By David Gonzales
Back in Anchorage, the JH crew parked their RV, and I my rented minivan, in the REI parking lot. Not bad as far as urban bivvies go. It was relatively quiet at night and there was a coffee shop next to REI where all survival needs could be met. Also seemed like a good place in which to observe the Far North contigent of the ski/bike/paddle tribe. Far fewer beards and lumberjack shirts than I anticipated. Though grungy at this time of year, Anchorage seems like a pretty livable city.
Most surreal moment: driving through the city after our whiteout, wind-whipped tour, and passing a knot of African American kids standing on the center median, decked out in full, urban hip-hop regalia. It is a city, after all.
From Seward I circumnavigated the Chugach Range, driving north then east then south, to get to Valdez. Let the heli waiting game begin.
Not bad for the founder of the National Slacker Hall of Fame! Still skiing light pow here in the Anthacites. No urban hip-hop regalia noted…just a couple snowboarders. Get it Joey!
Good luck to the St Elias crew…and be careful up there Dave!
You saw black people? No Way!
No shit. There they were.
The kids on the median were a surprising sight only because after a ski tour, I’m more apt to see Wilson Moms hanging out next to their Range Rovers in front of Pearl St. Bagels. Just a different scene.