This birthday treat was one of my most heart-filled and memorable experience to date. The timing was more than right, as that summer was one of the most challenging, engaging, yet rewarding one of my career.
The short 10 minutes helicopter trip was breathtaking, especially while crossing over the mountain ridge and hovering above the Punchbowl glacier. The sight of snow and ice all around the training canine camp was surreal, especially since this trip happened in June. While my trip to the camp was in a 3-passenger seat helicopter and felt a bit choppy, the return trip to Girdwood airport was in a 4-passenger seater, and was a lot more stable, and I felt the powerful turbine not budge when the air curents intensified over the ridge.
What impressed me the most was the interaction with the uber-friendly Alpine Air crew, the experienced and gritty mushers, and (above-all) the canine crew. Witnessing the excitement of the Alaskan huskies as they were taken out and from kennels and assembled for each sled, the eagerness to be part of the adventure and the energy while they were sprinting ahead made for a an unforgettable adventure.
At the end of the trip I felt that my heart was full, my mind was clear and that my body was energized again. I ended up the day in style with dinner at the Double Musky (one of the true local dining institutions) with a fab Negroni and a juicy Pepper-steak.
