I Want to go Back to Arctic Valley and I Haven't Even Left Yet

Arctic Valley is as close to heaven on earth as there is. Few may say that it is too cold or too windy or even too remote and out of the way but they would be the ones unable to see the breathtaking view of anchorage through two mountain peaks. We were lucky enough to experience all of this from twilight of yesterday into today. Right when we got there, after assembling our assembly line to move our sleeping bags inside, some of us traversed sans trail up the mountain. This was Liv, Taylor, Eliza and I (Matt) and we made at least 3/4 up the mountain...at least it seemed that way. Anyway, the view during twilight was amazing and although there are pictures they don't do the view justice. Getting down was just as fun half sliding and half lunging taking a fraction of the time. After a delicious meal of salad and Costco pizza we made our way over to the tubing park to get some night runs in. So sweet. It was like I was back in elementary school at Amesbury Sports Park for my friends 9th birthday party but so much better; I mean we could all make a massive tube here and that would be much frowned upon in Amesbury. Now don't think that that was the end of our adventures for the night, we had a midnight hike ahead of us. Chris took us to the cat packed trail on the back side of the mountain and we methodically made our way up the mountain. Midway up as we were passing the last of the scraggly trees we looked up and saw a wash of green across the sky. We had finally seen Northern Lights. Everything had seemed to work out for us this trip and this was just one more thing that couldn't have been better (except if Michelle had been well enough to be with us but she still saw them back at the lodge). The lights followed us the rest of the way up the mountain and although we didn't make it all the way up when we did stop we were able to experience the effect of the mountain. We all spread out to our own areas and sir in silence on top of an Alaskan mountain with the Northern Lights above and shooting stars across the sky. Not many people can say that they've done this but I'm glad that at least the 14 of us can.

Written by Matt