After finishing the Pacific Northwest Trail, Kelly, who had been helping me with resupply and providing rides to towns, drove me to Kindabird and SOS’s house where I was able to shower and wash my clothes. The next day we drove to Bellingham. Kelly went on her way while I stayed a week with MaryAnn waiting for the ferry to Juneau, Alaska.

I spent three days on the ferry and have now been in Alaska for about two weeks. Thanks to Doris June via Debbie, who I’ve written about before, I’ve been able to do some amazing things up here. I have been to numerous glaciers and climbed mountains in a number of places. I’ve traveled by foot, ferry, sea plane, tour boat, commercial plane and car. Soon I will add helicopter and kayak to that list. I have seen many sights including whales, puffins, otters, seals, sea lions, marmots, bears, Dal sheep, mountain goats, moose, bear, ermines, northern lights, museums, indigenous demonstrations and so much more. While there is much I want to say, it has been difficult for me to write because my focus has been on getting from place to place and planning and executing my days.

This will be a shortish blog to share with you loyal readers some of the splendors I have seen thus far. The main thing I will say now is it is impossible to put Alaska in any one box. It varies so much from place to place. And of course this reminds me how almost nothing can be carorgarized in just a single box. Every place I have ever been to, every person I have met, all are extremely multi facited. Even flowers of the same species vary in color or height. I have encountered animals of the same species with different temperaments. Some have been curious, some agressive and others so timid they immediately run off.

I have been working these last number of years not to put anything, especially people, into any one box. I strive to leave the door open so I can see all they have to offer. By doing this I am usually able to find somthing I appreciate no matter where I am or who I am with. It aids me in my work as a ski instructor with folks who need more help. Rather than seeing disability, I’m able to draw out their potential to become independent skiers, even when other people have told them they never would be able to do so. If I don’t like someone, rather then writing them off, I look inside myself to see what it is I don’t like about myself that I am projecting onto that other person. Then I try to learn more about that person and find things I can appreciate.

I do believe everyone, even people who have created the most heinous of crimes, are redeemable, especially if they can make a safe, non-judgmental connection with someone else, even if that someone is a dog, cat or snail. I truly believe connection is one of the most important, life changing things we can do in life.

Here in Alaska there are so many obvious connections, such as the ones between fresh running streams, salt water, salmon, birds, plants, seals, bear, people and more. Most salmon become food for bears, seals and so many other creatures. Out of millions of eggs, only one or two percent of adult salmon make it back upstream to spawn and then die. The many dead, stinking salmon dotting steams in Alaska are a great source of fertilizer for untold numbers of plants, as well as food for birds who like to eat the eyes of the dead fish.

Interconnectedness helps all species stay alive. I feel so sad when I reflect on how polarized and disconnected our world has become, especially our political world. Perhaps a prerequisite for all politicians should be a year long trip in the wilderness.

But enough of my ramblings. I’m including a variety of pictures from my time thus far in Alaska. To see more go to my Instagram @ theMarybadass or look me up on facebook.