tour of the last frontier

My sister, Alli, has come for the summer. There are four girls in our family and we are stacked on either end: I’m oldest, she’s youngest… separated by nearly 15 years. We have four brothers, too, and my family is very close.  I was off living my own life by the time she was entering school age, but luckily we have had a lot of opportunity to grow with each other. It is a real treat for me to have any family here in Alaska… for so long, it’s been us flying solo.

When I play tour guide, I get this renewed vibrance for this place. It’s refreshing to have that reminder, and always a treat to be witness to another’s awe.  It helps that I can’t remember the last time it rained. We’ve played in the sun at the beach, explored the downtown scene (it’s Alaska Folk Fest week!), hiked, cooked, watched for Northern Lights beside a campfire… it’s been a whirlwind week. It’s always funny to introduce someone to Alaska during a feverish sunny spell. She’ll soon learn that when it rains… everything ramps down a good few paces. Oh, the Juneau cycle. But still, the sun beckons, spring is everywhere, and we keep our manic velocity.

The wonders of Southeast have not been shy about showing themselves:

gold creek bridge

low tide at point louisa

a walk with pockets full of good beer

view of the mendenhall glacier valley from north douglas

basking in the sun, watching the chilkat range, glassy water… alaska at it’s finest.