Tracy Arm Fjord and Creating Impressions in Alaska
Impressions can be made in the mud, as well as in the mind. As we explored Southeast Alaska this week, we endeavored to collect memories of Alaska’s splendor. From paddling at water level in a kayak, to walking in the slorping mud of the forest, we have looked, listened, felt, smelt and munched our way into forming our own individual impressions of Alaska. We share these with you now.
Alaska
Alaska, great in
Its wonder with whales, puffins and banana slugs.
First are the whales with big flukes, breaches and splashes at dawn and at dusk.
Second the puffins cute splendor with their orange feet,
Last, banana slugs with their big long eye sockets and lots of icky slime.
There’s lots more stuff in Alaska, like otters, bears, birds and much much more.
The fish are awesome, the birds are too, the bears rock
and there’s so much more to do!
By Whitney Meer, Age 11
The Spruce
Spruce, spruce, how lovely are your leaves
Although your cones are softly
You are not as friendly.
Cecelia Campbell, Age 11
The Alaskan Secret
The blinding sun shoots rays off of
The calm turquoise-blue water
As the small Sea Bird swishes along
The White and Brown Eagles sing their loud-odd song
Millions of whales meander out of now night sea
And I see
My brother Brandon curled at the end of the bow asleep.
By Christopher Alston, Age 13
This afternoon I found myself completely alone on the deck while all the other passengers were downstairs tasting wine and soda and decorating cookies. I sat in silence on the bow, and as I looked out across the bay at the distant icebergs and the mountains rising up behind them, I was struck by how empty, how utterly silent and huge it all was. It was, to be honest, a little frightening, and I was very, very tempted to yodel loudly to ease the tension which arose from this almost suffocating serenity. It was at this point, two days into the trip that I truly grasped, for the first time, the enormity of Alaska.
Logistically speaking, the farthest Aleutian Island to the eastern most tip of the state is the distance from California to Florida. Barrow, the northernmost city, and the southernmost point in Alaska are as far apart as Canada and Missouri. But what really makes Alaska huge is that it is so wild, so uninhabited and untouched. Alaska is Mother Nature in all her wild, limitless glory. Alaska is untamable, and will remain so forever. These huge icebergs and these mountains that touch the sky; these deep fjords and huge glaciers and these countless evergreens; these majestic whales and determined salmon and resourceful bears: all will remain here, wild and free, for all of time. Nature, which seems in these modern times to be fighting a losing battle, will exist on here, while time passes through like river water over rocks. Here in Alaska, this magical land, where the sky watches over all like a protective parent, nature will forever remain an incorrigible, strong, willful, and very wild, child.
Connor Martin, Age 13
Impressions can be made in the mud, as well as in the mind. As we explored Southeast Alaska this week, we endeavored to collect memories of Alaska’s splendor. From paddling at water level in a kayak, to walking in the slorping mud of the forest, we have looked, listened, felt, smelt and munched our way into forming our own individual impressions of Alaska. We share these with you now.
Alaska
Alaska, great in
Its wonder with whales, puffins and banana slugs.
First are the whales with big flukes, breaches and splashes at dawn and at dusk.
Second the puffins cute splendor with their orange feet,
Last, banana slugs with their big long eye sockets and lots of icky slime.
There’s lots more stuff in Alaska, like otters, bears, birds and much much more.
The fish are awesome, the birds are too, the bears rock
and there’s so much more to do!
By Whitney Meer, Age 11
The Spruce
Spruce, spruce, how lovely are your leaves
Although your cones are softly
You are not as friendly.
Cecelia Campbell, Age 11
The Alaskan Secret
The blinding sun shoots rays off of
The calm turquoise-blue water
As the small Sea Bird swishes along
The White and Brown Eagles sing their loud-odd song
Millions of whales meander out of now night sea
And I see
My brother Brandon curled at the end of the bow asleep.
By Christopher Alston, Age 13
This afternoon I found myself completely alone on the deck while all the other passengers were downstairs tasting wine and soda and decorating cookies. I sat in silence on the bow, and as I looked out across the bay at the distant icebergs and the mountains rising up behind them, I was struck by how empty, how utterly silent and huge it all was. It was, to be honest, a little frightening, and I was very, very tempted to yodel loudly to ease the tension which arose from this almost suffocating serenity. It was at this point, two days into the trip that I truly grasped, for the first time, the enormity of Alaska.
Logistically speaking, the farthest Aleutian Island to the eastern most tip of the state is the distance from California to Florida. Barrow, the northernmost city, and the southernmost point in Alaska are as far apart as Canada and Missouri. But what really makes Alaska huge is that it is so wild, so uninhabited and untouched. Alaska is Mother Nature in all her wild, limitless glory. Alaska is untamable, and will remain so forever. These huge icebergs and these mountains that touch the sky; these deep fjords and huge glaciers and these countless evergreens; these majestic whales and determined salmon and resourceful bears: all will remain here, wild and free, for all of time. Nature, which seems in these modern times to be fighting a losing battle, will exist on here, while time passes through like river water over rocks. Here in Alaska, this magical land, where the sky watches over all like a protective parent, nature will forever remain an incorrigible, strong, willful, and very wild, child.
Connor Martin, Age 13
