Adventures!: Hatchers pass Hike x2

When I've gone a long stretch of not having any sort of adventures (ohhh summer 2013. LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE) I get all nostalgic like, and start dreaming of my old adventures. I thought since I was already dreamin' I should maybe articulate some of those thoughts into a new adventures post, because Sharing IS Caring.

So sit down churrin' and let me tell you of the times I hiked my favorite spot in Alaska, a magical place north of Anchorage named Hatchers Pass. *ohhhhh ahhhh*


The first time I went hiking on Hatchers Pass was August of 2009. I wasn't even a year into living in Alaska, and had been down in Anchorage visiting other AmeriCorps VISTA members, as well as having my rad friends Matt and Krista up from the lower 48 to visit and explore with me. One of the Anchorage VISTAS was all about the hiking and suggested Hatchers Pass, which I had never heard of, but was totally game. A group of 8 of us headed out, and man it was magical. As I have learned from most Alaskan outdoor experiences, words usually don't do the justice that pictures can, so I present to you my first journey:

The view from the trail head and The group as we begin our hike. For the first hike we headed out in EARLY August, and it couldn't have been better timing. The Fireweed was in full force, and everything was so green and lush it seemed like Dinosaurs should be behind each dome, and frolicking in the valleys. But, I kinda think that about Dinosaurs on EVERY hike I go on. SO WHAT, I want Dinosaur hikes. Doesn't everyone?

At the end of the 'trail' (used VERY lightly), there is the most awesome, glowing, glacial lake. Doesn't it just look so inviting? It is ALSO cold. as. shit. but, it's a glacial lake, and you've now been hiking for 5 miles, and know you have 5 miles back. Basically, you HAVE to jump in. But because of the aforementioned 5 miles hike back it means you have to jump in sans clothes. It all makes sense in the end. I only use logic. 

So, in the end, the trip was glorious, and I talked about the hike year after year. Finally, in August 2012 my sister came to visit me in Alaska, and we were down in the Anchorage area to see The Avett Brothers at the Alaska State Fair. I knew it was meant to be, and since I had another willing group of 6 or so people, we headed out to hike Hatchers Pass once more! (I want to note, that I know I keep saying Hatchers Pass, but the exact trail we hiked was the Reed Lakes Trail. for clarification purposes.)

There is definitely a different tone to these pictures than the last grouping. It was LATE August this time when we went, so it was significantly cooler than 3 years prior, plus it was just sort of an overcast gloomy day. In the end though, it was none-the-less magical.

(We still swam, I kinda said we HAD to, even though it was a little chilly to begin with. But COME ON, glacial lake swimming. It doesn't happen everyday. And I think I just like making people strip. *shrugs*)

Summer Goal {Recap}

Well guys. I had these goals you see. And, well... I sucked it  up. So much so that I almost didn't do this recap, but I figure, I cannot ignore it. I should talk about what happened. (psst. SPOILERS, life happened). But here we go:

*No Alcohol until September: I like a good beer. Or a good dirty gin martini. I have been a bartender. I appreciate fun mixed drinks. And all this is well and good, but Sometimes I (honestly) don't know what moderation is, and it has been weighing on me a lot lately. Just something on my mind. There are a lot of things personally I want to accomplish this summer, and I think removing alcohol from the picture would be a good way to clear my mind and give me a fresh perspective  Also, I really just like proving to myself that I can stick to goals, and have will power. It gives me a great sense of self, and I thrive on that.

*NOT COMPLETE* At all. Basically, in all honesty... I worked in a restaurant atmosphere, at the beach, with 18-23 year old people all summer long. And one brewed his own beer. An excuse? No, not at all. Did I have fun? Most the time. Did I meet lasting friends? Ill say, one. sure. 

* Financial goals. (and I just now because of spell check realized I spelled financial wrong on the image, and am wayyy to lazy to go back and edit it. whatever.) So, as I stated in a past post, my plans for this summer include work, and lots of it. I start today training at a breakfast diner (I have to do stints as a busser, hostess, and cashier), and by June will be serving there regularly  And its a fast paced place, with good tips to be made, so there is that. Otherwise,  I am searching still for a night serving position, but have applied man places. These two avenues combined all summer, I hope to be able to pay off both my credit cards ($4500+), Pay back my mother ($2000+), save money for a plane ticket for myself and Nigel to the west coast in the fall ($350+) and stock away savings for a few months rent and deposit wherever I plan to move to ($2750+). I have four months to get this accomplished, and I do think it is feasible. Added bonus if I save enough to have a little pocket for a new car once back out west...I think also, as a last little footnote, that this will be the summer to get my tattoo. Or maybe it will be an end of summer reward. carry on now...

*NOT COMPLETELY* Which implies, that yes I got some of this done. I bought a car. I got all  my shit to the east coast. I paid my mom back $1000. I paid down Credit Cards (a little). I bough a ticket to Seattle in November for a wedding. I put aside some money for my move to Asheville. Nigel now lives with me here in Pawleys, but I owe someone money for that (...Nick, Ill never NOT owe you money, it seems). It happens. But, not a total loss.

