From Indian To Glacier Bay

Greetingz!

On the fine Saturday of June 13th,  AK team 5 frantically packed and finalized  gear and food for the Journey to Glacier Bay from the Compound in Indian.  Coffee and bagels fueld our anticipation as thetime neared for our flight to Juneau .  After a scramble to get our gear bins onto the plane we were finally ready to trod on!

An hour and a half later we had arrived at the Juneau Airport where we had a long lay-over, some spent it by recharging the brain in a quick nap while others paced around frantically(although this was due to the excessive amount of coffee consumed before takeoff).  At around 4:45 AK.T.5 boarded the aircraft headed to Gustavus, Alaska located 15 minutes from Glacier Bay.  Within 20 minutes of flight time we were landing in Gustavus.  From there we met up with our Project Contact with the NPS, Dustin.  We loaded up gear into a flatbed truck and we climbed into a very retro, early 90's mini van, complete with a remote control cd changer!  We were finally away from the constraints of the civilized, modern world, and intern had taken a step back in time to the 90's.  After meeting several NPS staff upon arrival in Glacier bay we were invited to have spaghetti and moose-sausage for dinner!  This was much needed as airport food is excessively expensive in Alaska and having eaten our packed lunches many hour earlier! After cookies and much needed animal interaction with a very friendly golden retriever it was time to set up tents and call it a night.  Although its very hard to go to bed in such a magnificent setting, the crew needed our rest. 

Sunday the 14th was spent organizing food for the next 3 weeks and a more extensive look at bear interaction prevention and behaviour . Over the coming days We are getting trained in ATV and chainsaw use as well as small-plane flying procedures.  This may be the last Blog post for a good while!  Peace and Love- Alaska Team 5 

                  (written By Scotty Martell)  

    

Chronicles From The Butte: The Journey Begins

Once upon a time, five crew members from the four corners of the contiguous U.S. met in Ted Stevens Airport in Anchorage, Alaska. We were loaded into trucks and hauled to Chugach State Park where we inhabited Tent City for ten days to be trained in the ways of trail conservation.

Tent City

During this rigorous training, showers were few and far between. The wild forest around Tent City was explored and Indian Creek washed away the sweat after hard days of work skills training. We became trained in wilderness first aid and the way of sustainable trail building. We learned from some of the great trail builders of our generation.

Wilderness First Aid Training

After our intense training we felt we were ready to take on a snowy mountain peak with a hike that some would consider aggressive. Hatcher’s Pass was a wonderful bonding time as we trudged through the snow without the aid of crampons or ice picks. The way down was slick with mud and slush, but we made it.

Hatcher's Pass Family Photos

Our next stop was Palmer, in the Mat-Su Borough where we lived on the Butte for four days of high winds that blew fine soil all over everything in our camp. Tarps were ripped to shreds and tents were blown into the trees by the winds that whipped across the quickly eroding, sparsely vegetated peak. Moral was low, but backcountry brownies made in honor of Vinny’s birthday elevated our spirits. Sixty-five stairs were handcrafted by our crew and the Mat-Su Borough Trail Team. After four ten hour days, we packed up camp and descended the butte to prepare for our journey to Glacier Bay.

Butte Family Photo on the stairs we built

More Photos! 

Wetlands around the Matanuska River Campgound

Matanuska River bed, also by the campground