The Lakes

This was a long time coming…mainly because I had a hard time with the words…and partly because I’ve had projects this week…and let myself get addicted to The Tudors (precisely why I don’t watch tv). Anyway, at long last, our 15+ mile hike last Sunday. :)

Over the past 3 weeks, Tara and I have really tried to maximize on our time in Ketchikan. With only a few days left here, we knew our last 2 weekends would be pretty packed. One of our goals was to do all of the hiking trails in the area (and there are a lot!). While we had done most, we saved our biggest hiking excursion for last. Four mountains, four trails, one day.

The grand plan was to do all of the lakes: Carlanna, Perseverance, and Ward. According to the maps we had, Carlanna and Perseverance where interconnected via Minerva; and the trail head for Ward was just a few hundred feet from Perseverance. We had it all mapped out. We’d start out closest to town and work out way farther out North: Carlanna to Minerva to Perseverance, then finishing off with a quick easy 1.3 mile hike around Ward Lake. A total of 8 miles, which, we estimated would take us approximately 10 hours. While I was determined, I was also apprehensive at the very thought of an 8 mile , 10 hour hike. I am simply not as fit as Tara is, and this time around, I was having flashbacks of the Hell that was Deer Mountain. I was however, better prepared this time around.  Since I’d survived Deer Mountain, I knew what to expect, what to pack, and how to mentally and physically prepare myself for the tough climb ahead.  

We set out early Sunday morning at 7:45 AM and caught the bus to our first stop – the closest to the Carlanna lake trailhead. The early morning chill was refreshing and the hike to the trailhead was a good warm up. It took about 20 minutes to reach the trailhead from where the bus had dropped us off a little over a mile away – partly because the uphill climb took some getting used to, and partly because we ran into what we thought might be a wolf who seemed to be eyeing us for breakfast (Tara claimed it looked like a small bear…it turned out to be an enormous dog).

 [Trail head #1...to Carlanna Lake Dam]

From the trailhead, the hike up to the Carlanna Lake Dam was approximately ¼ mile. The trail up the mountain began from the dam.

[Carlanna Lake Dam]

By the time we reached the trail, it was nearly 9:30. Because I knew we had to cover a lot of ground in a very short time (we had to be done with our trek for the day by 6:30 pm to catch the last bus back home), I took off along the trail – knowing the only way out was through, and worried we wouldn't finish on time.  The weather was rather nice until we got to the dam, however, soon after we began the trek along the mountain trail, it began to lightly drizzle, and by the time we reached the bottom of the waterfall, it was pouring (so much for the 0 – 10% chance of rain they predicted for Sunday). Thankfully, we were hugely spared from the downpour due to the cool canopy of red woods and hemlock. The climb at Carlanna Lake is 1.1 miles one way with an elevation gain of 150 feet. Approximately ¾ mile into the treck, the rain turned to hail, and we were “pelted”…with sea salt sized ice. The hail stopped almost as quickly as it came, and by the time we reached the end of the Carlanna trail, it was raining again. I don’t know if it was the fear of not finishing on time, the attempt at avoiding slowing Tara down, or simply the fact that my body seems to finally have adjusted to the all the hiking (doubtful), but I really blazed through the trail. The Carlanna trail ended at a stream which stemmed from a waterfall that was running down the face of the adjoining mountain. 

[Waterfall between Carlanna and Minerva Trails]

On the other side of the stream was the back end of Minerva trail, so we forged ahead. We didn’t make it far however. Minerva trail is still being laid. We made it ¼ of a mile along the trail when the definitive path ended. Without a definite trail to follow, we had no choice but to backtrack. We crossed the stream and went back down Carlanna…and all the way back to the bus stop (where the sun was shining and there was no evidence of the rainclouds that we had just encountered along the trail). Since we couldn’t loop around to Perseverance via Minerva, the only other option was to catch a ride to Perseverance. Thankfully we were able to do Carlanna fairly quickly. By the time we got to Perseverance, it was 11 am.

[Read the Sign]

While the Carlanna Lake trail was fairly easy, Perseverance surely earned its name. The 2.3 mile trek with a 450 feet elevation gain was more difficult for sure; though, surely not as difficult as I imagined it would be – perhaps Carlanna had been a good way to warm up to the uneasy climb of Perseverance. Despite the difficulty, it really was a very beautiful and relaxing trail. I found that I wasn’t so worried with trying to capture everything through the lens – mainly because this was now our fourth or fifth hike and let’s face it, once you’re in the woods, everything looks the same. In any event, refraining from clicking pictures allowed me time to just be one with nature and really take it all in. When I finally turned my attention to where I was and what I was doing, the true beauty of it, which I so vainly tried to capture through the lens, came to life: the rush of the waterfall a few hundred feet to our left, the soft trickle of water from the streams, the birds singing an Alaskan summer song, and the occasional shuffle of wildlife in the underbrush. It sounded like something directly out of one of those “sleep sounds” meditation/relaxation CDs. It was beautiful. Much of the trail was lined in boardwalks just above the bog which covered the forest floor.

