ALASKA
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| "Relative Fear: First Trip to the Last Frontier" from Mature Years, Summer 2003 story and photos by Stephen Ausherman |
excerpt:
Alaska, long touted as a training ground for
survivalists and a rugged playground for adrenaline
junkies, can be an intimidating destination for more
leisurely travelers. But how hard is it to enjoy the
great adventures offered in The Last Frontier?
To find out, Kenai native Autumn Eagle and I set out
to test several popular outdoor activities. And for
added perspective, we brought along Nancy.
Nancy is a Southern belle approaching the far side of
her middle ages with trepidation. She’s prone to
nervous bouts and motion sickness. And while her
figure suggests ample buoyancy, she cannot swim
and is nervous around water. We figured if Nancy
was able to successfully complete our list of
adventures, then anyone could.
Our five-day itinerary began in Anchorage, then took
us to Seward via the Coastal Classic route of the
Alaska Railroad. From there it was a 170-mile drive
with stops in Moose Pass, Cooper Landing, Sterling,
Soldotna and Homer. A ten-minute flight landed us at
our final destination in the stilted village of Seldovia.
Along the way, we would subject Nancy to the thrills
of float-tube fly-fishing, small aircraft, dog sledding,
horseback treks, canoeing and sea kayaking.
Here’s how she fared. …
Activities and destinations include:
- Float-tube fly-fishing. Little Campbell Point Lake,
Anchorage
- Flightseeing Tour. Lake Hood, Anchorage.
- Dog sledding. Godwin Glacier, Seward.
- Horseback Trek. Moose Pass.
- Canoe Trek. Kenai Wilderness Canoe Trails, Sterling
- Sea Kayaking. Kachemak Bay, Seldovia ...
Alaska, long touted as a training ground for
survivalists and a rugged playground for adrenaline
junkies, can be an intimidating destination for more
leisurely travelers. But how hard is it to enjoy the
great adventures offered in The Last Frontier?
To find out, Kenai native Autumn Eagle and I set out
to test several popular outdoor activities. And for
added perspective, we brought along Nancy.
Nancy is a Southern belle approaching the far side of
her middle ages with trepidation. She’s prone to
nervous bouts and motion sickness. And while her
figure suggests ample buoyancy, she cannot swim
and is nervous around water. We figured if Nancy
was able to successfully complete our list of
adventures, then anyone could.
Our five-day itinerary began in Anchorage, then took
us to Seward via the Coastal Classic route of the
Alaska Railroad. From there it was a 170-mile drive
with stops in Moose Pass, Cooper Landing, Sterling,
Soldotna and Homer. A ten-minute flight landed us at
our final destination in the stilted village of Seldovia.
Along the way, we would subject Nancy to the thrills
of float-tube fly-fishing, small aircraft, dog sledding,
horseback treks, canoeing and sea kayaking.
Here’s how she fared. …
Activities and destinations include:
- Float-tube fly-fishing. Little Campbell Point Lake,
Anchorage
- Flightseeing Tour. Lake Hood, Anchorage.
- Dog sledding. Godwin Glacier, Seward.
- Horseback Trek. Moose Pass.
- Canoe Trek. Kenai Wilderness Canoe Trails, Sterling
- Sea Kayaking. Kachemak Bay, Seldovia ...
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