A Weekend Full of HOPE. Twin Lakes Trail, Hope, AK

“Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread." - Edward Abbey

The summer keeps getting better and better! I knew it would be difficult to top my birthday weekend in Talkeetna, but I would say we did a pretty good job of that this weekend.  Two great nights of live music by a favorite local band, the Denali Cooks, at one of my favorite Alaskan bars, the Seaview.  AMAZING weather. Great company. Hiking, sun, skinny dipping, bonfires, camping, fishing, and inevitably someone losing their car keys in the process of all of this.  I am still so blown away to be living in such a beautiful place.  Alaska, you really have stolen my heart.

One of my favorite things about small town Alaska is that barely anything is regulated.  There is a campground in Hope, there are "technically" some camp spots and fees, but really... no one cares.  Or maybe it's just that no one minds?  Park before the dirt ends for there are no lines.  Camp where gravity first throws your tent.  Yep, that looks good... and isn't it nice not to worry about rules?  Alaska... a land where the only things to worry about are bears and the tide (not intended to be an understatement, but you get my point). haha :)

Saturday was one of the better hikes I've done this summer.  It was a last minute decision to change our plans of hiking Point Hope to hiking Twin Lakes. We had only heard about this hike through word of mouth. Luckily, the local coffee cart gal in Hope knew which way to point us.

Drive up Palmer Creek Road

Start to a beautiful day! 

Not too shabby

One of my favorites...  hydration is key! 

The first small pond, beautiful colors!

Heading up to the lakes

Sam, looking back at the first pond

Still some snow melting out in the stream bed

Typical Saucy Squirrel action... 

Almost to the first Lake

At the first lake

Stunning!! Becca and Claire by the first lake
the peak in the background is the one we hiked to

Hiking above the lakes

Bex! 

Twin lakes! So beautiful. 

Hiking up to the peak!

Someone's skied this recently... 

Almost to the top, scouting potential ski zone for next season

Scramble to the top (photo: Bex)

Sam, being Sam... 

Summit nap time (photo: Bex)

Enjoying the view (photo: Bex)

Snow field we slid down :)  (photo: Bex)

Alaska shower time (photo: Bex)

Back in Hope

The best bar in Hope (the only bar in Hope)

Dinner time... mac & cheese, accidentally dumped on the ground

Denali Cooks show!
"We having so fun"

love. 

Adam, the dog whisperer! 

Sunday morning hungover coffee and bagels

Playing in the packraft, looking up at Tenderfoot

Becca getting a mud facial from Sam, haha

Another great adventure!  I have exactly one month left in Alaska before I start on my journey South. I am trying to take advantage of every day here. I can't believe how time has flown since I moved here.  I have to give thanks to everyone I've met up here and the personal journey I've taken in the last two years.

Life is GOOD!!!

26th lap around the sun... Lots of changes, lots to be thankful for.

Happy Birthday to Meeeeeee!!!!

 I had the MOST amazing 4th of July/Birthday weekend in Talkeetna.  I had about 15-20 close friends come out to celebrate on Saturday, my actual birthday (July 6th).  There was a campfire, lots of tequila, live music supplied by friends (Devin & Mike), and an epic fireworks show (thanks Max & Irene!)

I have so much to celebrate this month and so much to be thankful for.  I'm coming up on my 2 year anniversary in Alaska.  I just turned 26.  I just quit my first REAL job to be an unemployed travel/ski bum for awhile.  A lot is changing and I'm trying to just stall everything and slow it down to soak up every moment.  I have acquired the most beautiful group of friends.  They are some of the most amazing people I have ever met.  They have shown me adventure and taught me what it means to love and be loved.  I am so lucky that I've found them, or they've found me.  Whichever way, it's going to be hard to leave them for a few months but I know our friendships are strong enough to endure time apart.  They have taught me how to laugh, like REALLY laugh, how to believe in myself, to trust in them, to cry, to be strong enough to get through a break up, but weak enough to let them help when I need it, to dance and sing and support each other in our careers, in physical challenges, in emotional lows, in big decisions, and in small decisions. We are all going through different challenges in our personal lives, but one thing we all know is that this is the most non-judgmental, supporting groups I've ever called my own.  And they have shown me compassion and strength like I've never known and never knew I needed, until recently.

So thanks friends!

or shall I say the "Life Shamblers"! you know who you are... :)

Derby Cove Cabin via Caines Head Trail (Seward, Alaska)

 “The best journeys in life are those that answer questions you never thought to ask.” 

~ Rich Ridgeway

This weekend was a last minute escape from Anchorage.  Andrea and I had been wavering on where to go and what to do.  I knew I wanted to get out of Anchorage, and she had yet to get further south than potters marsh.  Finally, late Friday night after some therapeutic dancing at the Taproot to one of the fav local bands, Denali Cooks, we decided to wake up early and head south to Seward.

My friend Tessa had invited us to come out to the Derby Cove Cabin via either a quick $50 water taxi or a 4.5 mile beach hike that must be done at low tide.  We're cheap and wanted some exercise so opted for the hike in.  Low tide was at 12:35 pm so we got up around 7 to get to the trail head by 10:30 to start hiking.  We actually left the car around 11 am but you have a few hours on each end of low tide to complete the hike, so we were confident everything would work out. 

The hike out was easy, and beautiful! We walked about a 1.5 miles through a forest across a few bridges and onto the beach. 

Andrea's first official backpack trip! (in AK and EVER!)
I feel so honored! 

Packrafts are fun. 

Beautiful hike :)

Day on the beach! Beautiful weather outside Seward

Crazy moss on the beach

The hike was about 3 miles on the beach to the Derby Cove cabin.  Overall, a very easy walk, minus a few slippery rocks we had to forge into the ocean around or slide up/down, in a less than graceful manner. 

We made it to the cabin around 1 pm.  No one was around so we set up camp and had some peaceful time on the beach before the crew returned from their day adventures. 

Derby Cove Cabin

Beach napping :)

There was a beautiful waterfall into a pool right by the cabin,
decided it was a good place to float around for a bit 

Packrafts also make great mattresses 

Reading/writing time by the stream. complete bliss.
if only i could freeze time... 

There were a bunch of people in our group staying at the cabin. Tessa, Andrea and I managed to steal away for some much needed girl time around the fire followed by a late night kayak/packraft adventure. 

Love this girl! So glad we got to hang out :) 

We didn't plan the pants thing... 

playing with some photo editing, overexposing color

Girl's late night ocean adventure

the boys got themselves into a pickle because the tide came in haha

Tessa to the rescue!  hahaha

Solo ocean midnight adventure, much needed LP time

Andrea and I both slept 10 hours (hells yes) on Saturday and awoke to a slight drizzle.  Not a bad camp spot!  Low tide was around 1:30 so we left around noon to make our way back to Seward for the afternoon. 

Home for the night :) 

Ocean forging! brrrrrrrrrr

two bald eagles

Overall, a wonderful weekend with great company! Most of the time I don't know how much I need these weekends away from Anchorage until they are over.  Reflecting back on the trip, the wonderful conversation, and the wildlife always leaves me a little more in love with Alaska and feeling so lucky to have such amazing people in my life.  This girl is feeling so, so grateful. 

Oh! and I'm pretty pumped about all the Spanish I'm learning on these long drives!  :) 

Adios!