Steamboat Hill

In honor of not being able to go to Alaska this summer, I feel the need to share a story with you that only family members and friends...as well as many of my tour groups in Alaska...have heard and it's epic. It may not be as huge as my hubby and I's story, but it's one of my favorite memories from Alaska.

It all starts with one of my favorite people, Shelby. She was accompanying me to Alaska on my 2014 adventure. The way we travel to Alaska when we drive is up through Canada on the Alaskan Highway, also known as the Alcan. It's a very long, very tedious drive...however, it is also GORGEOUS and incredible. I definitely plan on driving along it again in the future. And I think that you all should do it at some point as well...or at least go to Alaska. You won't regret it.

ANYWAYS! I'm getting distracted.

 So Shelby and I were driving along and having a great time. Our first night we made it to Edmonton and stayed at a friend's home (thank you, thank you!). As we got up to travel the next morning, it was beautiful. Our second stop was planned to be in Fort Nelson that evening and we were making great time. As we got closer to this town, it started to snow. (Don't freak out yet...) As we pulled into Super 8 to get a room it was coming down pretty hard and we hoped that it would stop before the morning and the roads would be plowed quickly. We enjoyed our night and got up bright and early for our drive to Whitehorse. THERE WAS SOOO MUCH SNOW! Holy cow. So much. However, I know how to drive in snowy conditions, so I wasn't afraid to get going. We got a few mile out of town and it started to snow again. Nothing too crazy, but it was making it a little foggy. Out of nowhere we could suddenly see this black line that literally went straight up to heaven. I glanced over at Shelby and told her that I really hoped that was not the road. So much for hope. Talking myself through it out loud to my awesome passenger I stated that as long as we kept a steady momentum and took it easy, we would make is up this hill just fine.

Lucky for us there was a huge semi partway up this hill that forced us to come to a complete stop. (Remember, it was too foggy for me to safely just pass him.) Well, after we came to that nice stop, my little car decided that it did not have the horsepower to go forward anymore. Throwing on my hazards I slowly started to reverse down this hill...in the fog...in the snow...very slowly. After going a short distance I would stop and try to get some forward motion, which failed multiple times. Finally we made it to an almost flat pull-out, and were able to flip my little Toyota Camry right around and head back to the Super 8...I'm pretty sure it wasn't past 8 am yet. Depressed, we spent the day in a town that I'm positive is only 2 miles long, has no entertainment, and has a Boston Pizza place and an A&W. :( Commence the longest day ever.

For dinner we decided to go to A&W. While there, the manager asked what we were up to traveling the Alcan, so we told him about HAP and our little adventure that morning. He proceeded to tell us that hill was referred to as Steamboat Hill and had the steepest grade throughout the Alcan. (Great.) Also, the roads hadn't been plowed forever because they hadn't had snow in months and had changed all their plows for road cleaners. (Double great.) So he wouldn't be surprised if we were stuck here for a few days. :'(

We were determined to leave the next morning. As we were checking out, the supervisor said she wouldn't be worried if she were us because we have snow tires. After a quick glance at Shelby, obviously displaying the fact that I definitely did not have snow tires, she said she wouldn't be going anywhere if she were us. However, she printed out a weather report to let us know where we would hit clear areas, and we were on our way.

As we start to get close to this Steamboat Hill, Shelby kept saying that we should just turn around now. However, we had said a prayer and I was determined to give it a valiant effort. Now, driving on snowy roads always gives me a knotted stomach...no matter how safe I know I am. So after reassuring Shelby that I would turn around if I got nervous at all, I said another prayer. I was very specific in this little plea...I asked that if we should turn around I needed a bigger sign than a knotted stomach. If it was the right choice, would you please send us a moose that we can see. If I see a moose, I won't ask any questions and I'll turn right around. After my amen, I told this to Shelby and she instantly looked out the window and said, "Here moose!" Haha, at least we got a laugh! :)

As we started up this hill we had some music plugged in and I kept it pretty low so I could focus. However, a song by Jason Mraz came on called, I Won't Give Up. I was quick to turn it up and adapt it to our needs, and Shelby was quick to join. "I won't give up on you" was turned into "I won't give up on this mountain, even if the snow keeps on falling." We belted it out and just kept hitting repeat! It helped us to stay calm, keep a light heart, and have some fun. And guess what? We made it to the top of that hill! Yay!! And after this uphill...was a downhill! Double yay!! As soon as we made it down the other side I turned to Shelby and said, "Well, there's no turning back now, because there is no way we're making it back up that." She laughed, but I'm not so sure it was genuine. :)

After a few hours we cleared any snow and it was a beautiful drive again. We made it to Whitehorse without any issues. We waited until we were safely in our hotel room to tell our parents anything that had happened that morning. Needless to say, our mothers freaked out! The next morning we headed to Fairbanks. We were about 4 hours out, and guess what we saw? A moose. Two of them actually. I asked Shelby if she wanted to turn around now, but she didn't find much humor in that one either. :)

I'm so glad she came to Alaska with me that year! She was so fun to have an adventure with and room with. And she's going back this year! I'm a tad bit jealous, but I couldn't be happier for her. She's going to have a blast, and I'm pretty sure she's flying this year. :)

I Can Do Anything Revisited

Some of you probably though I had given up on this blog. Honestly. I had lost my inspiration. I kept coming here and starting to click that new post button and write my heart out, but nothing would come. Especially after I told you about my hubby-- I didn't know how to compete! However, I was hit with with a thought as I was emailing Elder Dennis Squared.

Fist off, Elder Dennis Squared are my two brothers. Cameron is serving in Peru and he's got just under a year left, and Brandon is serving in the Philippines and he just left last August. Yes. I was a basket-case, but that's not the point. I am incredibly proud of them and I wouldn't want them to be in any other place. I try to email them once a week, and I'm usually pretty good about it. Most of the time I try to add a quote with it and my thoughts on it. When Cameron first went out I shared a message that I shared with Brandon once he was out. I've also shared this with you previously, but I wanted to readdress it and add some more thoughts.

 You can do anything for six months.

This was what my grandma told me when I vented to her about my struggles. And it's actually something I think about quite often, but with a little twist.

You can do anything for (insert time here). Whether that be one more minute of my workout, one more hour of my shift, one more day of the week, one more week before a break, etc. When I sent this to Elder Dennis Squared I really stressed changing the time. I know how much I struggle with going somewhere new, so I definitely can relate a little to them, but not really. I kept telling Brandon that he could do anything for a day or a month or a year (or two)! However, sometimes all we have strength for is the next minute. And after that minute is up tell yourself you can do it for one more. Before you know it, it will all be over and you won't know what hit you! So, here are my thoughts to you. Be the little engine that could...even if it's only one minute, or one second, at a time. With that attitude, anything is possible. :)