Alaska {50 States Of Yoga}

View of Alaskan Coast from 737 Cockpit
{That's a giant glacier!}

It's been nearly a month!  What?!  I can't believe it either... but it's been nearly a month since I blogged about my last 50 States Of Yoga trip.  I had a trip planned for late April, but had to postpone it because I caught a cold.  Ugh.  The rest was good though and I am back on track!  This past week I spent 48 hours in.... Alaska!  And it was amazing!



Initially, because I am so far behind on my states {I should have 19 states completed thus far... I had 13 before Alaska}, I was going to take long layovers in Seattle, WA and Portland, OR on my way to and from Anchorage, AK so I could grab a yoga class in those states.  But then I felt like I was pushing too much and it would take away time from visiting Alaska.  I had never been to AK before, so I definitely didn't want to do that.  So...  I did connect through Seattle to/fro Anchorage, but did not stay there long enough to take a yoga class.  And I'm glad I had the extra time in Alaska.

I flew on Virgin America {the airline I work for} to SEA-TAC and connected to an Alaska Airlines flight to Anchorage.  I am able to fly "jumpseat" on other airlines, which means it does not cost me anything and if there isn't a seat available in the main cabin, I can sit in the cockpit.  I've done this several times on my own airline, but this was my first time having to do so on another airline.  I sat in the cockpit of a 737 with a First Officer who was also "jumpseating" and of course the 2 pilots flying the plane.  This was the jumpseat experience I have ever had.  The other jumpseater was very familiar with Alaska and gave me a personal tour on the way up the coast.  Naming all of the mountains, glaciers, rivers and telling me all about the state.  Although the jumpseat experience is physically uncomfortable {it's a very small space to sit in} the fellow jumpseater made the flight an adventure like no other!

Landing in Anchorage was just as amazing... there are mountains EVERYWHERE!  I just didn't expect for there to be so many snow-capped mountains.  I mean, I know, Alaska - duh.  But seriously...  until you've been there it's hard to imagine the landscape.  Plus, it was still daylight at 9:30p.  Something I didn't get used to while I was there.  Daylight so late into the night.

ANC at 9:30 at night!

There is a pedestrian tunnel that connects the car rental building to the main airport.  In the tunnel are aerial photographs of the airport over more than 100 years' time. On the flight down the other jumpseater told me to look at the photos, specifically the one for 1964 and the one right before it.  There was a 9.2 earthquake in Alaska in 1964 and portion of the airport slid into the bay.  Visible in the photographs.  Neat!  {The photos, not the terrible earthquake!}  I took photos of the photos but they just didn't come out all that great...  so you'll have to go check it out yourself!

The next morning I drove down Cook Inlet and Turnagain Arm to see the Portage Glacier in the Chugach National Forest.  I thought there was a trail to hike to Portage Glacier, but if there was, I couldn't find it.  Instead I found a trail to Byron Glacier and headed down that one.  I read online that I should bring bear spray, a bear whistle, hike in a group and make noise while I hiked {presumably not to startle a bear I might hike up behind}.  I didn't have a whistle or spray and I was hiking alone, but I did shuffle my feet to make noise!  Fortunately I did not see any bears on the trail, but I did see bear scat that was relatively fresh.  Exciting and a little terrifying!

When I got to the glacier it was, quite honestly, a little underwhelming.  I had seen so many giant glaciers in the air on the flight in, my expectations were too great.  But... it was very cool none-the-less!  After I explored around the glacier and took a ton of photos, I turned back to the trail entrance to head to my car.  And then it happened... avalanche!  I think the gods were trying to make up for my disappointment in the size of the glacier and gave this to me.  It was breath-taking.  First the rumble.  Then my confusion - what the hell is that rumbling!?!  Then I saw it, a few miles ahead, on a mountain face on the other side of Portage Lake, snow tumbling down, creating a large white cloud of flurries on its way.  Spectacular!  I raised my arm up high, pointing at the glacier, and my mouth dropped open!  For the next half mile of my hike I had the goofiest, open-mouthed smile on my face.  It moved me to a place I cannot explain.  Nature.  You fucking rock.

