Mount Marathon, Seward, Alaska

Mount Marathon, Seward Alaska

2015 Summer Adventures

"In His hands are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to Him. The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land,” Psalm 94.

If you’re ever lucky enough to find a boy who buys you a plane ticket to Alaska… take him up on it! I flew into Anchorage and took a train South to Seward, Alaska. From the inside of the train I felt like I was watching National Geographic or something; Alaska doesn't even look real. It’s Durango (the most beautiful place on earth) on steroids. Every lake is the bluest shade of blue, every mountain drips with fresh green vines, and wild flowers in every hue dress the landscape.

As we drove through the countryside he didn’t seem enthused, and told me it only got prettier. Places like this make me wonder how people don’t believe in God; it amazes me. Only something divine could create something so naturally beautiful. Driving through Alaska is like taking Ecstasy, your senses seem heightened and you want to touch and smell everything. Everything closes in on you making it seem dreamlike.

Although we went to a number of cool local spots, my favorite was at the top of Mount Marathon, 3,500 feet above the small boating town. From sea level this trek begins. Also, this trail is a famous race that ensues every year on the 4th of July. This year, as we watched as men’s and women’s classes broke the top records.

http://alaskahikesearch.com/hikes/mt-marathon/#.VaQ4JutnwwE

The hike starts from the bottom of a cliff, that we climbed straight up through giant tree roots. One wrong hand grab would mean a 300 ft. drop. Then it opens in to a lush green muddy pathway for the next 1000 feet. Slowly we climbed out of the green lush as it thinned and we crossed the tree line. The last 1000 feet is sharp loose rock, straight up to the top. My calves and legs hurt more than my lungs, and the humidity closed in around you as you come over the top into the clearing. As we looked back, under us 3,500 feet was the tiny town of Seward on the ice blue Resurrection Bay.

From the top all I could think of was how much fun God had painting Alaska. And how blessed I was to be able to look at it from so high up.