I just read the wonderful story about Alaska by Good Sam Club Member Ruth Stoll, Hudson, Florida. Wow! It actually seemed just like our experience this past summer. My husband and I volunteered for the Alaska State Parks at Willow Creek State Recreation Area (SRA) along the Parks Highway. During our 2008 visit to Alaska, we never had the privilege of seeing Denali, “The Great One,” or as “outsiders” call it, Mt. McKinley. Its weather just didn’t cooperate.
The year 2010 was a different story. We were in Alaska from May 5 to August 17. The new experiences just kept coming. By far, the most exciting was seeing Denali almost every day through May. The Willow Creek SRA is just outside of Willow, Alaska. From Willow, on the Parks Highway, you can see Denali in all its majesty and splendor right from the “end” of the Parks Highway. Only God could make such a sight.
Volunteering for the Alaska State Parks was a memorable experience. We met and enjoyed folks from all over the world, stopping at “our” campground to catch king salmon.
Finishing up our 2010 Alaska adventure, we took the Alaska Marine Highway ferry from Haines to Prince Rupert, BC. Our ranger friend from the state parks had told us that the culture was entirely different along the southeast part of Alaska. We experienced the Tlingit culture along the Inside Passage as our ferry pulled up to Kake, a small Tlingit community. A group of the passengers, whose heritage and family originated from that community, were returning for a “pot latch” for one of the deceased family members. The Kake community met and greeted those returning home with their native drums, dress and chanting. An unbelievable special glimpse into this life.
The Russian heritage and history in Sitka was another unique experience.
The vastness of the size and experiences in Alaska just kept coming. We will definitely be returning to this very special state. One cannot see it all in just one visit.
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