[Latter portion of Perseverance Trail - through the muskeg]

Perseverance trail ended at Perseverance Lake (go figure). It was a breathtaking sight – an expansive lake tucked between a ring of magnificent snow capped peaks. We reached there at approximately 2 pm…just in time for lunch. If we timed it perfectly, we could sit for an hour and head back down the trail. If we reached Ward Lake by 4:30, we’d make the 6 o’clock bus back home.  We perched upon a log in comfortable silence taking in the beauty and nature around us, and for the first time in a very long time, I felt relaxed…and utterly content. The woods are a splendid escape…they transport you to a time and place far from the materialistic world. The silence and isolation were soul-stirring.

[Perseverance Lake]

[Soul-stirring Serenity] 

[This guy was beautiful & loving the photo-op. Dr. Escobar was kind enough to ID him: Cyanocitta Stelleri: Steller's Jay] 

We were sitting there for a mere half-hour when the clouds came in low enough for the mountains to magically disappear (this is one of the things I love about Ketchikan – the fog makes the mountains completely disappear – as if they were never there at all). And as quick as the clouds rolled in, it began to rain (and got ridiculously cold). Lunch was cut short and we had to head back. We reached Ward Lake early, which was nice because it allowed for time to lay by the lake and wonder about our good fortune which had led us to that place and time.

[Ward Lake] 

[One of those 'Is this my life right now?' moments]

Ward Lake trail is a popular picnic spot for all the locals in the area. It is a simple 1.3 mile trail with zero elevation gain which circles the lake. It was the perfect easy way to end a long tough day (every bone and muscle in my body was aching by this point…especially my left hip. I know, I sound like an old man…). Along the trail are tree swings and picnic tables. Many families were out enjoying the beautiful Sunday afternoon…I even ran into a German Sheppard/Husky mix with one blue and one brown eye – what are the odds? [It was torture. I have really missed my puppy these last few days.] The sun was shining down as we lay by the lake and rested up for our one mile trek back to the bus stop; the warmth it provided was quite a treat after we'd hiked through the rain for the 3rd time that day.  As hard as that final mile was, we made it back in time to catch the 5:16. On the bus we ran into the same hiker we met near the summit of Deer Mountain (Ketchikan is a small town...). As we told him about our day, it occurred to us that we may have walked/hiked more than we had originally thought. We were sure by this point that we had done at least 11 miles instead of 8…and in just 7 hours, no less. When we got home and calculated exactly, it turned out we had done 15.6 miles. In one day. Insane. I was sore from head to toe for the rest of the week. It was totally worth it.

PS: My goal for the day was to get a good picture of an eagle. We finally saw them flying above our heads as we waited for the bus back home at the end of the day. Clearly I need a new camera lens – the one I have isn’t sophisticated enough to capture things flying hundreds of feet overhead. None-the-less, I like this picture. :)

PPS: All of the pictures from last Sunday's hike to the lakes can be found here: http://amateurphotography101.shutterfly.com/pictures/1120

Random Musings

I woke up early this morning to the sound of a light rain tapping on my window. It was nice to lay there knowing there was nothing on the agenda today. Since we arrived in Ketchikan, we haven't had a chance to just unwind. Between work and feeling as though we had to take advantage of the nice weather we were afforded this past week, we've constantly been on the go. The rain has come as a sort of blessing this weekend. Allowing for a much needed lazy day.

We finally decided to head out to a local coffee & pastry shop around 2 PM. As we sat there watching the rainfall and looking out into the thick fog that had made the ocean and mountains disappear, I couldn't help but think, "Is this really my life right now?" Ten days in, it is still hard to believe I am in Alaska. And the mountain-lined ocean still takes my breath away every time. The ocean was especially beautiful today as the rain poured into its blue-gray abyss. Anyway, as we were sitting in the small cafe enjoying our mocha nutella cappuccinos and a lemon danish (so yummy!), I realized just how lucky I have been these past few days. Not only because I get to live and experience this crazy Alaskan adventure, but also because I truly do love my rotation site and thoroughly enjoy work. 

