He’s baaaack.  Back where it all started, BIG WILD beautiful ALASKA!  5 years ago, my run journey began in Anchorage.  Marathon Numero Uno.  Saturday in Juneau, targeting #124.  Whatta life adventure – 50 States, 4 Canadian provinces, 5 continents.

Predawn flight outta Denver, 2-hour connection in Seattle, Juneau arrival just after noon.  Lyft ride downtown (no rental car this trek), hotel check-in, bag drop-off (backpack/extra run shoes/travelled lite) – much too early to settle in, plenty of daylight hours to explore.  Summer sunset in the Great White North not ‘til 10pm, up again before 4am.  Nothing free airline eye-shades couldn’t fix 😊

Juneau, Alaska’s official state capital but as residents will tell ya, everything happens in Anchorage.  More than 40% of the state’s sparse population reside in Alaska’s largest city.  Juneau’s a former GOLD rush town.  Large Inuit population, the Tlingit, still call the peninsula home.  Lotta Russian influence too, Alaska’s caretakers ‘til 1867 ☭ 🇷🇺

Another unique trait?  No roadtrippin’ here.  By air or by sea ONLY.

BIG, WILD, primitive & GREEN.  Surrounded by mountains, closer to British Columbia  than mainland Alaska.  Scoped out lunch/early dinner options on my walk to the Tramway.  Ticket please.  UP UP UP Mount Roberts, lift every 30 minutes.

Top of the tramway: restaurant, gift shop AND a trailhead.  Just 2 hours in Alaska, already found myself a hike.  BESTEST views of Juneau & Gastineau Bay.

LUSH vegetation, mountain flowers, BALD EAGLES & bugs.  Crazy HUMID too.  POWER HIKED UP, movin’ fast/protecting my blood supply from insect vultures.  Whole lotta, whole lotta going on.  Limited to only four months of temperate weather – live, breed & die.

Father Brown’s Cross, Gold Ridge, Gastineau Peak.  Snapped my scenic shots & trail-ran returned.  Felt GREAT to RUN.

Bathroom splash bath, cooled-off watching a documentary ‘bout the local Tlingit’s Raven & Eagle clans.  Crab bowl at Tracy’s King Crab Shack (gotta/hafta/must); SPRUCE TIP ice cream for dessert.  Voted Juneau’s BEST Ice Cream – how could I go wrong?

Tomorrow’s kayak/crampon-hike itinerary: Mendenhall Glacier ❤️

Mount Roberts Trail, Juneau