wildlings – Alaska Wildlings

The seasonal tradition continues of hiking the butte at sunset on the solstices and equinoxes. Eliza joined us this time and was thrilled to be part of the tradition (though she may have mostly been in it for the snacks at first…), and Zane was so excited to share this with her.

We started hiking at 7:00 to ensure we had plenty of time at the top before sunset at 7:59.

Eliza’s sharp eyes look out across the Butte, and spot planes landing, reindeer grazing, sirens flashing

It was a bit breezy on the way up but the temperature was mild and we made pretty good time, stopping occasionally for Eliza to rest her legs.

Sharing a harvest loaf, no idea why it’s upside down…
At sunset!
Sun may be going down but Eliza’s smile is lighting up the Butte

As the sun set we talked about the balance of night and day. Zane talked to Eliza about our Summer Solstice hike and how it was at midnight, and we discussed the next sunset hike which would be the Winter Solstice and what the balance of night and day would be like then.

Zane needed all his strength to battle the winds on the tallest point of the Butte

After the sun set the temperature dropped very quickly and we didn’t stay long before making a slow lantern-lit descent.

#autumnalequinox #equinox #sunsethikes #hike #butte #sloomb #wildlings

It’s the summer solstice! The sun set at 11:42 on the Solstice, and Zane and I were there to see it from the Butte. This is part of quarterly/seasonal trips we take up the butte, and I can’t even quantify how excited I am that I made a little someone who will do crazy things like this with me. Possibly three someones! It was one of the best nights of my life.

Zane went to bed at his normal time (7:00pm), and I woke him up around 10:30pm and gave him a little special mango smoothie to help rouse him, but he was so excited he was ready to go! (Unlike waking him up to see the Northern Lights last winter… him and Eliza insisted they wanted to be woken up for it and they were NOT happy about it and asked to go right back inside).

On the way up we stopped a few times for snacks, and to watch ants and beetles! They were more active than I’d ever seen them! We always see ants on the butte but never like this.. maybe we need to do more midnight hikes!