I had some major breakthroughs at work this week. I'm getting better at rounding with the doctors with each passing day, which is an accomplishment in itself considering the blood probably drained from my face when Dr. Magee (Becky) first told us we'd be rounding. Also, I am beginning to realize that maybe I did learn something these past three years. I know more than I thought I did, and sometimes it bewilders me when random correct answers fly out of my mouth. It feels rewarding. Not as rewarding though, as when I counsel a patient who is enthusiastic about smoking cessation. I've had the opportunity to do about 4 counseling sessions this week, and each time I have a patient who is ready to commit to quitting, it feels like a personal victory. It's moments like those that reassure me that I am in the right line of work. When patients tell me they have to find a way to beat the addiction, whether it be for the sake of their own health or their baby girl at home, when they instill their trust in the fact that I will help them achieve their goal...I can't convey how rewarding that feeling is. I know it sounds crazy, but the counseling sessions have been the highlight of my week...and that's saying a lot, because, well...as I've tried to convey, everything else about this place is so amazing. Anyway, this week at work has made me realize I've found my niche. I really do love ambulatory care.

Part of the reason I think the counseling sessions go so well is because I make sure I am personable when I talk to my patients. I find that they are more attentive and responsive when they can relate to me. I don't know where I found the ability to do this because I've always been an introvert, but I find I am able to instantly share a comfortable rapport with the patients...so much so that they feel the need to open up to me - about work, their families, and their health concerns. Despite how frustrated and upset they may be, they seem to soften their edge when I talk to them and explain why their pain meds aren't ready. That's a good feeling...and it makes me believe that I chose the right career...and that just maybe, I'm going to be really good at this some day.

But enough about that...back to the craziness that is the fact that I am in ALASKA (it's just so hard to believe, really)! The weather was kind to us this week...warm and sunny and in the 60s. So it was only natural that we felt the need to seize the opportunity to go be one with nature....and we did. After work on Tuesday, we went hiking along Rainbird Trail which runs through the back end of town between work and home. Being only a 2/3 mile hike, it was a nice, easy way to unwind after a long day. It has to be said though that my muscles were still aching from the Deer Mountain expedition on Sunday...so parts of the hike were harder than they should have been. But Rainbird trail was simply other-worldly. The trail head was just a blocks hike from the somewhat busy streets of the city. As soon as we embarked upon the trail, we were transported to the depths of the rain forest, surrounded by hundreds if not thousands of fallen, decaying, moss-covered trees, and serenaded by the sound of water trickling down the streams as well as numerous birds singing an early evening lullaby. 

The trail itself was a scenic one though not always flat and perfectly mapped out thanks to the enormous tree-roots or fallen timbers which interjected themselves along the path. These only made the trek more enjoyable however, for we often found ourselves climbing over or ducking under a fallen tree...or, using the tree roots as stepping stairs to get across the many creeks cutting perpendicularly across the trail. 

Halfway into the trail, we were met with a fork in the wood. Two trails. One which led back to the center of the city, and one which continued deeper into the rain forest. We took the longer one...continuing into the forest. When we finally reached the end, we were met by a breathtaking view of downtown...and angle of the city that we hadn't yet seen. 

The end of the trail spit us out at what can perhaps be called Ketchikan's only mini-highway (if you can even call it that). We reached there shortly before sunset and set off in the direction of the city-center...and towards home.

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I am in love with the food in this little city. On Monday we went to a place just a block behind our apartment called Chico's which specializes in Mexican...and are touted to have some of the best pizza in town. We opted for Mexican. I think it was the best Mexican food I have ever had, which is saying a lot since I've had plenty of incredible Mexican food in Texas. Before Chico's I used to dream and drool over the thought of Trudy's in Austin (their spicy black bean flaquities are to die for...really.) but I had to admit, Chico's is better. The food was a kind of fresh and flavorful that I've never experienced before.

That's the thing I've noticed about all of the restaurants here. They are all mom n' pop type local restaurants (the only fast food in town are an overpriced McDonald's and Subway) and the food is authentic and more importantly, fresh. The owners take pride in the food they serve, and they do it with a lot of warmth (which seems fitting for an almost always chilly Alaskan town). 

I've also noticed that many of the restaurants specialize in two completely different types of food. Apart from the Mexican joint that makes amazing pies, there is a place that combines Chinese food with Italian, a and an Irish pub (probably my favorite joint in all of Ketchikan) which combines the local favorite beer-battered fish and chips with delicatessen sandwhiches and a full espresso bar. Bottom line is, the food here is really good. I have been brave and been eating things I wouldn't dream of trying back home. After all, food is a big part of the culture of any place...I'd be missing out if I didn't partake (even had fish 'n chips for the first time last night. Took a lot of ketchup and malt vinegar to get it down, but I guess it wasn't so bad). Many more restaurants to try in the coming weeks...looking forward to it. 

