The sun is setting directly opposite Tanalian Mountain right now, at the end of Lake Clark, creating an amazing mural of colors splashing back on the mountains up Lake Clark Pass. We are currently loosing six minutes of daylight and our days are quickly shortening, but the sun doesn’t go out without first displaying it’s glory.
One of my most memorable Lake Clark sunsets was after I climbed Tanalian Mountain with a group of friends last fall. We came off the mountain seeing the bright orange sun dropping quickly. We piled on the four-wheeler and jetted back to the shores of Lake Clark to capture this vibrant painting of fluorescent color. The date was October 4, 2010.
Today, October 4, 2011, I was looking at Tanalian Mountain reminiscing about the shenanigans from last year’s hike amongst the freshly fallen snow. There hasn’t been any snow in Port Alsworth yet, but we wake to frosty mornings, and the peaks are sprinkled with a fresh dusting of white.
Tonight, I saw the glow of the sun on the mountains, so I dashed out to door, kayak paddle across my bike handle bars, wearing my PFD and peddled frantically down the runway to my little red kayak. Out of the bay I paddled fiercely to round the corner just in time to soak up the closing of another October day.
I wonder what October 4, 2012 will bring… hopefully another beautiful sunset!
What goes together better than a paddle and a podcast? Well maybe dark chocolate and raspberry.
I was recently looking through my summer pictures and easily 83.7% of them are from the cockpit of a kayak. Which means one big thing… I need to make sure my clothes match my kayak and PFD, so the pictures look good. Oh wait… I mean…
Most of my paddling this summer has also been solo and recently I did an overnight down the lake with my kayak as my mode of transportation. It was great to have a quick “get-a-way” and some quiet time and was liberating to strike out down the lake alone! The view wasn’t too bad either.
I felt spoiled with sun and delicious blue berries and low bush cranberries at my destination! One of my favorite things about this time of year is seeing how the tundra dramatically changes in color. There is such intricate detail in the spongy blanket that covers the earth in Alaska. It’s fascinating to get a close look at during each season.
During my paddle time I like to listen to podcasts and have a few I am constantly uploading to my ipod. I try to keep up on the teaching from Soma Communities in Tacoma, the body of believers I was a part of when I lived there and always find encouragement and challenging topics in the messages.
I also love Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle. Another church I was a member at right when I moved to Seattle, the biblical truths taught there were key to developing my faith right out of college. I love the straight forward approach Mark takes and appreciate that he keeps bringing it back to the Bible and Jesus, which is all that matters. If I’m ever curious about a Biblical perspective on controversial topics I know I can find truth in the teachings found in their podcast resources.
I’m sure once the lake freezes over and the kayak gets replaced by cross-country skis, I’ll still be tuning in and taking time to be challenged and encouraged via podcast.
I set out on a solo hike this Saturday, up to a near-by nob I have been eyeing for the past few months. It’s part way up the big Holy Mountain that is in the mountain range behind Port Alsworth and along Lake Kontrashibuna. The trail goes up to the lake, then I took a canoe up and across the lake before starting bush whacking my way to the top. I did meet some people at the lake who were going up Holy to camp, so I did part of the trip with them. It was a unique day as both lakes were flat calm in the middle of the afternoon. A perfect glass reflection on each.
It of led to some spectacular views and some great time alone to reflect. Being in nature is one of the places I feel most refreshed and alive. I also feel closest to my Maker and have time to praise and pray as I’m alone in His glorious creation. These are some verses I was reflecting on last week.
Ecclesiastes 3:14
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of man.”
Colossians 1:16
“For by him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
1 John 3:1
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
Zephaniah 3:17
“The Lord your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.”
