bed Attracting my share of Ahs and spectacularly painted, Unknowing I must soon unpetal. Compared with me, a tree is immortal And a flower-head not tall, but more startling, And I want the one's longevity and the other's daring.

Tonight, in the infinitesimal light of the stars, The trees and the flowers have been strewing their cool odors. I walk among them, but none of them are noticing. Sometimes I think that when I am sleeping I must most perfectly resemble them --
Thoughts gone dim. It is more natural to me, lying down.
Then the sky and I are in open conversation, And I shall be useful when I lie down finally: Then the trees may touch me for once, and the flowers have time for me.

Thoughts....

When you see that trading is done, not by consent, but by compulsion -- when you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing - when you see money flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favors - when you see that men get richer by graft and pull than by work, and your laws don't protect you against them, but protect them against you - when you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice - you may know that your society is doomed.

Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged (1957)

A friend of mine just shared this with me and I thought I would pass it on!

Myself
by Edgar Guest

I have to live with myself, and so, I want to be fit for myself to know;I want to be able as days go by, Always to look myself straight in the eye; I don't want to stand with the setting sun
And hate myself for the things I've done. I don't want to keep on a closet shelf A lot of secrets about myself, And fool myself as I come and go Into thinking that nobody else will know The kind of man I really am; I don't want to dress myself up in sham. I want to deserve all men's respect; But here in this struggle for fame and pelf, I want to be able to like myself. I don't want to think as I come and go That I'm for bluster and bluff and empty show. I never can hide myself from me, I see what others may never see, I know what others may never know, I never can fool myself -- and so, Whatever happens, I want to be Self-respecting and conscience free.