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Alaska is magical. Wanna know why? Sometimes the fog settles between the mountains. I wish I was able to get a picture of it because it's hard to describe, but it's one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. Imagine tons of tall mountain peaks staggered among each other...then imagine a thick layer of fog nestled deep within that mountainous valley....and otherwise clear blue skies all around. It is quite the site. Even Kim (one of the pharmacists at the clinic) said it's one of the coolest things about this place. She also assured us that it happens often, which is good, because that means I will have the opportunity to capture it with the lens....though, as usual, the lens won't do the view any justice.

As I said before, the sight of the mountains lining the ocean takes my breath away every time. I think this is because the mountains seem like a mirage to me...they seem so close that I could reach out and touch them...and at the same time, I feel as if they aren't really there at all. As if they are fake. I know it sounds weird, but I am still having a hard time wrapping my head around the view. 

We've got just under 3 weeks left here. And lots still to do...experience...and take in. It's hard to believe I am living this life. I feel incredibly lucky and will sorely miss it when it's over. For now, I am simply trying to soak up every moment of it. The time is fleeting...no telling when I will have such experiences again...or if I ever will. In the meantime, I plan to make the most of each moment. 

PS: Sorry the posts are so long-winded...I have a lot to say...and I am trying to provide every detail of my life and experiences here. This has been and continues to be a wonderful journey...one which I wish to share with all of you. 

PPS: Pictures from Rainbird trail can be found here: http://amateurphotography101.shutterfly.com/pictures/1030 

The Day I Took on Deer Mountain

Those who know me know I’m not exactly the athletic type. I never have been. No sports as a kid, no random adventures out in the wilderness…heck, my idea of athleticism consisted of going to the gym every now and then and getting on an elliptical for an hour or so.

When coming to AK, I knew we’d be going hiking. I don’t know what I expected from the hikes. You know the saying “ignorance is bliss”? Well, it turns out I was ignorant – simply because hiking was completely new to me…in this capacity, anyway. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I realize now I should have had a more carb-rich breakfast…and drank more water before we set out…

The mouth of the trail is about 1 mile from our apartment….half of which is an uphill climb which had my oxygen-deprived anemic self huffing and puffing before we even got there. I knew the trek up the mountain was around 3 miles, but I didn’t anticipate it being a tough 3 miles. Tara mentioned that the first mile was a 1,000 foot climb up, but perhaps I ignored that…for good reason. That first mile was rough and I was kicking my 28-year-old body for deceiving me. I also felt bad for slowing Tara down. She’s a seasoned hiker and was able to climb much faster than I could. But I was more or less able to keep up….especially since she stopped every now and then to let me catch up.

We stopped frequently on the way up to get pictures of the rain forest we were trekking through. I stopped more than Tara did…partially because I am obsessed with trying to take pretty pictures that a camera lens can’t do any justice to, and partially because, well, I was tired and needed to catch my breath.

Just over an hour into the steep trek up, we had made it to the 1000 feet lookout…with this view:

I was glad for it too….I was tired, thirsty, and hungry. Like I said, I should have planned better. Also, my legs were already beginning to ache, and I knew we had a long way to go to the top. So the trek continued and I tried to ignore my body pleading with me to stop the abuse. At about 1.75 miles up the mountain, we ran into our first bit of snow. I have to say that when I first saw it, I was excited that we had made it up so far as to even see snow (since the other climbers we encountered throughout the day didn’t quite go up so far)…I was feeling accomplished. It definitely helped me add a bit of pep to my step. My spirits had been revived despite the physical strain of the climb.

We began the trek from the mouth of the trail at just about noon; by 3:30, we had finally made it up to just near the summit – at 2.75 miles up, after hiking for a mile in the deep snow. We were probably just over 2000 feet above sea level…and about 800 feet from the summit.

After taking about 20-30 minutes to take in this view:

…We decided we were close enough to our goal – the summit, and despite the exhaustion, we needed to continue up so we could really enjoy the view from the top. As we turned to go, we ran into mountain goat tracks…and more importantly, bear paw tracks, which instilled a bit of fear in us.

Because Tara was a more experienced climber, she went ahead of me for the most of the trek, but especially in the snow so that I could step into her footsteps (though that didn’t always work because she’s about 7 inches taller than me and has a much longer stride). Needless to say, I had to make my own path through parts of it. Which is exactly what I was doing up a steep hill where there wasn’t necessarily a good trail since it was completely covered in snow. So, about 100 feet north of where we had just taken pictures at the landing, I stepped in some thin ice. My leg went all the way through up to mid-thigh. Here’s a picture of the hole I fell into:

When it first happened, I was thankful that my other leg hadn’t fallen through as well. With that in mind, I nonchalantly told Tara who was about 30 feet ahead of me that she would need to turn around and come back down. As I kneeled there, stranded, not knowing quite what to do, I rested my chin in my hand while I waited for Tara to carefully climb down to where I was. I wasn’t necessarily afraid of the situation until I saw the look of sheer concern on her face as she got closer. She extended her arm out to me which I knew I couldn’t take. She was facing downward, and I would have pulled her down with me.  I bared all of my weight on my right leg and tried to figure out how to remove my left leg from the hole. The only thought running through my head at the moment was “I hope I don’t fall deeper in.”…just then, Tara said “Be careful, you don’t want to break your leg.” That’s when the fear really set in. Because I knew I had to get out of there – and quick…there were bears around, after all.

