Weekend at Eagle Glacier Cabin, Alaska
by Kathy Henderson, of Juneau, Alaska
August 16th, 1997 Juneau, Alaska Monday morning
...well, as long as no one expects me to walk, squat, move or think today I'll be just fine, as I am sore in places I never knew existed. The good news is, my broken big toe is no longer the pain epicenter of my body!
While swilling drinks at The Hangar Friday night we all arrived at a wonderful plan to employ Wings of AK to fly our gear out.
....unless iced tea impairs the thought process I was in full control of my faculties and thought it to be a great idea. The next morning everyone else reconsidered and the plan was nixed, mostly at the insistence of traveling companions Tex & Tony.
....if they ever find themselves unemployed they might well consider an ad campaign for R.E.I.
...they come fully equipped in matching everything. I am amazed every time I do that hike.
...the trail head says 5 miles and I'm thinking like a number preceding that "5" must have fallen off somewhere, I do 5 miles in an hour everyday, this one took 4 hours.
...you do the math. Its really funny how gratuitous you become along the path.
...I was fantasizing over all the gifts I could leave to future visitors. I was grateful to aid in their comfort and I left as much as I could financially deem possible. So okay, it was kind of more like "I aint hauling this stuff one step further" but I figure no one is examining my motives. While I didn't mind donating a Foodland aisle to the cause, I did object to the bequeathment of some serious brain matter to the beam above the top bunk.
...that'll teach me to bolt up out of bed again. I do take comfort in knowing that Eagle Glacier cabin is a whole lot smarter for my contribution.
...well, I'm not sure said matter ever did ME any good, but if someone was stranded for any length of time they could do their PhD on the various pickling stages of my brain cells. After I knocked myself out, slumber was inevitable.
...at least until some ravenous porcupine commenced his meal of our cabin. I tell you if any one of us could have moved that animal would be dead....I was feeling a bit like Bubba in 'Forest Gump'.
...porcupine steaks.....porcupine stew....porcupine burger.....sauted porcupine...ribs ala porcupine...lovely porcupine quilled jewelry....
One seriously deranged mosquito will be the topic at the next Mosquito Geneva Convention....we had a workable understanding: annoy the hell out of her but NO BITING, hence I have the first mosquito bit since my childhood. It was definitely a learning experience though.
...let me impart some wisdom to you: #1 being do not put on your back an amount exceeding your body weight, and #2 traveling in rough terrain with broken appendages is not recommended.
We really did have a great time. Although the trail winds through some major bear country thankfully we did not encounter any. While it does seem endless the walk ends as you round a bend to one of the most beautiful places on earth...a picturesque log cabin nestled in a little valley with a lake front view and the impressive Eagle Glacier to the left. The mountains in front of the cabin are abundant with waterfalls and snow capped peaks. The weather was perfect and the walk out, unburdened by heavy packs was very enjoyable. Can't wait for next year!
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