Made in China

So here's a little thing I've been noticing and just need to comment on...

Why is it that some Americans, when on vacation, are so conscious of whether or not their little knick-knacky gifts are made in America? And not only in America...but locally.

I had a woman, from Texas, in the gift shop the other day looking at the wall of stereotypically tourist gifts. She picked up a stuffed Moose with the word "Alaska" embroidered on it's antler, and quickly checked the tag to see where it was made. She became irrate when she saw "Made in China" and LOUDLY stated that if she wanted something "Made in China", she'd visit China. I couldn't help myself and casually mentioned that she should start looking at labels at home...

She's not the only one though. Every day, all day I deal with guests who are appalled by how many of the cheap items are made in China and how expensive the handmade, made in America, local items are. And when they buy the expensive, handmade, made in America, local items, they want to know everything about the craftsman. Where they live, how they got into this business, how long they've lived here, etc... Aren't these things that should be happening everywhere? Why do we feel compelled to support local artists & businesses when on vacation? Why not at home?

Now I know this is a broad generalization. I know that there are millions of conscious souls out there supporting their local businesses, craftsman and artists, but I also know there are millions who are not. It's one thing to know that you may not be paying as close attention as you should be (I'm talking to myself now), it's another to be completely ignorant in thinking that the Tourism industry has single handedly kept the chinese sweatshops in business.

My Wildlife curse is broken!!!!

EVERYDAY is an adventure! I can't even believe how much I love Alaska and how many adventures I've been able to go on. I haven't been able to update because I was waiting on various pictures to be able to post.

In the last few weeks I have gone whitewater rafting down the Klutina River, sea kayaking in Prince William Sound, walked a 5k on Fourth of July, walked 14 miles with my roommate last week and went to Kennicot-McCarthy (my future home). Some of my little adventures include learning how to knit and making a diamond willow walking stick.

Whitewater rafting with Megan, Melissa, Nicole and Sean from River Wrangellers

 Sea Kayaking in Prince William Sound, Columbia Glacier. There are 11 miles of glacial ice, we kayaked through maybe a mile of it. We lunched on the bank next to the Glacier where we saw Mom and baby black oystercatchers (birds) and my favorite bird of the day was the Arctic Tern. What a beautiful bird. We also had a Harbor Seal follow us around a little. The icebergs were fantastic though.

Me in front of Worthington Glacier after a day of kayaking with coffee in hand

The pics of the 5K and my other pics of sea kayaking are on a disposable camera that may never be developed. We'll see. But the 5K was fun. It was nice to get to know some locals and be involved in a local event. Christy and I walked it and still got prizes. It was a nice way to celebrate the fourth!

I will put pics of my knitting in another post. Right now I want to tell you about the most amazing place I think I've ever been. And I've been around...

Kennicot-McCarthy!!!

This is Kennicot from the air

Kennicot is an old Copper mill that was in operation from 1911-1938. It is in the middle of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park (which is 13.2 million acres). The town of McCarthy was created for the mill/mine workers. Both were unbelievable.

There are only two ways to get to Kennicot-McCarthy. By air, or by a 60 mile road that takes 3 hours to get down. It's so bumpy that all rental car agreements have that road off limits to drive on. I heard that 1 in 10 cars ends up with a flat. So, as much as I was not in a hurry to get on another baby planelet, I chose the flight. And man was it amazing! AND I didn't get sick this time. The most amazing were the Kennicot and Root Glaciers from the air.

Root Glacier (it was rainy, but gorgeous still)

Our first stop was the adorable little historic town of McCarthy which I can't even describe to you. What was once filled with miners families, is now filled with hikers, backpackers, ice climbers and bush pilots. And most importantly was the roadside restaurant called "The Potato"...Heaven.

 

"The Potato" used to be a hot food truck, and they built walls and a little screen porch around it. Can you see all of the Mr. Potato heads in through the door? LOVE IT!!!

Believe it or not, I got my Almond Soy latte and was on my way. (I say believe it or not for two reasons...1. That I did not order anything potato, and 2. because I'm in the middle of a National Park, in the middle of Alaska, in a historic (almost Ghost)town and I can still get a latte)

After exploring the town...

I headed over to Kennicot to take the Historic mill tour. I have no idea if the pictures say anything, but the mill is 14 stories of an abandoned mill with all tools that were last used there still there. The story is...in 1938, when it was decided that they were not making a profit on the copper anymore, the mill would be closed down. The workers and their families were told that there were two trains leaving that afternoon, and if they weren't on them, they'd have to find their own way home. When the abandoned mill and ghost town of McCarthy were stumbled upon 30 or 40 years later, there were still pies in some of the ovens and tables made.

I'm gonna just post the pics and save the stories for later.

After the tour, it's back on the baby planelet and out of the park.

The people I was driving with on this tour wanted to see the town of Chitina which is where we flew into. So I decided to indulge them....On the way is when my wildlife curse was lifted! I saw my first Alaskan Moose. It's official! They do exist. She was just having an afternoon snack in the lake on the side of the road. I'll attach a photo, but I kind of was too excited to even figure out the camera. So my pics make the Moose seem really far away and you can barely see her.

Between Kennicot and the Moose, my Alaska experience is complete...not really but I'm a happy camper. Below is a picture of Chitina which is situated in such a gorgeous area, but the town is something out of an old movie. It was home from there and the end of another adventure filled day. 

Love and miss you all-Reebs