We tried a few different ways to get me out of there, all of which failed. I don’t know how long it took for me to remove my leg from the hole…it must have been between 5 and 10 minutes – of sheer horror…only because I knew that if I continued to bare all my weight on my “steady” leg, I probably would fall deeper in. Finally I shed myself of my pack and camera, and we decided I needed to just allow myself to fall backwards onto the mountain as far as my stuck leg would afford. So I fell back and slid backwards down the mountain a bit – just trying to get my leg dislodged…which I was thankfully able to do. As I was pulling my foot out however, It got stuck and I almost broke an ankle. A little more maneuvering and I was finally free. It may have only been a few minutes, but it seemed to be the longest few minutes of my life. In retrospect, I realize had Tara not been there, I would probably have given up - and simply waited for the hypothermia to take me (by this time, my clothes were soaked through thanks to the snow) or a bear to come along and make me his first post-hibernation meal. Needless to say, I am so very grateful that Tara was there to help me stay calm and get through that …even though the panic was evident on her face.

Once I dislodged my leg, we were able to laugh about it. We even took pictures of the hole that tried to eat me. In retrospect, we also joked about how we should have gotten a picture of me stuck in the hole. In retrospect, I'm really upset we didn't...but only because we were able to laugh about the incident afterward...and we did most of the way back down the mountain.

Anyway, by the time the whole ordeal was over, Tara was scared enough to suggest we turn back and head down. But we were too close…just a few hundred feet more and we’d be there. I wasn’t going to let a little scare keep me from getting to the summit…we’d come too far. So I assured her I was able to continue up. I wanted to.

We didn’t make it up much further. About 50 feet from the accident spot, we saw the yellow trail signs turn orange – warning us of the avalanche zone. Also, we realized there wasn’t necessarily a trail we could readily follow – just a few footsteps but nothing quite concrete that would help lead our way up the last bit of the mountain. This was enough for Tara to decide we shouldn’t risk it. I was disappointed, but knew I had to trust her instinct on this one, so we turned back about a quarter mile from our destination.

On the way back down we stopped back at the landing to refuel before the long path down. As we stood there taking in the view, snapping pictures of bald eagles circling above our heads, munching on trail mix, and getting re-hydrated, we were met by the seasoned climber who passed us on the way up. He had been to the summit just 2 weeks ago when the snow was much more impacted and climbable. He stopped to chat for a moment, and told us that he had made it to the summit again today, but that he fell through the snow to his hips on the way back down. As he said this to us, Tara and I couldn’t help but be thankful that we had decided to turn back. We stood there a while longer taking our last pictures of the day. I wanted to get a few more because I would have to pack the camera away for the climb down – which, in the deep slippery snow, I knew would be quite a challenge…especially because I had developed quite a migraine by this point.

On the way down, my leg went through the snow twice more, though, not as deep this time. I also rolled my right ankle. By the third time, I had begun to just expect it…and had figured out how to be more stable on my feet. Once we got down about a mile, we were finally back out of the snow, but as the snow was melting atop the mountain, the trail was much wetter on the way down. So much so that my waterproof all-terrain hiking boots were completely soaked through…and my socks were sopping wet.

I don’t know if I slipped on a wet log or if the ankle I severely injured in gymnastics in the 8^th grade just gave out on me. I fell. Perhaps too close to the edge of the cliff to my left. As a shooting pain went through my ankle, I panicked for the second time today. Had I just broken my ankle two miles up a mountain?

Clearly, I didn’t break my ankle, but I couldn’t help but think that I really had experienced the best and the worst of it today.

The trek down the mountain was almost more painful than the climb up. My legs were aching and screaming in protest, and the continuous stepping down off of tall rocks was creating havoc on my lower back (I sound like an old man in his 80s, don't I? Really though, it was rough). We made it down in record time despite having stopped at the 1 mile point to take in the view one last time. That last mile went especially quickly. We started from the top at 3:45…we were back down by 5:40.

