An Adventure in Waiting

I'm sitting in my bed looking out the window at the wonderful scenery that is my back yard. It's another day of waiting and eating to pass the time until fishing boats come in. The king salmon season opens today, which means all the boats are out fishing. As each day passes, I find myself falling more and more in love with Alaska and living on a boat. There are humpback whales in my yard, sea lions that pop up to say hello, and a culture that I am eager to learn more about. A culture that I have been warned about in terms of the hellish work...work I have yet to fully experience. It has been a slow start and I fill the days with learning knots, playing guitar, reading, and trying to figure out how to identify five different types of salmon. Oh, and eating. My body has been preparing for the amount of work I'm getting into, always telling me eat, eat, eat. So now, I have calories to burn and cabin fever driving my anticipation to start. That and I just want to get hell started so I can begin to fall in love with this place all over again. For now, I'll sit comfortably in my dream vacation and watch the rain fall.

I'm a Scow Girl!

Well, friends...I am here. I am living on a scow for the next sixish weeks and sharing a small space with two other amazing hard-working ladies. I keep asking myself, "how did I get here?" and am continually thankful for the chance to be in this wilderness. We towed out yesterday and anchored in to a tiny little cove on Chichagof Island. For anyone interested, it's about half way between Mite Cove and Soapstone Cove on the Lisianski Strait. I am a stone's throw from a pretty little beach and I see mountains from the window by my bed. I'm starting to get used to the fact that I see jelly fish, sea otters, sea lions, and a multitude of bald eagles on a regular basis. Even big old brown bears are a fairly common occurance...which had me singing whatever song I knew as we went onshore to set up the waterline. Basically, I'm in a little bit if heaven. Hopefully I can keep that attitude when the work gets going. Hell...I will be hoping to find time to eat at that point. My appetite has been ferocious from being on my feet all day. Luckily, I'm not the only one aboard who needs to snack every 30 minutes.
Well, I should get back to cleaning and prepping for the opening of King Salmon season. I'm not sure how much I don't know yet...but I've learned a few things to help me along the way. The next few days will be a nice crash course. Wish me luck!

Misadventures With Mom

I am coming to the end of the first leg of this crazy journey, and I have yet to mention a key player in the shenanigans of the past three days.  When I first found myself preparing to head up north I was dead set on driving my truck the 1,800+ miles to Juneau and hoping to find a friend to join me.  As the time for departure grew nearer I was becoming comfortable with the fact that the drive would be solo...but my mom was a little less so.  Her worry pushed her to buy a plane ticket out West to ensure safe passage along the great Alaskan highway.  Luckily, through talking with others, her worry soon mixed with an excitement close to my own.  Unfortunately, I was giving the heartbreaking news that my little truck required far too much work to make a drive up worth it.  I actually found myself slightly relieved, as I began crunching some numbers and realized just how much that fourish day drive was goings to cost us.  But..fear not.  For, as I was scrambling to finish up my third quarter of grad school, my mom was busy figuring out how to get us to the Last Frontier.  Turns out the ferry is a damn good way to go.

And my mom, Denise, is a damn good travel buddy.  Having put up with me for the past 26+years, she knows when to leave me alone and when to bug me just enough to get me to laugh.  The past three days have reminded me just how alike we are...especially when we spent the entire second day doing nothing but sitting, reading, and sneaking drinks on deck in travel mugs.  I was forced to be on the other side of my dorky humor as we each threw down one lame joke after another, which made me love both my mom, and myself, a little bit more.  And through the rough patches that always pop up when you find yourself around the same person long enough, I realized that I may not express this love and gratitude as often as I should.  My misadventures have always been about those events that happen which you never expected, but forever appreciate...and the beginning of my Alaska adventure is proving to be on of those times.  But, here's the difference, this time I have discovered where some of that openness to life came from.

My mom turned 60 this year, an age when most people are sitting back, knitting, and watching tv.  Ok, she does that...but she proved her adventurous side to me as well.  Today we were walking around downtown Juneau trying to escape the throngs of cruise boat tourists that took over the streets.  Rather than give up and head back to the hotel, we decided to follow a sign for an old mining museum that was a mile and a half out of town.  On the way we discovered a trail head for the Mt. Roberts tram (which costs $31 per person if you go round trip from town).  We wanted to see the sights and save a buck so vowed to come back after the museum...because we are that cool.  After looking at the map and figuring a mile hike up, we were game.  That is, until we came to a fork in the trail half a mile up that said 2 miles to the tram.  Not going to lie, I was up for the adventure, but a little worried about my mom.  Her thoughts?  Eff it...game on Juneau!  And an hour and a half later, we found ourselves sweating, swearing, and smiling as we came to the cruise line tourist infested tram building.  But guess what?  We saved ourselves $21 (it was $10 down if you hiked)!

So, here I am.  It's 9:30 pm, still bright out, and preparing myself for a 4am wake up.  Have no fear, the woman running the front desk assured us that it gets light at 2:30.  Although I am antsy and ready to start work, I find myself sad to be parting ways with my new adventure buddy. That's ok...she promised we could get matching tattoos when she turns 80.

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Syd the Kid Heads to the Last Frontier

For the second time in two weeks I find myself shocked at how quickly time has passed.  I am currently sitting on a ferry, going along the Alaska Marine Highway, starting my journey to Pelican. What is in Pelican?  Well, besides another adventure...the most physically demanding job I ever expect to have.  Let's start from the beginning. 

