The magical atmosphere of wild Alaska has the unique ability to inspire artistic expression. In this immersive writing experience last August, I joined a group of authors for a week of critiques on my next book. As part of our once-in-a-lifetime adventure, we traveled by seaplane across vast, green terrain before reaching picturesque Harvester Island near Kodiak. The veteran pilot told us the plane dates back to the 1950s. He said, “We keep up these old planes because they are no longer manufactured.”
During the flight, I spotted some duct tape holding together parts of the aircraft. I thought about all the survival movies about wilderness plane crashes. How long could I last with an apple, band-aids, and a water bottle in my backpack? Risk or no risk, the ride across the expansive territory below us thrilled me—especially as the plane skimmed across the water when we reached our destination.
The rustic living conditions on the 1.4-mile-long island included eating fresh-cooked salmon out of the ocean and the daily challenge of ice-cold showers. Each day, after our writing sessions, we took skiff rides to explore our surroundings. From the small boats, we witnessed a blend of marine life. Charming female otters swam on their backs while cuddling their young on their bellies. Sea lions barked constantly and pushed each other off the rocks to make room. And they smelled bad. Rose, violet, and white jellyfish resembled a lion’s mane, with a flat bell shape surrounded by thick tentacles.
Exploring the coast on kayaks felt like a dream. The tide has a 12-foot range, so the Alaskan coast changes dramatically. While peering deep into the cold water, we spotted purple and orange sea stars. On a nearby island, we even spotted a Kodiak brown bear catching salmon at the mouth of a creek; this unforgettable sight painted a vivid memory.
The presence of fin whales in the bay around the island caused everyone to jump up from our writing session and remain glued to the windows. The 75-foot creatures came to the surface to spout before they dove back down. We all scanned the surface of the water, hoping for another sighting. Everyone cheered when the whales came back up for the next breath. On another skiff adventure, we spotted some orca whales as they swam past us. It felt a bit scary to experience these majestic creatures so close to our 15- foot watercraft. In Alaska, everything is big, including the wind, so you feel very small.
The bald eagles flew overhead daily with their impressive 7.5-foot wingspan. I learned that the younger birds still have a brown head; it takes about four years for a bald eagle’s head to turn white. Each night, I tried to wake up to gaze into the star-filled sky for a minute. That week, living among the whales, sea stars, and eagles in the stunning Alaskan wilderness, inspired a sense of wonder, awe, and gratitude. What kind of creative beauty surrounds you where you live?