It wasn’t over yet though…we had the steep walk back down to flat land ahead of us. That may have just been the most painful part of the day. Again, perhaps because of the headache...or maybe the sheer exhaustion was setting in by then. At just past 6 PM, we were finally back home. The minute I collapsed onto the couch, it was as if my body just went into shock over what I had put it through today. My head was pounding, every muscle in my body (even the ones I didn’t know I had) was aching, and I had developed a full-fledged fever. I laid there comatose for a half-hour before forcing myself up to get some carbs in me…Whether it was sheer exhaustion or gripping hunger, I don’t know, but it was hard to eat…though I knew I had to because I needed to get some medicine in me. After all, treacherous adventure or not, I have to be at work at 8 AM. A long shower did me some good…thought I am still more exhausted than I think I have ever been.

Deer Mountain tried and tested me today. It challenged me physically as well as emotionally. My endurance was tested as well as my patience. I knew I wanted to be adventurous on my trips around the country this year. I wanted to go zip-lining and sky diving…but never did I think I would climb to the top of a snow-covered mountain peak. I am proud of what I accomplished today…and so very thankful to have made it to the top…and back down. I am thankful to have seen the world in all its glory from atop that mountain. I am thankful for my health...and the fact that I am not as out of shape as I initially thought...I am thankful for my faithful hiking boots. And I am thankful for Tara – who, along with the mountain, gave me a reason to push my own limits today….though, I doubt she wants me to join her on her next hiking expedition (which, she will have to get over, because I am going whether she likes it or not)...it’s her fault though, for picking the hardest hike in all of Ketchikan for my first trek. I’m glad she did though. Maybe the next few won’t be nearly as hard. Until then I plan to take the rest of the week to rest my poor spent muscles. I am sure I will be limping into work tomorrow and don’t anticipate being able to get out of my chair once I collapse into it at 8 AM. But I am thankful to be in Alaska…and the adventure it afforded me today. I am thankful to be alive…and looking forward to our next expedition. 

If you read the blog yesterday, or saw my pictures, this is the mountain I said we were going to climb today:

I can't believe I was on that snowcap today....and this close to the top...the peak of the mountain:

If we had made it all the way to the top, we would have experienced the spectacular view I am sure this guy was enjoying:

PS: It was weird to be climbing through a rain forest one moment and a few feet of snow the next.

PPS: I love Ketchikan. I'm not going to want to leave. Just under four short weeks left.

A day of excursions :)

We went to an Irish pub for dinner last night. It was quaint (though, this whole town is quaint) and there was obnoxiously loud live music…I loved it. The ambiance was wonderful, and I am looking forward to going back next week. On Friday nights, they have live music and run a special on “fish and chips”. I wasn't brave enough to try the special of the day, so I had [yummy] chipotle turkey sliders instead, but next week. Definitely next week. I am in Alaska after-all. I can’t not try the fish and chips.

We woke up early this morning and decided to walk around town to take pictures…be “touristy”. We ended up walking from one end of the town to the other….and back. There was a thick layer of fog blanketing the snow-capped mountain peaks, but it was still breathtakingly beautiful. I couldn't help but repeatedly think just how lucky we are to be here.

Life seems much slower in these parts. And I’m from the south, so that’s saying a lot. No one is in a hurry…and drivers go out of their way to stop for pedestrians…and the locals are extremely helpful.

The whole city seems like something out of a movie…or a painting…or the front of one of those “Hello from…” or “Wish you were here…” postcards. There’s tiny little wooden houses everywhere…and winding wooden stairways that lead to stunning panoramic views. Many of the roads are steep hills that lead to houses that sit snuggly in the clouds which adorn the snow-capped mountaintops.

As we walked around for four hours this morning, I realized why this place seems like a dream to me. I have seen mountains, and I have seen the ocean…but never have I seen the mountains meet the ocean. A friend who saw one of my pictures asked me whether I was in Middle Earth. The more I look out at the landscape, the more I begin to wonder about the same.

We headed back to the apartment around one to grab a quick lunch and rest up before heading back out. We felt the need to get a lot done today simply because the weather was quite perfect so we couldn’t not take advantage of it. We headed back out around three and decided to head up to Totem Bight, one of the north-most points in the city. Totem Bight features totem poles typical of the natives – some of the finest artistry I have ever seen. It’s located directly on the shoreline (okay, the whole city is on the shoreline) and not only provides a glimpse into Ketchikan’s rich Native history, but also a stunning lookout point.

We made it back from Totem Bight (and the grocery store) by 6:30, and decided it was too nice out to not take advantage of the sunshine. So we went on our third excursion of the day. Our goal is to hike as many trails as we can, so we set out to Creek street, a rather famous area of Ketchikan which sits just a block behind our apartment.  Creek street is famously known as Ketchikan’s former red-light district but now features a whole gamut of tourist shops. There’s a quick “trail” through the Creek-street area called “Married Man’s Trail”. As it turns out, married men would sneak into the red-light district through the back end of Creek street so as not to get caught philandering around. Anyway, the “trail”, if you could call it that, was a short one…but provided gorgeous views of the harbor and beyond…as well as the mountain we’ll be trekking tomorrow: Deer Mountain. Deer Mountain sits a few blocks behind our apartment and has more than a few lookout points. The peak is currently snow-covered, but hopefully we’ll make it up at least a few miles….granted my legs recover from today and can take on the challenge. We walked about 7 miles today…and took over 300 pictures.

