In Service of the Light

Skagway + Mushers Camp

Skagway continued…

I loved Skagway! Quaintly nestled in a narrow glaciated coastal valley, this little town is a pleasure to walk through. Many artists have made it their home, and you can find their creations in the abundant treasure shops downtown…or hop into the forest on a hike right out of town. I caught a bit of the Lower Dewey Lake Trail before scampering back down for a Musher’s Dog Sledding Tour. These Alaskan huskies love to run and pull. I just watched a documentary about the Iditarod race and apparently this is what has repopulated the numbers of this amazing breed of strong and enthusiastic pups. I was able to hold a few of the babies on the tour. If like me, you don’t wish to brave an Alaskan winter, simply come in the summer and enjoy a “sled ride” on dirt…they have to keep training after all!

❤️Alaska

Hubbard Glacier Is the longest tidewater glacier in North America and starts 122 kilometers (76 miles) back, pouring down off the shoulder of Mt. Walsh. Its terminal face is 11 kilometers (7 miles) long and 106 meters (350 feet) above the water line. Due to conditions this particular day we could not advance closer as planned…there was too much ice in the water but we were able to view it from a safe distance. Titanic flashed through my mind during the announcement, and I was content with their decision.

Most of these pics are of Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, where we were able to get close enough to witness calving. Glacier calving is the sudden breaking off of massive chunks of ice from the edge of a glacier into the ocean or a lake, creating icebergs. I was even close enough to hear the audible crash.

This was by far the most stunning experience of the trip thus far. (I was unable to post due to shifty wifi so catching everything up now.)

Eagles flying from ice to ice (videos not posting here for some reason but able to get them up on FB and IG so check there in a bit if you want to see all the vids.)


I have been extremely impressed with the documentaries provided. Healing Across the Waters is a must watch, telling the thorough story of indigenous history of the region and the conflict AND attempted resolution of the clans working with the National Park Service (NPS)…prepare to cry. I also appreciated they had rangers come on board to answer questions about the park.

Sunday I wandered out onto the deck around 10:30 pm and it was still light enough to witness this beauty! 🤩🙌🏻🙏🏼Alaska❤️

Day 2 in Alaska…After meeting up with Giatri’s
parents, Vinod and Niru, we began our journey to the ship 🚢, starting with a bus ride to a premier animal sanctuary just outside Anchorage. The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is located at Mile 79 of the Seward Highway in Portage Valley (about 45 miles south of Anchorage), and is a nonprofit that provides a safe haven for injured and orphaned Alaskan wildlife. We saw a grizzly bear 🐻, black bear, arctic fox, and moose🫎 to name a few.

Then we enjoyed an incredibly beautiful drive to Whittier where we embarked the ship and set sail in the evening. Our driver (Will) was very knowledgeable and had connections it seemed in every town we passed (Mom grew up here…Gramma lived there) which added to his rich stories. His grandfather worked on the famous tunnel leading to Whittier that we had to strategically time to be able to make the ship. The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, commonly known simply as the Whittier Tunnel is 2.5 miles long, and is the longest highway tunnel in North America, cutting directly through Maynard Mountain to serve as the only land route into the isolated port town of Whittier.

We finally made it onto the ship 🚢 , the Holland America, for our 7 day southbound cruise. After orienting ourselves we had a nice dinner and tucked ourselves into our cabins for some much needed rest.

So grateful to be in this stunning part of the world!

*All pics of the grizzly I took from a safe platform above the enclosure.

Already winning In Anchorage! Such a deep heartfelt connection with my Uber driver turned spontaneous tour guide. She was happy to go off the clock and spend two hours with me, sharing her culture and family history. We had deep conversations about the complicated relationship between native Alaskans and non-indigenous people.

First stop was the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, then the Westchester Lagoon for birdwatching, followed by exploring downtown murals and a quick stop into the bakery for a gluten-free indulgence and a hello to Wilma’s daughter. 🥰. Last stop before heading back to the hotel was another lagoon where we had beautiful feathers 🪶 making an offering for smudging. Watch the video to learn about traditional potlatches and stick dance. Learning about this ceremony and process was very moving for me. These kind of cultural traditions, help people through grief and make sure they are connected to each other as they walk through it. I especially love that they give a gift later, to those who help helped walk them down the path of Healing. ❤️‍🩹

Wilma related stories of growing up in a smaller village, 4 hours from Anchorage, but moved there for resources after one of her daughters was born deaf. She ended up being the first cochlear implant done In Anchorage.

I don’t remember if this conversation was recorded in one of the videos, but I asked her about how her people felt towards non-natives and she said there used to be lots of judgment, especially with the elders, recalling the historical policies of forced assimilation and cultural suppression programs. (From the late 19th century through much of the 20th century, the United States government, working alongside various Christian missionary groups, implemented deliberate policies to systematically eradicate Alaska Native cultures, languages, and tribal identity.) I think she said her aunt was taken at a young age from home. Nowadays, she says things have shifted and in general people are not holding judgment towards non native people.

I’m grateful to Wilma for being so open and welcoming; this was a very enriching morning!

💜This was an absolute delight to be a part of. Expansive, grounding, loving, easeful, honoring, peaceful, sweet. Can’t wait till we do it again. Comment if interested! We are thinking/dreaming up sunrise yoga?! Evening Yoga nidra with a Soundbath (imagine drifting into a deep relaxation, in between rows of lavender)…and the ideas keep swirling!