Spring has come to Alaska again. The sfumato-soft and snowy winter landscape, occasionally graced by the reflection of astral pastel accents that punctuate the cold, electric blue light of our cold, stary northern nights, when the northern lights briefly show their shy faces, is rapidly being replaced by urgent, warm colors and serene sounds growing from the dark ancient earth and flowing from the mountains during our short but glorious golden summer light are almost too heavy and sweet to bear.
Revna and I spend a lot of time in Alaska’s temperate rainforests this time of year. Temperate rainforests are rare and magical places that fill every sense with the sounds, smells, and textures of life springing from the soggy, cool, dark earth and hard mountain rock to fight for and fill every biological niche to the sound of a symphony of muted silence, sometimes punctuated by masterful brief interludes proved by birdsong, bubbling streams, raging rivers, cold ocean shores, and fickle mountain winds. Sit, listen, be patient, learn the rhythms of the world. Peace and perspective can be found here.
Walking with Revna on a soft carpet of moss away from the well-trafficked routes where we can see, feel, and smell the life around us beginning and ending at every step in the cool shadow of towering moss-covered trees with fern skirts living between snow-capped mountains reaching into the sky and grey northern seas that are both welcoming and grey as death… my meager words simply can’t do the world we live in the justice it deserves. It’s a place so unimaginable that one thinks magical creatures really can exist and should. I can’t imagine another way anymore. Come along with us. See what we see. Share our love for this special place.
Anyway, I’ve included a few pictures and videos (some taken by Revna) of our latest walk down Revna’s favorite Winner Creek trail. We go there often. She was a shy dog when we found each other at the rescue, but she had far more potential than I think anyone knew. We realized that potential on hundreds of patient walks along this trail with plenty of stops for contemplation and reflection among the vibrant life of summer and the monochromatic scenes of winter. She went from a shy dog with a lot of fears to one I refer to as “Alaska’s Official Friendly Trail Greeter,” as she knows every trail between Palmer and Seward better than any park ranger. I’ve yet to meet man or beast (squirrels excluded) who doesn’t absolutely love my friendly girl on first sight.
Anyway, be well, wander more. Life is short; best to enjoy it I figure.
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