MamaArcher's Blog

Soaked in Adventure

Yesterday was a day filled with adventure. It was a memorable day to be sure. I had decided last week that we would be going to Whittier to go berry picking. Yesterday was the only day that everyone in the household was free to make the trip so that was THE day! One lesson learned: CHECK THE WEATHER REPORT BEFORE LEAVING!!

We left and it was a little cloudy and a beautiful morning. By the time our family hit Anchorage it was raining and raining hard. The sky looked clearer down the Turnagain Arm so we kept on moving. It did clear and stop raining for a short time. But by the time we reached Portage and the Whittier tunnel it was raining HARD!

I began to think that we should just skip the whole berry picking adventure and spend some time inside the dry Portage Glacier visitor center but my entire back row was BEGGING to drive through the tunnel and one child in particular was almost in tears saying we were supposed to go and pick berries.

Well, for our van to go through the tunnel to get to Whittier it is a $35 toll. But we did after all drive an hour and a half and the tunnel is fun. I didn’t want the children to feel like it was a wasted trip and to leave totally disappointed so we went. My one year old’s excitement was worth the $35 all in itself! She had wide eyes and her jaw was dropped as we traveled through the tunnel (about 2 1/2-3 miles long). She closed her open mouth long enough to say “mountain, mountain” a few times. The tunnel goes through the mountain.

It was still raining heavily on the other side of course. We traveled the short distance to go toward the berry picking site. We stopped at the portapotties and the thankfully COVERED picnic tables for a quick lunch. Then we headed a little further up the hill. The older children were asking if we were really going to go and pick berries while the almost 4 year old was crying “I want to pick berries now!” I chuckled and said, “Let’s get out. I am sure we will only be here a few minutes but we can pick a couple of berries and then go.”

We put on our rain jackets then grabbed the bear spray and the buckets. We headed up the small hill toward the berry bushes. It is POURING down rain now, don’t forget. I am not talking sprinkling or just a light rain, I mean POURING! The path that is usually clear and dry with maybe a few puddles was a RIVER! Up the hill we went trying not to get our feet soaked. Once the path leveled off it was better. We picked and ate a few berries and then moved further down the path.

Now, I had forgotten that there are waterfalls along this path but last time we went it was not raining. The water hit the ground and flowed right along the rock wall. There are bushes there about six feet between the rock wall and the path and very little water from the waterfalls even made it to the path. That was not the case yesterday! The water was flowing out on to the path and made a nice little river down the path! We are talking some pretty fast moving water here!

For most of the trek we could find a small patch of path that was not covered in water or was only about 3 inches deep. After walking for about a half an hour we came to a point where the water was going to be above all of our ankles and decided to turn back. Now if for some strange reason you think we were not soaked enough let me tell you that my almost 4 year old decided she needed to add tears to the pot! “We don’t have enough berries yet!” she cried. In fact, she almost sat herself down in the river upset! Thankfully, we saved her little bottom from being completely soaked by catching her before she hit the ground. It is true, we only had about a handful. I assured her we would look for more on the way back down the trail toward the van. Now apparently, we had been far too focused on the water and the trail because we did find more berries on the way back. Her sisters all added their berry stash to hers to make her feel better. By time we reached the van we had a couple of cups to show for our trek. Not enough to really DO anything with but she was happy. That is what mattered.

I was rather disappointed that we didn’t have a successful day of berry picking. I was also not overly thrilled about looking like drenched rats either. BUT, it was actually fun and it was a day that the children and I will remember forever! We were making memories and it was definitely an adventure! BUT next time I will check the forecast! LOL

We drove down the mountain with everyone comparing the level of soakedness (yeah I know…but it is a word now!) they were experiencing! We all had a good laugh! Those who didn’t take showers that morning definitely received one that afternoon. We stopped at the little donut shop to get some hot coco ($30). As we sat waiting for the tunnel to leave Whittier we sipped our hot coco and snacked on granola bars. It had been a good day and one that was soaked with adventure!

It was raining so hard that some of the photos wouldn’t even turn out. But I do have a few to share!

Heading up the trail.

Where do we step??

Runoff from a waterfall.

One of the waterfalls.

LOOK-A BERRY!