Society & Culture
When you think of Alaska, what comes to mind? It is a specific image is it a fuzzy question mark? Like many of the other people I met in Denali, I met Henry, traveling with his friend Sarah, on the bus. They got on later than the others, stopping the bus on its way through the park, traveling to their next camping destination with their big backpacks, holding a bear proof box — the first I’d ever seen. When the bus stopped to pick them up, Henry yelled up to the driver that their Bear Spray had blown up all over his hands and pack so they had to store their bags in the luggage area under the bus. I didn’t know if they’d want to chat, but true to my nature, I was too curious not to ask. The interview with both of them turned out to be a couple of my favorites. They both talk with palpable excitement and the same eagerness I felt when gazing on the landscape. ` We actually became friends after the interview and they took me out to dinner for my birthday the next day. It was some of my favorite memories from the whole trip and something I remind myself of when I’m questioning whether or not I should approach strangers. In this interview, Henry and I talk about Denali, and some special moments he and Sarah shared in the park that made her cry and took his breath away, as well as what drew him to Alaska, and why others should visit this big question mark of a state. Let’s jump in! --- Check out Nat Park Stories on Facebook, Instagram and Patreon for more content!