Back in January, I had decided that I was getting out of Washington for the summer and was determined to work in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota.  This is a place I spent a few weeks in every summer growing up, yet never got to chance to fully explore.  Now was my chance.  So, I sent some e-mails, filled out a couple of applications, and considered myself blessed when I received a call for an interview.  After nearly two months of phone tag, I accepted the fact that I was staying in Bellingham...luckily filled with new friends and plans for adventures.  I was still faced with the daunting task of finding work in order to make this fiscally manageable.  The first two opportunities fell into my lap rather nicely, but were not gonna hack it when it came to paying bills.  I knew I needed a third, but, in typically Syd fashion, I waited...and waited...and waited...

Until, one day I was approached by a woman who was a year ahead of me in my program. What were my plans for the summer? Where was I going to be? Oh, you need a job? I know of one, but its not in Bellingham.  And I proceeded to do a little happy dance with a not so little happy face.  Why?  Because this woman, Deb, owns a scow in Alaska. My hoped for escape and guaranteed adventure found me.

Now, to find out what exactly I was getting myself into.  So, I asked, and was told this.  My body was going to hurt more than it ever had, I would question my sanity and quite possibly regret my choice in going up there, I would be mentally and physically exhausted, and (my personal favorite) there would be mornings when I wake up, look down, and think to myself, "whose arms are in my bed."  I did question my sanity...but only because I realized that hearing this created a growing sense of excitement and a voice that yelled, "challenge accepted!"

And here I am.  Making my way north to work, sleep, and eat on a boat with three other woman who will teach me how to throw fish for six weeks.  I am not fully sure what to expect other than exhaustion and beautiful scenery...but I am excited by this mystery because I know that I can succeed, excel, and grow from it.  I am equipped with my brand new bib overalls, x-tra tuff boots, stronger arms (from the massive amounts of push-ups I have done to battle the numb arms), and a sense of pride in my continued ability to test my comfort zone to find another side of life.

So, here I go into the wilderness.  I will update with small posts when possible, but don't hesitate to write and ask what I've learned...because I know it will be a lot.  I hope to find a little more of myself out there.  Game on, Alaska!

Ready to go!

Misadventures to Begin Summer

Well world, I have officially completed my first year of graduate school.  I’m not sure how I did it…I am even having a hard time believing that it has already been 9 months since I started this adventure.  But I somehow find myself on the other side after a whirlwind writing frenzy (18 pages in 72 hours).  Hell, looking back, I’m happy that my only real challenge this quarter was battling the consequences of my procrastination.  There was a point in January where I almost walked away from school to pull myself together.  Then I looked around at my cohort and realized I had to stay, because stepping back for a breather would mean leaving the support I needed the most.  It meant that a year and a half down the line, I would be graduating with a whole new cohort.  So…I stayed.  And that group helped me reach a point where my greatest challenge became writing papers.  Which made me lose my mind in a much more welcome manner.

Yup...I was here. No...I didn't take this picture

Before I had time to gather my wits I was busy packing for a camping and climbing adventure at Smith Rock State Park in Oregon with Emily and her brother, Ryan.  Had I ever been sport climbing? Nope. Was I ready to test myself and live a little? Always. Game on!  Step one: begin the five hour drive south to Portland.  Step two: take a break for a quick reminder on how to drive stick shift.  Step three: pass out with the wonderful realization that I have no expectations to wake up to in the morning! Step four: eat a delicious brunch before jumping on the road for another 3 hours to reach our destination. Step five: postpone setting up camp because we are running out of daylight and itching to climb. Cue Syd's first experience in sport climbing...and the beginning of a new love. After successfully climbing a couple routes I found myself hanging out just a little bit past my comfort zone, ready for a good meal of camp curry, a good night's sleep, and two more days full of pushing boundaries. 

My first lead!

First up, start the day with a 5.9 climb.  After struggling through the first 15 feet, I began trusting my equipment, my belayer, and myself.  Reaching the top provided an appreciation for all the hard work I have put my body through over the past couple of months and a healthy dose of pride in what I can accomplish.  The next couple of climbs continued to push me further and further...all the while keeping a big fat grin on my face.  The battle wounds just made me feel a little more bad ass.  Which was nothing compared to being given the opportunity to lead my first route. After watching Emily and Ryan create route after route for me to explore, I was anxious to try it myself.  And I will say this.  I have deep respect for anyone who does a free solo climb.  Even though I was on a 5.5 (one which would be no problem any other time) I found myself second guessing every hold and step.  If I slipped 7' up from my last clip, I've got about 15' to go before I hit rock.  No thanks...I'll just hold on a little bit tighter.  After getting the route set up and getting my feet safely back to ground, I was overwhelmed with a huge sense of accomplishment, which was shared by a smile and congratulations from Emily.  I did it!

After a long day in the sun, we made our way to Bend, Oregon for some delicious grilled salmon and wonderful company before making the long drive back to Portland.  Full bellies and a day of pushing limits in the high desert make for a tiring drive at 10pm.  Our solution?  Dance party!  Until my co-pilot succumbed to her exhaustion and I was left in charge of the music and getting us to a cozy bed.  Only to wake up and spend another 6 hours in the car to complete our journey.  And I will say this...anyone who survives that much time in a car with me deserves an award.  So, Emily, I send you an internet high-five for such a feat.  Thank you for a wonderful adventure,