I was 17 with a C.H.S.P.E. (California High School Proficiency Exam)all done no desire to try college and an itch to travel. My parents where done with me playing role playing games and partying with friends till all hours of the night. I was making sure my sleep patterns matched there works hours. Grabbing food and sneaking out of the house.

They sat me down and offered me a choice either get a job and go to college, or get out. Later on in a car ride my step dad tried to explain how our family worked. I worked really hard at always pretending to never listen to him when in fact I memorized every action or word he did. He explained it in scientific terms either as a way to bridge the gap between us or because he also uses large words when in uncomfortable situations. "John, some families are centripetal in nature others act in a more centrifugal way." I think I remember that conversation so vividly because it was one of the few times that an adult took the time to explain something to me as a person. Either way I chose to get out. I picked Juneau Alaska as my destination. I was given a one way plane ticket. Mom took me out and we had a nice shopping trip where I got to pick out my camping gear. Later on I signed a contract stating that in order to pay back the cost of the plane ticket and the camping gear I was to stay away for one year. I was also handed one hundred dollars cash. I was thrilled. To this day travel anywhere is my favorite activity. When I go someplace every opportunity is open no one knows who I am I can be anyone explore everything. I still have a problem with being in the same place day after day year after year.

If you have never flown into that part of Alaska the touchdown was a pulse pounding experience. I had taken plane rides before where I could always see the tarmac as we came in for a landing. In this case we touched down on an island called Douglas. You will not see trees or tarmac until what looked like 3 feet of air separated the plane from the ocean. Completely exhilarating.

I swung my gear on my back and was prepared to hike to a camp ground. Looking around I noticed a lack of buildings. Born and raised in the suburbs of Los Angeles the only open space I knew of was described by Louis L'Amour. I did see a taxi driver so I figured I would ask him where the nearest campsite was. He assured me that the 5-10 miles to various sites would probably be better off in the cab. I could see his wisdom. Nothing like spending 20% of your cash the first thirty minutes in a new place. He brought me to Mendenhall glacier campsite. Turns out there is a fee to camp there. I forget how much at the time maybe 5-7 dollars. It was getting late. Looked to be about 7pm by my watch but I was not factoring in Alaska time I assumed. I figured I should tackle the mechanical aspects of pitching a tent. Turns out the non biological part of pitching a tent takes a pinch of skill. It took me about two hours to break the tent. It was 3/4 of the way up and semi usable. Good enough for me. It was very hard for me to get used to the quiet so I did what I normally did when I was not sure what to do, I read for a bit.

All this time the day looked to be about 5pm I checked my watch many times it was actually 9pm. I had read about the aurora borealis I just took a while to make the connection. Once I did I decided I would stay awake and watch what happened. How did the sun look going from perpetual twilight to morning? I cant remember staying awake past 3 am but I do know that it still looked like dusk. When I woke up it felt like I had been waiting for Santa. I really wanted to see the magical transformation unfold as I watched. Poof perfectly normal wonderful morning. Feeling like I had missed something really cool I went about exploring my area.

I had picked a nice area with the lake not too far from me and the glacier as my primary view. The way it looked from where I stood surrounded by evergreen trees, a perfect lake dead ahead of me with a glacier looming over the lake. I know it sounds horrible but with the amazing grandeur of nature around me and all of the wonderful things I could explore I did exactly what I normally did. Pulled out a book and read. I am a creature of habit. Public bathrooms where not too far. Except for food I had all I needed. I had fishing gear, I briefly played with the idea of fishing my supper up. I did have some experience fishing. I simply was not good at it. So I walked into the Juneau native town. There are two parts of Juneau, tourist section where the cruise lines bring passengers and the part where the natives (no pun intended) shop. I bought some food with my dwindling cash and a newspaper.

On the way back to my campsite I grabbed a handy brochure on what to do during a bear attack. I could not step 10 feet without a notice of some type about bears. "Do not feed the bears!" "Keep all food out of reach!" "If you see a mother bear and her cubs, pray!" The last one is not actually a sign its more of a newspaper article. "Man found eviscerated, various signs of a bear and cubs nearby."

During my day of Alaska experience I had noticed that the weather was nice about 80 or so in the day and about 50-60 at night. At some point while reading through the newspaper I read that they where in the midst of a heatwave. Heatwave? This was barely beach weather to me. I was to find out about a week later that Juneaus spring and summer is rain or cloudy days with the rare sunny day.

As I spent the last of my money on camping with fees and buying my food I explored my surroundings. I really enjoyed the touristy part of Juneau big bars lots of native exhibits. Looked like a shopping version of an old west town...with out the bordellos (least that I could find) The other part of Juneau was full of normal folks just living life paying too much for stuff that had to be shipped in or brought by plane. On the other hand everyone was paid more to work there so it sortve evened out.

I would buy a cup of coffee and a newspaper and wander around eventually making my way back to the glacier campsite. Eventually my money ran out. I decided experienced camper that I was I would go to the non fee part of the wilderness. I was also out of any type of food except the dehydrated stuff I had been bought in Los Angele's. (I would eat M.R.E., meals ready to eat in the military all day long to avoid one of these camping dehydrated delights) I had set up camp and was working on soaking one of my meals when I heard someone tramping off in the distance. Thinking it was a camper I said Hi. To my shock it was a black bear. Just wondered right up to my soaking food and proceeded to enjoy himself. I did what the brochures said to do I made as much noise as possible banging my bowie knife on the tree ( as if I was going to do anything else with the knife) yelling etc. He wandered off. My heart came to a normal beat about an hour later.
That was when I decided camping was not for me. I like animals just fine I just prefer them smaller than me and no where near me. If an animal is bigger I dont need to play with it. It probably has no desire to play with me I am OK with this. I cant tell you how many times I was taken horse back riding only to wonder why we developed cars and then insisted on going back to this? Last time I went horse back riding I was dumped in the sand somewhere in Mexico. I can take a hint. I was not meant to ride horses. I am OK with that. I was also not meant to camp with bears. We have an understanding I dont go near them they dont knock on my door. Worked ever since then. Off to town I went.