We’re halfway through the trip. It feels both like we’ve seen so much and still have so much more.
Day 7 was all about protecting sea life, conservation, and the impacts of global warming. In the morning, we went to the Alaska SeaLife Center. It’s part aquarium, part interactive museum. It’s an active research center that was expanded in the 1990s with funding from the criminal settlement following the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill. Their mission is to bring people in close contact with cutting-edge marine research. The kids loved this place. I was a bit surprised because it was inside (and, if I’m honest, required a lot of reading.)
In the afternoon, we went to Kenai Fjords National Park to hike the Exit Glacier. As you drive into the park, there are small signs with years on them—starting around 1815. You later learn these are markers for what used to be the end of the glacier. We all had a moment to reflect on global warming—and that I badgered everyone into overdressing. It was a gorgeous, sunshine-y day. Everyone shed a layer and we were off.
As we started, we had what’s becoming our standard conversation on what we’d do if we encountered a bear or a moose. The park is in impeccable condition. The very busy trail goes from paved, to packed gravel up to an overlook. We then went off the approved portion and did a longer rock scramble- with stretches that made my heart skip watching the kids pass through incredibly narrow ledges. Brian is supremely confident in their abilities and they follow his directions well- it just makes me nervous when we’re out that far and up so high.
That said, I’m really, really glad we did it. This was the only hike without frequent complaints. They just love climbing and scrambling over the rocks. We got much closer to the glacier and stopped for a water break. And in a completely unexpected turn of events, Marin pull out a top molar. Okay, then.
After safely making it back to the ranger station without any animal run-ins or falling off the face of the cliff, the kids all did the Junior Ranger booklet. Initially, Baya was the only one interested.
Once Linc and Marin saw her badge, they changed their minds. One by one, they then took their oath. “I promise to protect the park, our community, and the earth….”
Continuing our beer-tasting/brewery visit streak, we then went to the Seward Brewing Company where our sweet, sweet waitress was named Virginia. She had a map of the world tattooed on her leg—and made sure we noted that it wasn’t to scale. Got it.
The brewery is on a old, touristy strip of Seward. So, of course, they have an ice cream/fudge shop next door where we stopped before heading home for dinner.
After a recommendation from a client, we’re all hooked on the show Alone. We’re watching Season 6 where they’re in the Arctic (on the Canadian side.) Their struggles to find, snare, catch, hunt, and trap food are eye-opening. We’ve all agreed that if we were going on the show, we’d pack a case of granola bars as one of our 10 items. I’m sure this is against show rules but no one in this family will be skinning a mouse any time soon.
Things I want to remember:
Watching Linc push through a bit of fear on the hike and successfully cross the narrow ledge.
Hearing them all take their oath to protect the earth.
The near-constant gymnastics practice and Baya holding her handstand for a couple of seconds.
Marin stopping multiple times on the hike to notice the beautiful view—and saying it out loud.
Brian and I sharing a stunned laugh after hearing how much it’ll cost to ship 65 pounds of frozen fish (our haul from Homer.) Woah. Fish fry at our place when we get back!