Back Again

Fourth Quarter in the employee benefits business is hell.  I'm grateful for my job, and I actually enjoy it most of the time, but the past three and a half months have been a struggle.  Luckily, it's over and only cleanup is left.  No more 60+ hour work weeks for a while and no more work nightmares, hopefully.

Now that my time is not quite as hard pressed, I can come back into the world of online social media - including my little blog.

The most exciting news to report is that I bought a ticket to Alaska!  I'll be leaving at the end of May and be gone for 16 days.  I am very much looking forward to visiting beautiful Alaska and am excited to be out venturing by myself again.  I have wanted to go to Alaska since I was 11 years old in my fifth grade class.  All students in the fifth grade create a state report and presentation and have a fair to teach other students about our state.  I had Alaska, and after learning so much about it for that little fifth grade assignment, I've always wanted to go.

I have a friend who currently lives in Sterling Alaska on the Kenai peninsula and will probably see him for a few days while I'm up there, but for the most part, it will be me, my camera, and a train/bus/trail under my feet. I've spent that last few days planning out an itinerary, that so far includes:

Exploring Anchorage by bike
Glacier trekking on Exit Glacier in Seward
Kayaking around Glacier Bay in Seward and Fjords National Park
A train ride from Anchorage to Denali
A helicopter flight and hike in Denali
Some hiking trails in Denali
A visit to the Husky Homestead in Denali to learn about sled dogs
Fishing in Sterling and seeing the salmon
Visiting the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward

I'm going pretty all out with this trip as far as the adventure goes, no expenses spared.  I want this to be the trip of a lifetime, one that I'll cherish forever.

-Leah