Susan Solo – Photographer | Traveler | Adventurer

Tag: North America

Shredding the Gnar

It was (almost) around this time last year that I started to learn how to snowboard! It’s something Chris had tried a few times before and he wanted to get back into it, so I thought I’d give it a try so it could be something we could enjoy together. Though I admit I was pretty scared to try it – having both of your feet stuck to one board that you can’t easily detach (like skis) while barreling down a slope seemed like a bad idea to me.

The first time I went was in Colorado where we signed up for a private lesson with one of the instructors at Eldora Mountain Resort. I was warned ahead of time that the learning curve is quite steep, and that’s an understatement! But I was immediately* in love with it, despite also being so frustrated with how HARD it is. I think it took me about five snowboarding trips and many many bruises before I really “got it.”

*Edited to add: Chris just reminded me that I wasn’t quite immediately in love with it. I was pretty flustered with the first few hours of the lesson. Our instructor had us practicing on a small hill, where we’d ride down and then climb back up with the heavy board strapped to one foot. It’s probably the most exhausting thing I’ve ever done! So actually, I think I said, “I hate this,” when we were on break.

Our instructor, Amir, was awesome. He was patient and really focused on the basics and a good foundation. He pushed me to challenge myself, but not too far past what I was comfortable with, alhough I did take a hard fall at the end of the day when he let me go down the bottom of the trail by myself. I’ll never forget laying on the ground looking up at the sky when Amir rushed over and said, “That was AWESOME!” Apparently I had linked turns a few times at the end of the run (by accident) right before I fell. Okay, awesome, but painful! My tailbone still isn’t quite the same.

I left with a few skills under my belt (and a very bruised tailbone), and once we were back home I immediately went out and purchased my own board, bindings, boots, helmet (critical!), and goggles.

We went nearly every weekend to Whitetail Resort in Pennsylvania to practice, practice, practice. Thank goodness for the small hills and gentle slopes of a PA mountain, unlike the “real” mountains of Colorado. Much better for a beginner! Though we don’t have much in the way of real snow here – it’s mostly man-made snow over a hard layer of ice, so there are pros and cons. (Falling on ice is a major con.)

Here I am taking a short break on the side of the beginner trail. In addition to the learning curve, snowboarding as a beginner is exhausting! Thankfully all those waterproof layers allow me to sit in the snow off to the side and rest every once in a while.

I finally learned to connect everything together once I actually got OFF of the bunny trail, and went to a more difficult but less populated green trail. Look how crowded that bunny hill is! So many people to run into. Once I had a little more room, everything just clicked, and I started linking turns – this time on purpose. Yay!

And with that, I crossed off #49 on my old 101 in 1001 list for prosperity and to you know, keep it official. I’m really looking forward to our second season, hopefully with fewer bruises! P.S. We don’t really say, “shredding the gnar” except to joke around, but snowboard slang is pretty fun. “Sweet cherry cherry pow-pow” means fresh, untouched snow (powder). And there were a few occasions where I “scorpioned,” meaning I fell face-first downhill with my board overhead. There are no pictures of that, thankfully.

So what about you? Are there any new hobbies you want to try? Want to give snowboarding a try?! It’s (apparently) one of those things that you have to push through no matter how hard it is at first, and if you’re patient (and stubborn) enough, everything will just click and it gets really fun! Let me know if you decide to try it! And if you need any advice on protective crash gear, I’ve done TONS of research on pads, helmets, wrist guards, etc. And I’ve done lots of crashing, so I can vouch for what works. 🙂

December 12, 2012
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

If you travel to Alaska but don’t happen to spot a bear or a moose in the wild, just stop by the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) in Girdwood for an opportunity to view these beautiful animals up close. AWCC takes in injured and orphaned animals and cares for them, and if an animal cannot be released into the wild post-treatment, they remain at the center as their permanent home. (That said, keep in mind that some animals might not be “on display” at certain points of the year – it’s not the same as a zoo.) The animals roam freely in large enclosures where you can easily view them and their natural behaviors. Some animals even get up pretty close!

Several different species inhabit the center at any given time, including moose, elk, caribou, bald eagles, oxes, bison, and bears, both black and brown. We saw most of these animals, but I became obsessed with the expressive brown bears. Chris and I rented a 400mm f/5.6L lens for the trip, and it was almost too long for photographing the animals because we were so close! So it’s a great opportunity for everyone with all types of cameras to get National Geographic-style wildlife shots. You can focus your camera lens through the fence to get an unobstructed shot, and go home with some impressive wildlife photos to show off! Admission was $12.50 each, and we spent about an hour walking around and taking photos. There is a visitor center with facilities, gifts and snacks, where we purchased a couple of waters. The walkways are natural, dusty paths, so be prepared with appropriate footwear.