*Books! So, this is a smaller goal, which I think is important in the midst of loftier goals...but, I brought home  five books with  me that were in my collection, but I had not had the chance to read yet. I would simply over the course of the summer, read and enjoy these books. They are:Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer, What is the What and A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers, The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama, and Skinny Legs and All by Tom Robbins.

*NOT COMPLETE* So okay. I read non of these books. Well, I read HALF of the Dave Eggers. This isn't to say I didn't read this summer, it just proves you cant really (or I cant) dictate what I am going to be in the mood for all summer long. I Read Under The Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes. If you haven't read it, DO IT. So good. NOTHING like the movie that used the book as a (very loose) backbone. Great food and travel writing. I devoured every book written by John Green (The Fault in Our Stars, Paper Towns, An Abundance of Katherines, Will Grayson Will Grayson, Let It Snow) and am currently waiting to read Looking for Alaska by the same author. Now, these books are all Young Adult, and I loved them. Paper Towns and The Fault in Our Stars being my favorites. I had always been a fan of John Green (kinda a dream man of mine) from his VlogBrothers series on youtube. Or Mental Floss. Or Crash Courses. You pick. all. are. brainy. and. wonderful. I had been meaning to take a peek at his writing for a while, and then was handed Paper Towns by a new friend this summer and (with the encouragement that I reminded him of one of the main characters) I dug right in. Beyond that I re-read the Little Prince, HP1, and two Salinger. So, not a total loss. 

*Tech cut back. Now, this may seem silly, as I am getting this blog going again, but it cutting out certain areas, to let other areas flourish  I recently erased my facebook app, my facebook messenger app, and my gchat app. You can obviously still text me or call me. This is just eliminating checking all those stupid things, as well as making it so yes, I am still available, but no not by every means possible. removing the clutter. In the same vain, I will be updating this blog a good bit, but don't plan to otherwise be on facebook really at all. of course there will be times, and I will still check it, but I don't plan on doing big status updates, etc. On the other hand, I will be writing letters and emails all summer long. So there is a use for facebook y'all, send me your mailing address and we can become pen pals! and since I wont be on facebook a lot, the updates you tell me in letters will actually be updates! Isn't that grand? As for other technologies... instagram, vine, and twitter. I'm keeping them...for now.

*KINDA COMPLETE?* I mean, I kept facebook off my phone. and Face book messenger. and Gchat. I have written a few handwritten letters this summer. I updated the blog, but not a TON. But I def. was still on Facebook on my laptop a good bit. Eh. *shrugs* I guess I didn't feel consumed by it all, so that is a win. 

*Focus on me. What do I mean by this? I just mean that in between all the work, and reading, and such that I take the time and just... clean out my head. I don't know a whole lot of people here in Pawleys, and while at first I was looking at this as a negative, I think I am going to use the chance to just...get to know me again. I am over analytic, stressed, and have a bit of Monica Geller syndrome in my current life. These are all things that have popped up or grown as I have gotten older. I just want to take this summer to both sort these things out (and calm them down a notch) as well as make peace with them. Easier said than done, when you are a judgmental cynic. (hey everyone, you know all that critique I throw around in life? Just know that I throw it at myself 10x worse. Yeah, sucks, right?)

*COUNTING THIS AS COMPLETE* You know what? Yeah. I mean, Ill ALWAYS have a zillion tings going on i my head, but overall my stress level and such has def. been pulled back. I have taken money issues with a lot more ease. I have read more and gone to the beach and just sat there more than i have in a long time. I went running ( big stuff) pretty regularly for a while, and simply to get out and clear my head. so yeah. WIN.

Fashion: Two for One

Between all the works shifts (where I get to wear the EVER fashionable Khaki shorts and navy blue t-shirt), and it being so deathly hot that I stick to jorts and plain tank tops so that I don't die (and so that all my sweat doesn't show up too bad) I hardly ever actually get 'Dressed'.  Over the past week though guys... I GOT DRESSED. TWICE. I mean, this is BIG, BIG stuff. I made a point to document each time, b/ yes it REALLY IS A BIG DEAL. and, well, b/c i havent done a 'fashion' post in a while...

LOOK ONE:




Dress: Forever21 (thrifted in  SF bay area for $5)
Sandals: Old Navy (from years ago)
Belt: (who knows? dump?)
Sunglasses: Wal-mart, $5.00
Sunglasses chain: Dollar store, bitches
Bow: ?

LOOK TWO:




Dress (worn as shirt): Forever21 (bought at goodwill for $5.99)
Jean Skirt: DIYed from floor length, dump find
Belt: dump? Value village?
Sunglasses/chain: see above
Flip Flops: Rainbows I've had since high school, originally $40.00

The Palmetto State So far. A Picture Story.

One of the first days back, the old church on the island was being taken over by high tide flood waters of the marsh...

A little snippet of what I consider one of the cutest beach houses on Pawleys.

My home sweet home for the next four months (and you know all of my formative high school years)

Gorgeous day off at the beach

More beach day. I wanted to say 'how 'bout them apples' but no, I don't mean my boobs, k? Get your head out of the gutter.

Gorgeous Georgetown house I house sat for all last week. Isn't that porch a dream!?

Harbor walk off Front street in Georgetown, two blocks from where I was house sitting.

A favorite bakery in Georgetown. Kudzu. YUM.