As I have mentioned before, in 2005 I spent some time in Alaska. It was the first time for me and I will definitely return.

It was the evening flight from Chicago to Anchorage. As we were flying into Anchorage about 4 am, I could just barely make out the mountains as early morning light was beginning to show itself. The anticipation for me was overwhelming. After landing I rented the jeep and started on my journey as soon as I could.

Not far out of Anchorage...south on the Seward Highway, my first clear glimpse of the unrivaled beauty of true wilderness became apparent. The waters of Turnagain Arm followed me along the Seward Highway for the first few miles.

I had read about them, seen photos of them, but this was my first actual sighting of a glacier. It was a surreal moment for me. The sun rising, with the moon still bright in sky reflected on the water like a strand of distant jewels.

Little did I know and later I would learn the just over that ridge on the Kenai peninsula, that tease of a glacier sighting would become miles and miles of ice flow with occasional mountain peaks reaching up through the ancient ice. For those of you who live in an area where this type of landscape is accessible...you are so blessed.