This is the Toklat River in Denali NP. It is a good example of a braided river, which we saw many of in Alaska. Braided streams tend to occur in rivers carrying a large amount of of coarse sediment. They are also associated with rivers that experience regular surges in the amount of water being carried.
Sounds like a great metaphor for what we should do in life: carry along good things we experience and deposit them for others to enjoy.
This is a photo of the footbridge crossing the Savage River in Denali NP. There is a scenic trail that goes for nearly one mile on one side of the river. This bridge allows you to cross the river to return on the other side of the river. As you can tell from the photo, this is a fairly nice bridge. And this is definitely not a river most people would cross if there was no bridge. At yet, it is easy to take a bridge like this for granted. Climbing up the hill made me more appreciative of it.
So often, a small change in perspective can give us a new appreciation for things (and people) in our lives.
This is another photo taken during our hike on Root Glacier. I thought the name “Root” might be somehow related to the nearby copper mines. However, it was actually named for Elihu Root who was the Secretary of War at the time and later the Secretary of State. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for many achievements during his time in office.
I would guess that more people know of Root Glacier than about Elihu Root. It is said that we are remembered more for who we are than what we do.
Your way, O God, is holy. What god is as great as our God? You are the God who works wonders. Psalm 77:13-14
This was our last hike in Alaska, other than walking along the waterfront in Anchorage. The end of a trip is usually a bittersweet experience. Part of me is looking forward to returning home, part of me is sad the trip is nearly over.
Life has many bittersweet moments. Sometimes we label them mixed blessings. The truth is that these moments are surely blessings.
By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation; you are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas. By your strength you established the mountains; you are girded with might. Psalms 65:5-6
When we were up in Alaska last summer, I ran an ultramarathon near Fairbanks. There was a large fire burning and the race organizers had to alter the course to avoid the fire. This photo shows the fire from a distance. Though it involved thousands of acres, it was not considered a major threat and was mostly being allowed to burn unchecked. There was a nearby resort that was being protected by fire fighters. The resort was where the ultra was supposed to finish.
Random events don’t seem very random when we are directly involved or affected. It is easy to see ourselves as the center of the world and think mainly of how an event affects us personally. Very important to step back and remember that God is at the center (of everything).
This is a view of Kennicott, which is an old copper mining town. The biggest building is the mill which is actually several connected buildings going up the side of the hill. The mill was built between 1909 and 1923. These buildings were constructed to take advantage of gravity in the milling process. As you can see, some of the buildings have been renovated and others are literally falling down.
Sometimes I wonder if that is how God sees us.
The flight from Chitina to McCarthy was about 30 minutes long and was filled with one amazing view after another.
Glorious are you, more majestic than the everlasting mountains. Psalms 76:4
I didn’t notice the bird when I first looked at this photo. It sort of blends in. When we got closer to the glacier, the captain pointed out dozens of seals laying on the chunks of ice in the water. They were hidden in plain sight.
As I reflect on being hidden, Colossians 3:3 comes to mind: “your life is hidden with Christ in God.” What does this mean? For me, it is captured by our Parrish theme: “think like Jesus, talk like Jesus, act like Jesus.”
Signs Along the Way 