STEVE EDWARDS / Anchorage Daily News
The early morning sunshine brightens my tent during an August camping trip at Hatcher Pass. My tent is my ticket to adventure in Alaska. It opens up the backcountry and allows me to forget about schedules for a day or two. Visitors, too, should plan on ditching schedules during their trip to Alaska. Be sure to leave a little free time to simply explore and enjoy.
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Off the time clock
Schedule a little time for freedom on a trip to Alaska
Published: April 22nd, 2008
Last Modified: April 24th, 2008 at 09:29 AM
That's a picture of my tent there to the right. It is pitched at Hatcher Pass, one of my favorite places in Alaska.
For me, that tent symbolizes freedom. It's freedom to explore, to go places I've never been, and to go back to places I love.
That tent is my home-away-from-home in the summer. And I've got big plans for it this year -- it will make another return to Hatcher Pass; it will spend a few days on a Kachemak Bay beach; it will also visit Wrangell-St. Elias National Park; and it will spend numerous overnights in Chugach State Park. Who knows where else it will go?
Most Alaska visitors don't bring a tent with them. Really, that's too bad because most of what makes Alaska great is its wilderness.
But as my tent symbolizes freedom for me, an Alaska vacation should symbolize freedom for visitors. Too often that's not the situation. Cruise ship visitors are bound by schedules; tour bus patrons at Denali National Park are bound by schedules. The train leaves at a certain time; the halibut charter must leave on time.
I'm not discouraging any of those things. A cruise through Southeast was my introduction to Alaska in 1998. I've been halibut fishing; I've been to the places the train goes. Denali National Park is breathtaking.
But take a break from the schedule.
More than once last summer I was standing downtown in front of the 4th Avenue Market Place when tour buses arrived to drop off cruise ship visitors and pick up others to whisk them away for their Alaska adventure. It was sad to see visitors hovering around, looking at their watches, waiting to be told, "Get on the bus."
Instead of enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of Fourth Avenue -- which are much different from a wilderness experience but still enjoyable -- tourists were tied to their schedules.
If I can give you one bit of advice: Break free -- even just for an afternoon or a day or two. Do your own thing. Forget the schedule.
-- Steve Edwards
Special sections editor
