River Rafting down the Nenana River:
On my first day off work and I was so anxious to get out and explore....so I decided to go white water rafting on the Nenana River. I heard really good things about it so I made sure I got down there early to sign up. Since all the activities around here are on a first come first serve basis for employees, you have to jump at any opportunity to get on. Luckily they had 4 seats open.
We paddled for 11 miles and it was, hands down, the most incredible river ride ever! The scenery was insane!! I could haven taken a thousand pictures. It was a little cloudy that day and probably the coldest day of since I'd been there (maybe low 60s). And the days prior were warm and breezy (around 70-78 degrees).....go figure, the day I go out in the water it decides to turn cold. But it's okay, they put dry suites on all of us to make sure we didn't get wet. The water in this river is mostly made of glacier melt so it was around 30 degrees! Thank God for the protection from that! Shhheeww!
It was a pretty easy river to paddle with low rapids; so every time we would start coasting I would gaze into the distance admiring everything and taking it all in. We all looked for the Dall sheep that hang out near there but I never saw one. But, I did see a raven's nest....That was pretty cool. It was all nestled in between 2 rocks on the side of the cliff.
After our 11 mile ride we ended up in Heally, which is the closest town to Denali, where a bus was waiting to pick us up to take us back to the Chalet. When I got out of the raft I was freezing.....my fingers and toes were numb and I was ready to get into the warm bus.
As we were riding down the Highway, I started to reflect back on what I just experienced and it totally embraced me....because again, even riding the bus, you couldn't take your eyes of the snow-capped monstrous mountains. I was hooked.....I had to see more because everywhere you look there is beauty all around. And if it's like this below, I can't even imagine how great it will be from above! I gotta get into the park and on top of one of those mountains!!
What an adventure! Have so much fun!!
ReplyDeleteWow Paige! what an adventure you are having! My boys and I will be in Alaska on the 31st of July until the next Saturday. we Are going to be in Homer and on the Russian River fishing. I can't wait. My wife is very afraid we are going to get mauled by bears while there but Ihope it won't be a problem. Have a great rest of the summer!
ReplyDeleteJason Oyler