Turnagain Arm

Turnagain Arm

Turnagain Arm

Portage Lake
I was told that the Portage Glacier used to be viewable from here,
but it has melted back so much between those mountains
to the right, that you can't see it anymore.

Portage Lake {and an iceberg}

Byron Glacier Trail

Selfie at Byron Glacier

Byron Glacier

Me at Byron Glacier

Byron Glacier

Portage Lake
{and if you squint you can see the receded Portage Glacier between those mountains}

From Portage Lake I drove to Girdwood, a little town between Portage and Anchorage.  There is a ski resort there with a tram that takes you to the top where there are amazing views.  Or so I hear about the views.  Because early May is the worst time to go to Alaska - everything is closed.  The visitor center at Portage Lake was closed.  The tram was closed between ski season and summer season.  And pretty much everything else I wanted to do wasn't quite open yet.  But there was still no shortage of entertainment.  I had fried halibut at a bar/restaurant recommended by a local.  It was okay.  Not bad, but nothing to get too excited about.  I wrote postcards to my folks and husband and decided it was time to head back to Anchorage.

Halibut and Fries in Girdwood
{There were 2 pieces of fish, but I ate one before I remembered to take a photo!}

Girdwood, Alaska

Back in Anchorage I grabbed a vanilla chai from one of the many drive-thru coffee places everywhere.  I wish we had these in California.  I'm not a big Starbucks fan. I would much prefer a good quality coffee that supports a local business over the alternative.  {Although we do have a fantastic walk-in coffee place in Hayward, Hippie's Brew, so I can't really complain!}

There are drive-thru Mom & Pop espresso stands EVERYWHERE!
Love this!

In Anchorage I visited a couple of stores and did some souvenir shopping.  I bought a few crystals at a rock shop and a couple of journals at an Asian imports store and of course magnets, patches, and such for family.  This was my first time in Alaska and no one else in my family has ever been {or is likely to go}, so I figured I ought to get the goods while I was there!  I headed back to my hotel, changed into my yoga gear, grabbed my journal and mat, and headed to Spirit Path Yoga for a Full Moon Yoga class.

Spirit Path Yoga & Wellness is a wonderful gem in Anchorage.  Besides yoga classes, they offer a wide array of Ayurvedic services as well as acupuncture, massage therapy, and energy healing.  If I lived in Anchorage I would definitely go back for another class with Amanda and an Ayurveda consultation.

Spirit Path Yoga & Wellness in Anchorage

But back to yoga...  The Lunar Yoga, Full Moon class with Amanda Montavon was wonderful.   The theme of the class was obviously the full moon, but more so it was gratitude.  {A side note - I never actually saw the moon the entire time I was in Alaska.  And I looked for it!  It stays so bright there so late, that I didn't see night time until I was at the airport leaving on my 12:35am flight home.}  Amanda share with us two kinds of hand mudras.  Hand mudras are hand positions that can influence the energy of your body and mood.  This was the first time I had experienced mudras in my yoga practice and I really liked it.  I made a mental note to look further into them and maybe incorporate them in my home practice or meditation.

Amanda also read passages for us from a book - that I forgot to get the name of.  She shared a lot of inspiring ideas of gratitude and kindness throughout the practice and I enjoyed the flow of her class.  She guided us through several positions with our arms rounded overhead in the likeness of a full moon and flowed side to side making crescent moons.  Amanda's class made me sweat, but didn't feel like hard work.  Before I knew it we were guided into savasana.  If I am ever back through Anchorage again, I would look for Amanda to take another class.  She has a warm, gentle spirit that really shines in her practice.

The next morning I headed Northeast towards Eklutna Historical Park.  Or at least I tried to.  My GPS was very confused and brought to a scenic park at a lake, several exits before Eklutna.  Although not a planned detour, it was interesting.  I passed a dog sledding school and got to see their trails that are built with a tunnel under the road.  When I finally realized I wasn't anywhere near Eklutna and my GPS wasn't going to take me there I had find my way on my own.  Which turned out to be pretty easy - it's right off the highway!

