Friday, August 14, 2015

Fifty Wonderful Years

Here is how we looked at Edgebrook Covenant Church in Chicago, IL on August 14, 1965.  
 
  Fred Buechner in his book "Beyond Words" 
"THEY SAY THEY WILL LOVE, comfort, honor each other to the end of their days. They say they will cherish each other and be faithful to each other always. They say they will do these things not just when they feel like it, but even —for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health —when they don’t feel like it at all. In other words, the vows they make at a marriage could hardly be more extravagant. They give away their freedom. They take on themselves each other’s burdens. They bind their lives together in ways that are even more painful to unbind emotionally, humanly, than they are to unbind legally. The question is, what do they get in return? They get each other in return. Assuming they have any success at all in keeping their rash, quixotic promises, they never have to face the world quite alone again. There will always be the other to talk to, to listen to. If they’re lucky, even after the first passion passes, they still have a kindness and a patience to depend on, a chance to be patient and kind. There is still someone to get through the night with, to wake into the new day beside. If they have children, they can give them, as well as each other, roots and wings. If they don’t have children, they each become the other’s child. They both still have their lives apart as well as a life together. They both still have their separate ways to find. But a marriage made in heaven is one where a man and a woman become more richly themselves together than the chances are either of them could ever have managed to become alone. When Jesus changed the water into wine at the wedding in Cana, perhaps it was a way of saying more or less the same thing."  
I think Fred got it right, and our marriage has deeply enriched our lives.     And, to paraphrase singer Paul Simon, were still kissin after all those years!  
This afternoon weather permitting we will board a small plane and explore more of this wonderful wilderness by air, and perhaps even land on a glacier.  Watch for a post later today. Thanks to all who have been such blessings in our lives, especially Caleb and Tonya.       Love,   Larry and Chris
 

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Another great hike!

We learned about the animals of Denali in our morning session then went out for a hike around Horseshoe Lake. Right away we met one of the ones we studied, moose, a momma and her calf. We stood quietly and watched them eat.  
Here is a link to a video of the pair of them:http://www.flickr.com/photos/95319766@N02/20366598508/play/site/84ea3920fa I found some new flowers to enjoy.  
Arctic Lupine
I don't know what these are, but will find out.
  We appreciated some beaver dams.
We enjoyed the beauty of the River.
 
Tonight we will have a talk by someone who has climbed Mt Denali.  Looking forward to it.  

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Bear with an itch

Check out this video of one of the bears we enjoyed today.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/95319766@N02/19908990873/play/site/8de93fdde4

Trip to the interior of Denali

Denali National Park came alive today as we took a sixty mile road trip into the heart of the park.  We remained in the bus when the wildlife was present. Denali was clouded in so we didn't see it, but with what we did see, I was not disappointed.   First we saw moose. Then we saw ptarmigan the state bird of Alaska. They are beginning to turn white for winter. We had what they call the terminal snow yesterday, which to the natives means summer is over.
Next came a momma bear and two cubs. We saw many bears, all grizzlies.
This second guy walked near our bus and then proceeded to roll over and scratch himself. It was amazing and funny to watch. We saw many Caribou. The antlers on this bull are amazing!
I almost forgot the Dall Sheep. We didn't get close as they were up high, but we were delighted to see them.
Most of the sixty miles was on a one lane gravel road. In some places it dropped down hundreds of feet. Chris closed her eyes and held her breath on places like this.
But that road took us into amazement and beauty and delight!
What a great day!  

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Tuesday hike in the boreal forest

The highlight of the day was a hike in the boreal forest with a naturalist. Though I hike in a boreal forest in the Smokies I will have a new appreciation of that unique ecosystem. We learned about the amazing quaking aspen.
Without it moose would not survive the winter.  We learned about the low bush cranberry which the Scandinavians call lingonberrys.
 Then there are tons of blueberries which are at their peak of ripeness.
 Mushrooms of many varieties are found in the forest.  This is a hedgehog mushroom.
There are some cool people in the forest.
And some wonderful views
 
We learned how a small community of humans survives winter here with little light, Sam's Club 100 miles away and 50 to 60 below zero on a regular basis. What a hoot. I think "Northern Exposure" got a lot of things right.   Tomorrow we journey 60 miles into the park for our first chance to see Mt Denali. Will keep you posted.

Monday, August 10, 2015

Hike up the Savage River and Dog sled teams

We spent the morning hiking along the Savage River and learning about permafrost with a naturalist.
I was thrilled to meet some new flowers. Here are a few. I only know the name of one.  
Arctic Gentian
 
 
Pink Plume
In the afternoon we learned about the sled dogs that are used in the park. They are used instead of snowmobiles which are not allowed in a wilderness park.
 
They put on a demonstration run and it is clear how much the dogs love to work.
After supper we will learn about Denali in winter. What a great day.

The bears are sure friendly!

Friendlier than the Chicago Bears