I've spent the past few hours learning how to drive all over again. With roads that resemble the 3rd world where i'll be responsible to take up to 15 people on the Dalton highway, its alot to learn to do safely. Technical driving sounds pretty cool though. I also got to chill with the company bush pilots last night when I first arrived. Once they found out I brought a gun up, I was in the club it seemed. We wined and dined on cheese until 2 am, the bright sun giving me energy to stay up and enjoy my new home.
This place is awesome, the scenery is fantastic and I'm so ready to fully embrace my life up here!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Long week to hike and prepare for Alaska
This week has been tiring, yet exhilarating. After leaving a little past midnight from Topeka on graduation night, I drove to Carrollton, KY to meet up with my buddy Craig from Fiji. We proceeded to hike into Smoky Mountain National Park, going between Tennessee and North Carolina numerous times. The hike was strenuous as I'd yet found my hiking legs for this season. Nonetheless the scenery and weather couldn't have been better. It was a good time to reconnect with my old friend who shares many of the same passions that I do.
After our 20 something mile loop, we found our last mile hiking out corrupted by hordes of old tourists, the stench of civilization at its peak. We quickly drove away, only to bathe for the first time at the visitors center which once again was crammed with people who likely couldn't hike a small hill and had probably only spent a few minutes actually looking at the smoky mountains between their camcorder shots and cheesy group photos. Oh well. In the wilderness of the A.T., the greatest trail in the world perhaps, we met a good number of thru-hikers who made me dream of the day when I accomplish the great 2100 mile trek from Georgia to Maine.
Otherwise I simply have a little more packing to do after Steve-O's wedding tonight. I leave in the afternoon for Alaska and will be starting my staff training on Sunday. Very excited, just wishing that after having gone on 4 major international multi-month trips I would have learned to pack before the night I'm leaving. lol. Thus is life.
Until next time,
Phil
After our 20 something mile loop, we found our last mile hiking out corrupted by hordes of old tourists, the stench of civilization at its peak. We quickly drove away, only to bathe for the first time at the visitors center which once again was crammed with people who likely couldn't hike a small hill and had probably only spent a few minutes actually looking at the smoky mountains between their camcorder shots and cheesy group photos. Oh well. In the wilderness of the A.T., the greatest trail in the world perhaps, we met a good number of thru-hikers who made me dream of the day when I accomplish the great 2100 mile trek from Georgia to Maine.
Otherwise I simply have a little more packing to do after Steve-O's wedding tonight. I leave in the afternoon for Alaska and will be starting my staff training on Sunday. Very excited, just wishing that after having gone on 4 major international multi-month trips I would have learned to pack before the night I'm leaving. lol. Thus is life.
Until next time,
Phil
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Leaving College for the Unknown
Those that know me are probably laughing. The night of my college graduation I'm not partying with my classmates anymore, I'm off towards Tennessee to hike the Smoky mountains for a week. Thus is life I suppose.
Today was a great day. I'm so thankful for my friends and the good times we've shared through these past 4 years in College. I head off now to discover the next step in my destiny, in hopes of changing this world for the better and enjoying the adventure life provides when we step out of our comfort zones and life the way we were really meant to. Thank you all so much who have cheered me on these past few years, I'm a better person for having been an Ichabod and having shared the ups and downs of college life with you all.
Should I not die by bear mauling, I would very much like to see you all in the fall while I'm in transition to whatever travel is in store for me after Alaska. Until then, keep in touch and all the best.
Cheers, Phil Norris
Today was a great day. I'm so thankful for my friends and the good times we've shared through these past 4 years in College. I head off now to discover the next step in my destiny, in hopes of changing this world for the better and enjoying the adventure life provides when we step out of our comfort zones and life the way we were really meant to. Thank you all so much who have cheered me on these past few years, I'm a better person for having been an Ichabod and having shared the ups and downs of college life with you all.
Should I not die by bear mauling, I would very much like to see you all in the fall while I'm in transition to whatever travel is in store for me after Alaska. Until then, keep in touch and all the best.
Cheers, Phil Norris
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