Erin's Hiking Report

So, about two weeks ago I was invited to go on a hike with a few ladies from our church. I was a little apprehensive because, first, I know that as a general rule Alaskan women are tough, and second, I am aware that I am not in stelar shape, and did not want to make them wait for me and my labored breathing... The lady who invited me assured me that it would be a pretty mild hike and it shouldn't be a problem.

Well, I knew I wanted to go, so I tried to get a little exercise the week ahead, but it didn't really prepare me well. I've got to tell you, though, it was an amazing experience! Three of us hiked for 4 1/2 hours up and back down the steep side of a "hill" to get to a valley just on the north side of a mountain called Panorama.

The very left center of the first picture shows where we started out. The highway is just to the close side of the distant river.

As we gained elevation, we came to a rocky clearing and then into larger fields of tundra.

Eileen, the owner of the RV Park next to Cantwell Bible Church, and I (with her dog, Molly)

We stopped for dinner about 2 1/2 hours into the hike. Cynthia brought her dog and Eileen also brought another that she was "dog sitting" for a RV resident.

These plants are wild Alaskan blueberries. They grow all around in the tundra areas, and only get a few inches off of the ground. They are much smaller than berries that I'm used to in Oregon. It's the beginning of their season, but we found some good ones when we stopped to pick for about 15 minutes. I felt like my Grandpa White's "little berry picker" all over again!

It was a great experience, despite my terribly sore legs when trying to fall asleep last night!