Web Log Entry #0035, Monday, January 20, 2003: Day 63

Anchorage Sunrise: 9:46am Sunset: 4:35pm High Temp: 32° Low Temp: 27° On the way to Seward and back when I wasn't helping Stan by staring at the road and willing the car to stay on it, I watched for animals and scenery. We saw a couple eagles and lots of ravens, but the only mammals were two chipmunks (Polar Chipmunks? Arctic Chipmunks? It's hard to tell) that ran across the road. So we didn't see much wildlife, but there was lots of scenery. Tons of scenery. Maybe there are parts of Alaska that aren't surrounded by huge mountains, but I haven't seen them yet. The whole way to Seward we drove past huge, rugged, snow-mantled mountains. I don't know what it is about seeing a chain of towering, snow-covered mountains with the sunlight edging the highest peaks with an orange glow that makes one's brain think "My god, that's BEAUTIFUL!" After all, it's just an oversized hill, covered with white that has the top bit lit up, but it's awe inspiring. There must be people who can view such a sight without it touching their soul, but it affects me. Is it learned? Innate? I don't know. I just know that watching the giant, throbbing (sorry, I'm running out of adjectives) snow-capped peaks made the stress of traveling 250 miles on icy roads worthwhile.

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© 2003 Evan M. Nichols