TWILIGHT AT ELEVEN

That's the earliest twilight now starts here on the longest day of the year, at 61N. Then staying twilight until around 230 am, after which, the sun peeks back up over the horizon. It being one of our most significant dates, here at the Alaska Progressive Review, with thousands of years of historical significance, in every culture, and on every continent. So we felt a need to be in a peaceful natural setting, and we have many staked out around here in Anchorage. For which we are very fortunate.

An easy place to get to, we really like, is just 45 minutes of running from our door, here at the CFRC, which we do 4-5 times a week. This was last late October. But now being the summer solstice, is completely different. The North Fork of Campbell Creek Canyon, which we run to most days in summer, off the Tank Road. But sometimes for quicker access, we drive up to the end of Basher Road and park there. Then head down the steep trail. Views of the higher country quickly come in, which are nice in the spaces between the thick boreal forest. This part of the trail is very steep and potentially treacherous in all seasons.

At the bottom of the steep section, in the heart of the North Fork of Campbell Creek canyon, there is a little rock bridge you can sit on and enjoy the rushing water sound and sensations. We even had to go in past our ankles, it was so inviting, after a long day of running  and hiking.

  Further up the canyon, it opens up into tall grass fields, as you gain elevation above 1500 feet. The weather up here gets progressively colder and harsher by this altitude, than down in the city below 500 feet. The real high country really teases us as we keep going up. These peaks are only around 5000 feet, but they are completely devoid of life, nothing grows on them, not even lichens or moss, it is so cold and harsh, at that altitude.

We kept going with our picnic dinner about another mile, this is about 1.5 miles in from Basher road. About another mile in, there was a nice log to sit on and enjoy dinner, that was just open enough to allow a breeze through, and keep the bugs down.

Mattie is completely on guard, with all her senses, when we stop in places like this. She treed a black bear an hour into our three hour run today, just took straight off after it. I couldn't stop her. She truly has the energy and courage of two dogs in that little body of hers. We trust her implicitly to warn us of and fend off any danger. Homer does his best too. He keeps watch on the trail downhill. For people or other animals coming up. He is an imposing presence, to be sure. But completely gentle, and mellow now in his old age. I've known him for ten years now, and he did exact a harsh discipline when he was in charge of a 34 dog kennel in Fairbanks. I knew then how special he was, and was so glad when he came to us two years ago. He has great wisdom on many things, in his advanced age of nearly 15. We had a nice dinner here this evening in the gentle evening light. Heading back, viewpoints like this offered very nice peaceful views looking back over parts of Anchorage, to Cook Inlet. Anchorage is in a very special and favored place between mountains and the sea, protected from the coldest interior air by the Alaska Range, and sheltered from the heaviest rains and strongest winds associated with Gulf of Alaska low pressure systems, by the Chugach Mountains all year.

After a cool and cloudy morning, with a few sprinkles, the gentle evening light in the sunshine was very welcome, on this longest day of the year. That's what it looks like here at 2200 hours at 61.15 North, in the sub-Arctic. Happy Solstice! It is much cooler here in summer, than in the Interior. to the north, so days like this, are really special. A nice time to reflect on the good things we have here. We have to take breaks from the reality we see, as dilineated here, http://blog.buzzflash.com/node/12787, and get out into the natural world. For energy, inspiration, and healing.