Most of these images were taken with an SLR, but some were with the point-and-shoot. I’ve included a few shots of the fencing so you get a feel for the enclosures and what to expect. Like I mentioned, it’s not a fancy zoo – it’s a conservation effort meant to keep with the natural feel of the wild. We ended up at the center midday and it was warm and sunny, but also contrasty lighting. I’d recommend going a little earlier in the day for better lighting and maybe more activity from the animals. When we visited many of the animals were happily resting, but some were also active and playful. Either way, we enjoyed it!

July 7, 2011
Dog Sledding on Mendenhall Glacier (via Helicopter!)

I’m not sure what the best part of this afternoon in Juneau was – landing on a glacier after a thrilling helicopter ride with stunning views, dog-sledding on the glacier, or snuggling with the puppies at base camp. All of it was simply awesome. I admit that this trip with Alaska Icefield Expeditions was a bit of a splurge, but it was totally worth the amazing experience. Note: we booked through Celebrity, but in hindsight, it’s probably just as easy and maybe cheaper to book directly with the tour rather than through the cruise.

Our excursion started with a short van ride through Juneau to get to the helipad. After we were outfitted for waterproof boots (they fit over our shoes), we boarded a helicopter and enjoyed a 15-minute flight to the glacier. Watching the tongue of Mendenhall come into view is something I’ll never forget. I can’t believe people in Juneau have that view on a daily basis. And landing on the glacier was even more special! I kept saying, “We’re ON a glacier!” It’s not every day that we get to stand on one, much less go dog sledding. The noise was also quite memorable – the dogs were so excited! Our musher gave us a bit of history on the camp and introduced us to the dogs, who were all incredibly sweet. At first I wondered if it was at all the tiniest bit cruel to make a team of dogs haul me around in the snow, but they seemed to really (really really) love sledding. The faster, the better. When we stopped, we could tell they were disappointed not to be running.

After several laps around camp, we were treated to time with the youngest up-and-coming members of the sledding team – the puppies. They were napping, but we were given the opportunity to hold a warm and sleepy pup. If it looks like I wanted to stuff that puppy in my jacket to sneak him back onto the helicopter, it’s because I totally wanted to do it.

July 6, 2011
Ziplining with Alaska Canopy Adventures

One of my favorite highlights on our trip to Alaska was the rainforest canopy tour with Alaska Canopy Adventures. We booked this excursion outside of Celebrity, and decided to do the Ultimate Canopy & Zipline Expedition in Juneau since it worked best with our schedule. At the time of booking, this tour was $179 per person, and the tour lasted a little over three hours. It was super easy to book and the customer service was outstanding. I had a few questions before booking and I received prompt, helpful answers. The tour was on time as well, which was critical since we had another excursion planned later in the afternoon.

We met a boat at the dock near where our ship was in port and we crossed the water to land on Douglas Island. Once we arrived at the base camp, we were outfitted with harnesses, helmets, and gloves, not only for safety, but also for looking awesome.

All of the equipment was in great condition, and there were several staff members to help get all of us harnessed up. A van ride up the mountain took us to the beginning of the zipline series, and during the ride we were treated to the history of the area and breathtaking views of the island.

The first zipline was a short, practice line close to the ground where we learned how to ride and most importantly, how to brake. There was a bit of timing involved – we just had to brake a few yards from the end of the line so we didn’t slam into the guide waiting to catch us. It wasn’t difficult to learn though. And our guides were so much fun – they were hilarious, but also very safety-conscious and they made sure we were always having fun and feeling comfortable. At the time of our tour, photography was permitted, but I only took photos while on the platforms and not during an actual zipline. I didn’t trust myself to hold tight onto the camera AND be able to break on time. It’s better just to enjoy the ride anyway!

In addition to the ten ziplines, we had fun on these swingy suspension bridges, high up in the air. Don’t worry, you’re carabinered into the system and it’s very safe. And it was a nice opportunity to really look around at the lush rainforest canopy surrounding us. How about a fairly unflattering photo of me standing on the bridge? Here you go!

Our guide offered photos at a different angle in which he jumped over the side of the bridge and suspended himself alongside us. Nerves of steel! And that just shows how much you can trust the harnesses.