I’ve posted a bunch of pictures from today’s trek around town here: http://amateurphotography101.shutterfly.com/pictures/98

PS: Some tourist asked us a question today as if we were locals. We must be doing something right :) 

PPS: I used the Rebel for the first time today only to realize I have NO CLUE what I’m doing. Hopefully I’ll get better quickly ‘cause for now, the lens isn't doing any justice to the view. Though I don't think the lens would do any justice to it even if I did have a clue.

PPPS: MY LIFE IS A POSTCARD!! ...and I keep forgetting we still have 4 weeks left here…or that we only have four weeks left…I’m not going to want to leave.

A New Beginning...A New Adventure

Wrote this yesterday and didn't have a chance to post it:

It has been a crazy few weeks, to say the least. It was just 14 days ago that I sat on the floor of my otherwise empty apartment desperately trying to take it all in. It was hard to believe it had been 3 years since I moved in…where did the time go? As I sat there, an overwhelming sadness washed over me…this apartment was my first adult home. I wasn't ready to leave…yet I knew I had to...new adventures and opportunities awaited me. It was time to move on.

The day after I moved out of my apartment, I attended my last lecture. A week after that, I took my last final exam and wrapped up the didactic portion of my graduate program.

The very next day, I got on a plane to Alaska.

The 12 hour journey was taxing. There were excessive layovers, flights were delayed, and by the time we finally touched down in Tongass National Park, we were exhausted from what had become an 18 hour day. But the emotional drainage of the days leading up to the move was more taxing than the journey itself.  

It was a turning point in my life. I would never be a student again. I was moving over 3,000 miles away from family and friends, I was starting clinical rotations. A million thoughts ran through my mind, all leading up to one ultimate question: Would I be able to prove myself in the coming weeks/months? It sounds silly, but it’s extremely scary taking that first step into the “real world”…with a job (or, for the next few months, an ongoing interview)…and responsibility…and in my case, people’s lives on the line. I couldn't help but wonder if the past 3 years had prepared me for this next step. Had I learned all that I needed to know to be able to make clinical decisions about a patient’s medical care?  What if I screw this up?

All such thoughts were put to rest the moment we flew into Alaskan territory. I can’t explain what it is about this place but I feel unbelievably at ease here.

…Perhaps it’s because this is the view I saw as we flew in:

…Or because I got extremely lucky with my first clinical rotation. Everyone at the clinic is extremely helpful…not to mention it’s very laid back. Also, it reminds me of my first IPPE rotation at MUSC 2 summers ago. Slow paced, no pressure, and everyone working together…plus, there’s this incredible view from the pharmacy window:

In retrospect, my apprehension as we drove to the airport on Tuesday morning, seems kind of ridiculous…even my anxiety over having a roommate for the first time after living alone for 3 years was futile. The apartment is more than I could have asked for (it’s quite wonderful, actually), and it’s nice having a roommate to goof around with.

It’s been cold and rainy here all week…which is kind of irritating because it takes away from the stunning view (okay, not really, but it’s nice to see the snow capped peaks once the fog lifts)…but then I remember that I am living in a rain forest, and I don’t mind it so much.

The weather is supposed to be really nice this weekend…looking forward to a few sunny days in the mid-60s. Hope to get out and take some pictures…and go hiking. I keep forgetting we will be here for 4 more weeks. I am not going to want to leave.

Just Words...?

Last week a colleague asked me which form of the word through fit better in the context of what he was trying to say: 't-h-r-u' or 't-h-r-o-u-g-h'. In retrospect I feel bad for the kid, for I can only imagine the look of utter disbelief on my face. My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets and my jaw nearly hit the floor.

Don't get me wrong, I do not claim to have any authority what-so-ever when it comes to grammar. I am still a student, and always will be, when it comes to learning words and the proper use of them. But I was a bit dumbfounded at his question, and it got me thinking about the downfall of the English language.

I find it sad that words like "there" and "their" are used interchangeably, that "you're" becomes "your" and the difference between "then" and "than" is often overlooked. I can perhaps understand how homophones may get mixed up (seeing as how auto-correct doesn't pick up on them) but "you're" and "your" are not such. Neither are "lose" and "loose". Frankly, it gets to be irritating. 

