It’s no secret that the summer of 2011 is taking her sweet time in approaching the Pacific Northwest. Blue skies and rain clouds jerk about the skies like an atmospheric yo-yo inducing weather-sensitive creatures like myself to fits of wardrobe terror. In an attempt to ward off Mother Nature’s mania, I seek solace in daydreams of frosty mugs of gin and tonic brushing against my sunburned skin. Soon enough, June, July and August will wallop my ear drums with the sounds of kiddie pool splashing and bare feet slapping on hot sidewalks. However, not all North Westerners will be soaking up the rays in the coming months. While I lounge in the lush green grass of Laurelhurt Park, my girlfriend will be camping on a snow-covered glacier twelve miles outside of Juneau. Both of us will be spending the summer in the Northwest, but our experiences couldn’t be more different. As a seasonal staff member with Alaska Icefield Expeditions, Whitney will get a four-month glimpse into the Northwest’s forgotten step-child, the North Country.
For those interested in mixing up their summer routine, Alaska Icefield Expeditions will shake you like a dirty martini. First stop: Temsco Helicopter base in the Mendenhall Valley of Juneau, Alaska. Here you will receive a brief safety talk before boarding a helicopter bound for the Mendenhall Glacier. During the flight, pilots instruct passengers on the area’s geological history and natural wildlife before landing at Alaska Icefield Expedition’s base camp – home to two dozen staff and 240 Alaskan husky sled dogs. As explained by owners Dan and Chris Turner, the company provides “a way of life for our mushers and sled dogs to live in ‘dog camp’ during the summer – keeping in shape, raising puppies, preparing for winter racing and camping trips. Having guests to share this adventure with is a bonus.” This “bonus,” of course, is nothing short of mutual. In addition to soul-rocking scenery and ample puppy cuddling time, guests also receive a rare glimpse of the Mendenhall Glacier through the eyes of Iditarod and Yukon Quest mushers on an adventurous sled dog tour. That, my friends, is a summer to remember. Whitney will be the one with the permanent grin – sled dogs and crisp glacier air, it seems, have an effect more intoxicating than the tallest mixed drink.
Click here to reserve a tour with Alaska Icefield Expeditions.
Photos from http://www.akdogtour.com/.