At the end of the tour, we rappelled down off of the last platform, which was so fun! I went first even though I had never rappelled before so I didn’t know what to do. It was a little eerie sitting down over the edge of the platform just into the air, but once I felt the harness catch and support me, I had a blast scooting through the air down the line.

We were awarded medals for completing the course, which I am ~~dorkily~~ proudly wearing here with our awesome guides.

I highly recommend Alaska Canopy Adventures if you’re planning to visit Juneau! We had such a fun time with them and would love to do it again sometime.

July 5, 2011
Kayaking with Southeast Sea Kayaks

When we arrived at our first port of call, Ketchikan, it was a drizzly day, but since we planned to be on the water most of the day kayaking with Southeast Sea Kayaks we figured a little rain wouldn’t bother us. We brought our waterproof jackets exactly for this occasion and for the unpredictable weather in Alaska. It turned out to be the only rainy day of the whole trip, but we were glad we packed them!

We met the Southeast Sea Kayaks van at the famous liquid sunshine gauge in town outside of the visitor center, about 10 minutes before our 9am tour start time for the Orcas Cove tour.

The van took us to the office where we were outfitted with spray jackets, rain pants and life jackets. We opted to wear the spray jacket for the ~~fashion~~ extra protection – the wrists sealed better and tighter than our own jackets. Underneath, we were each wearing a light hoodie and a t-shirt. Chris wore hiking pants and I wore jeans, and both of us were comfortable the whole time for a June morning. We were also given a large dry bag for our camera, which worked great. The only other thing I wish I had brought was bug spray. I ended up with some really itchy bites on my hands and one above my eyebrow since my hands and face were the only skin exposed!

My head-to-toe blue outfit reminds me of a certain scene from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. “Violet’s turning violet!” Points if you remember that moment.

From the office, we boarded a boat for a scenic 20-minute ride to a larger boat moored at Orcas Cove. Once on board, we listened to instructions on sea kayaking and paddling. Of course at that point, I began to get nervous. When I peered over the side of the boat, I could see tons of medium-sized jellyfish bobbing about in the water (later I learned they are a non-stinging variety), and I thought for sure I was going to tip our kayak and end up going for a swim with the jellies.

It wasn’t terribly difficult to get into the kayaks (our guides provided assistance), and I was relieved to be safely in the water in a sturdy tandem kayak with Chris. Our guide, Alex, took us around the cove to get used to the mechanics of paddling (for those of us who were new to kayaking), and then eventually he gave us free rein to explore the area. He also offered to take photos of us, which was such a nice gesture, especially for two photographers who don’t get to be in the photos very often.

After a few minutes on the water, I relaxed and became comfortable with the kayak enough to take some photos. I didn’t pack the waterproof housing for this trip, but the wrist strap on my point-and-shoot provided enough security that I felt like I could use the camera without accidentally flinging it into the sea. And actually, I could have even brought the SLR for this trip – the dry bags were certainly large enough, and my camera’s neck strap would have been plenty secure for shooting on the water (unless we tipped over!).

We enjoyed exploring for a couple of hours. I was even brave enough to paddle up to these sea stars for a closer look and a photo. Alex kept plucking random sea creatures out of the water (including one of the non-stinging jellyfish) and asking if I wanted to HOLD one. Um, no? Clearly he just met me.

We didn’t see any Orcas or Humpback Whales, but I was actually a little relieved not to – I imagined being capsized either by my own excitement over seeing them, or because one of them accidentally tipped me over. We did see a Bald Eagle though! It was really far away and of course my little point-and-shoot doesn’t quite do the job for telephoto images, but it was neat to see the eagle in the wild.

After we worked up an appetite kayaking, we were treated to a little snack picnic back on the boat where we sampled smoked salmon on crackers and cheese. It was nice to relax and chat with the guides and crew for a bit before returning to the dock. The whole tour from booking to return trip was awesome and wonderfully organized and I can highly recommend Southeast Sea Kayaks! I hope we get to explore on the water with them again someday.

Oh, and just a quick side-note – if you need a lunch idea for after the tour, try the little Alaskan Surf Fish & Chips stand in Ketchikan. It was one of our most favorite (and least expensive) meals of the whole trip! There is always a long line apparently, but it’s totally worth the wait. Our food was hot, fresh, and so yummy. We tried the fish & chips and the coconut shrimp and shared everything. I wish we could have eaten there more than once! Also, there’s a fantastic candy store just a short walk away called Ketchicandies where we happily stocked up on sweets like chocolate-covered Oreos and pretzels for the rest of the trip.

July 2, 2011