The English spoken in the US is already a far cry from propriety when compared to its British counterpart. This lack of propriety, as it were, cannot be drawn from the fact that English has many an origin. This surely cannot be the reason for our sub-par jargon. Perhaps American English was intended to be this way seeing the rebellious nature of the Americans. But then again, could it be that what started off as replica of British English has evolved in this way because we as a culture have simply become lazy?


I do not doubt that the aforementioned laziness comes from the advent of word processors that made spell-check and correct grammar a no-brainer. By the same token, it comes as no surprise that the new age of technology has only made this negligence worse. With the exception, perhaps, of scholars and writers, chances are the common man is no longer stopping to consider his words.


Sadly, the problem that began with the word processors seems irreparable in this age of social media and text messaging.  Every text box on the web has auto spell correct, and text messaging has sprouted the emergence of unthinkable shorthand for an astounding number of words; many of which seem like gibberish to the inexperienced eye. Lets not forget twitter. The 'say what you need in 140 characters or less' phenomenon has made such shorthand a new vernacular all its own.


The ease of writing that comes with such applications seems to have made us all, to an extent, inept not only when it comes to basic language skills, but also propriety in correspondence, through the web, or otherwise. Over the years, with the convenience of e-mail making it the easiest way to communicate, it has become imperative that one know how to compose a proper e-mail depending on audience and intent. Unfortunately, year after year, an increasing number of students are graduating high-school, and college not knowing how to compose a formal e-mail. 


To top it all off, and to my horror, I discovered recently that dictionaries across the board are adding social media shorthand to their pages/databases. Whether this is an attempt to familiarize the masses with the new vernacular or simply cut down on the number of squiggly red lines under electronic text is a mystery to me; but, I wonder how this will affect the youth. I fear, will their vocabulary dwindle down to a messy concoction of three or four-letter alphabet soup with some basic terms and conjunctions thrown in the mix? If that is so, what is to be said then, for the future of the English language?

__


I'm no writer and do not have a Ph.D. in English; nor do I pretend to. I do however, get frustrated at the thought of having to commit a grammatical crime in trying to fit my tweets into 140 characters (not to say I haven't had to do it every now and then); and I DO go around Facebook wishing I could correct my friends' posts when they make spelling or grammatical mistakes. Being as I am, this whole incidence troubled me, to say the least. I can't help but wonder what will become of the world if any and all text-lingo is added to the dictionary. I cringe at the thought, and for now, pray to the grammar gods to delay this seeming inevitability as much as possible.

Push the Pedal Down...

[Inage courtesy adventuredrop.com]

There is nothing quite satisfying as a mid-summer late night drive, with the windows down and the soundtrack to your life pouring out from the speakers.


There's something about the open road and warm summer breeze that makes you feel uninhibited.


I don't quite know where my love of driving stems from. 


As a teenager all I wanted was a reason to escape the turmoil around me. Back then, it seemed a drive was the only thing that could physically remove me from any situation. It was the only time I could be alone with my thoughts - uninterrupted. 


You got a fast car, is it fast enough so we can fly away?
We gotta make a decision. Leave tonight or live and die this way.


Over the years I became habituated to taking a drive each time I needed to clear my head or make big life decisions. Life and all of its uncertainty seemed to become clear, more manageable when sitting behind the wheel...as if I suddenly knew which direction to steer myself, what choices to make. 


...can't help but ask myself how much I'll let the fear take the wheel and steer.
...lately I'm beginning to find that I should be the one behind the wheel.


There was also the music. As I am sure is the case for millions of others, so far as I'm concerned, driving and music go hand in hand. The car was the one place I could indulge in music without being questioned. My family always thought the intensity of my obsession with music was a bit much, that I should be employing my time and attention elsewhere (read: studying). So back then, driving also meant that I could satiate my need for music. Now, with adult responsibility eating up most of my day, it means having the time to take the music in, really listen to it, instead of simply hearing it. 


...Come on and we'll sing, like we were free.
Push the pedal down, watch the world around fly by us.
...And here we go, there's nothing left to lose.


Over the years driving has become less of an escape and more of a cherished pass-time. Whether its a long road trip out of town, or a quick drive to the grocery store, I simply love getting behind the wheel. 


I feel I am most myself when driving in perfect solitude. It is a time when I can cry my heart out, ponder my state of being, reminisce about years gone by, or have my own personal karaoke session (as tone-deaf as I may be) - whatever my mood. And the music is always there, of course, as per the mood. The best part of any drive, a faithful companion, to help calm my fears, or share in my joy & sorrow. 


...keepin' perfect rhythm with the song on the radio,
gotta keep rolling
...I'm driving my life away, looking for a better way...lookin' for a sunny day.


[Lyrics: Tracy Chapman,  Incubus, Mat Kearney & Alan Jackson]

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