ATV'ing in Sarah Palin Country

Last Sunday brought me up to beautiful Wasilla, the small town that Governor Sarah Palin put on the map last year as a Vice Presidential candidate. So much so, in fact, that a British family we took up there had heard all about the town and were dying to see it. Dahlia even borrowed our bear gun to pose with some locals in the back country, she had wanted to take a picture with the gun in front of the “Welcome to Wasilla” sign, but we felt that was not a great idea. The Brits are not allowed to own guns of any kind, so this was a real thrill for her. Wasilla is an interesting town. In the 1980's and early 90's, the town actually voted to get rid of the police, so it was a pretty lawless place for awhile and not much has changed.

As much as I would like to make fun of Wasillians, I can't. Everyone was really friendly. As we ATV'ed along muddy paths and got stuck, the locals jumped out of their cars to help out and said, nonchalantly, “Don't worry about it, we've all been there.” They were all very nice and didn't make us feel stupid even though we didn't know what we were doing and we were blocking their way. I'm embarrassed when I think about all the times I get frustrated with novices. It's easy to make fun of people, it's harder to reach out, find common ground and try to understand; but much more rewarding. We always make fun of what we don't understand. But I understand Sarah Palin, and she is crazy nuts.

I have always hated ATV'ers because they have often ruined the quiet serenity of the outdoors when I'm trying to enjoy a hike. However, after riding one for five minutes my mind is completely changed. I love them, they are so much fun. We rode for 25 miles out to Knik Glacier, which itself is more than two miles across. The ride weaved us in and out of various terrain: desert, Mississippi bogs, forest, river crossings, and glaciers. This was the first glacier I saw close up. There is an amazing power of nature you feel next to glaciers: Humility, awe, joy, and sadness (from the loss of glacial volume to global warming). As I rode past all the 'deep South' Alaskans, I got this image of them 'using every part of the land' ala Native Americans using 'every part of the animal': There were ATV's, motocross bikes, other dirt bikes, dune buggy's, trucks, jeeps, air boats. My favorite was the ATV ridden by 14 kids without helmets, holding onto each other to stay on as they bounded across the terrain.

I don't care if you like ATV's, they're great, just don't do it while I'm hiking.