Leaving for Alaska Soon

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I will be off to Alaska soon for two back-to-back hiking trips. South and North. My preparations have included watching episodes of 'Ice Road Truckers', 'Deadliest Catch' and 'Flying Wild Alaska'. I have to say that I am enjoying them quite a bit, in spite of myself. I will be on the Dalton Highway of Ice Road fame (in the summer, thankfully) and flying with Era Alaska once - with the stars of Flying Wild. But there is no way I am getting on a fishing boat. People get hurt on those things. Why is it that Alaska spawns so may reality shows?

The southern part will be hiking on the Kenai Peninsula, ending at Homer. From there I am meeting Lisa in Fairbanks and we go north, camping with an REI hiking group and following the pipeline by van all the way to Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic Ocean. Oh, and they said to bring my bathing suit. This should be interesting. 
I am taking off on July 14th.

The State Song of Alaska: 

(I've got to believe the melody is more memorable than the lyrics)

Eight stars of gold on a field of blue
Alaska's flag. May it mean to you
The blue of the sea, the evening sky,
The mountain lakes, and the flow'rs nearby;
The gold of the early sourdough's dreams,
The precious gold of the hills and streams;
The brilliant stars in the northern sky,
The "Bear," the "Dipper," and, shining high,
The great North Star with its steady light,
O'er land and sea a beacon bright.
Alaska's flag to Alaskans dear,
The simple flag of a last frontier.