Lost in the Wild

Current temperature in Fairbanks: 7 F

"We like companionship, see, but we can't stand to be around people for very long. So we go get ourselves lost, come back for a while, then get the hell out again." ~Chris McCandless

     Today, I decided to do a little more solo exploring. My intended destination was the Large Animal Research Station, which is five miles off campus and home to musk oxen, caribou and reindeer. After a late breakfast I laced up my shoes, put on a hat and some mittens, grabbed my iPod and camera and set out. I was going to walk on the roads to the large animal research station and Google maps directed me down a small road at the edge of campus. When I got to it, it was more like a hiking trail than anything. It was a beautiful clear day in the balmy single digits. I wandered into the woods, the tall pines all around me made me feel so small. It felt so good to be out exploring alone. I came across a map of the trails, primarily intended for nordic skiers and I must say I saw a lot of them. I realized there was a walking trail all the way through the woods that came out right at the Large Animal Research Station. I started walking, my feet were wet from trudging through the snow but with the endless nature, Into the Wild soundtrack and complete solitude I was in my own utopia. 
      After over an hour of walking, with many photo stops, I finally popped out in front of the Large Animal Research Station. Unfortunately it was closed, but I was able to see some of the animals way off in the distance. I then made my way back towards campus, the sun was on its way down and the sky was a beautiful orangy-red. I could have stayed out there forever, I really didn't want to go back. I am sure I started to feel a little bit of what Chris McCandless felt when he saw the beauty of the wilderness here. Fifteen miles and three hours later, I made it back to civilization. Here are some of the pictures I took on my exploration.