Dog Sled Crossing

Dog Sled Crossing

Eklutna Historical Park was technically closed while I was there.  Normally there is a $5 entrance fee.  They do have a donations box available though, presumably for the off season.  The area is 2 little Russian Orthodox churches,a tiny visitor's center, and a graveyard.  The graveyard is was brought me here.  The graves are marked with Spirit Houses.  And I had never seen such a thing before.  The spirit houses are built over the grave of loved ones by the Athabaskan people, natives of Alaska.  They've combined their cultural tradition with their Christian beliefs by placing Orthodox crosses on many of the graves, too.  Besides experiencing this beautiful site filled with love and honor to the past generations of the Athabaskan people, the village is in a valley with beautiful mountain vistas.  It really is hard to get used to the snow-capped wonders in every directions.

Eklutna Spirit Houses

A peak in the window of the little spirit house above.

After Eklutna I made a quick stop in Wasilla, AK to see the Iditarod Headquarters.  But first - I saw a moose!  {I've seen moose before; I lived in New Hampshire for years.  But this was an Alaskan moose!}  I was sitting at a red light, waiting to turn left and a moose crossed the road, in a residential area, a half block ahead of me.  I didn't catch a photo of it because I was in the left lane and unable to go straight safely, but... a moose sighting none-the-less!  But back to my stop at Iditarod Headquarters.  They offer a video, a room full of historical items and a gift shop.  In the summer you can also take a dog sled ride.  It's a nice place to stop to say you've been.  They have clean bathrooms and friendly staff.

On the drive between Anchorage and Wasilla

Iditarod Headquarters

Random fireworks stand on the outskirts of Wasilla.
There were a few of them, but this one had the best paint job!

On the way to Talkeetna I saw a Thai restaurant with these beautiful painted moose!

I continued Northwest towards Talkeetna.  On my drive as I rounded every corner and saw more mountains, I thought I was seeing Denali.  But when I finally did round a corner and see it - I was in shock.  It's massive.  I really couldn't believe how huge it was.  It was another one of those moments where I had a giant grin on my face... staring straight ahead, forgetting that I was driving for a moment, and in utter awe.

Denali!  The mountain on the right.
{I don't know the names of the other 2 mountains, but his is the Alaskan range.}

Random plane overhead - playing with my long lens.  =D

Talkeetna is a tiny little town.  And clearly survives on tourism.  It was full of little cabins and wooden storefronts with tourist trinkets, t-shirts and snacks.  Everyone was friendly and helpful.  As they should be in a town that thrives on people like me wandering around with my camera.  The main street in town dead ends onto a river, with majestic views of Denali.

Talkeetna, AK

I got 2 beautiful tie dye t-shirts in this little shop.

The lady working in this little shop in Talkeetna is the sweetest.
She told me to drive to the end of town, park and walk down to the river,
which brought me to the below views of the Alaska range and Denali.
I also bought locally made herbal tea in her little store.

Denali
Unfortunately, the clouds had gotten pretty low and obscured the view.

I headed out of Talkeetna back towards Anchorage and stopped at Wytchwood, a tiny roadside witch's store in Willow, AK.  The owner, Lady Sehkmet {a.k.a Rhonda} was there and she's beautiful.  She was so fun to talk to, very down to earth and a great sense of humor.  If I lived in Willow we would probably be friends.  I bought a crystal, my first moonstone - my birth stone, for my home altar.

Wytchwood

I had about 5 hours left before my rental car had to be back and was about 2 hours from Anchorage.  There is a side journey to another glacier, Matanuska Glacier, that would add 3 hours of driving, but would be cool to see.  I felt road weary though and decided that would have to be saved for another time.  Instead I drove back to Anchorage and went to the movies!  I saw The Age of Adeline by myself and cried.  Haha.. I'm such a softy.  It was a beautiful movie though, go see it!

Back at ANC, I returned my car and flew home the SF Bay Area via Seattle.  Another 50 States of Yoga trip complete.

Wow!  I can't believe I have been to 14 states this year.  I feel so fortunate to be able to take these adventures and share my experiences with you.  Tomorrow I will be doing a "kind triathlon" - a 5k walk/run, 90 minutes of yoga and 30 minutes of meditation.  Then onto another red-eye flight to the other side of the country for my next yoga adventure!

Check out my other posts about my 50 States of Yoga adventure!