After a summer filled with unexpected turbulence that really tested the strength of our relationship, things were winding down. We had a long weekend coming up, because we both requested off the Monday before Alaska Day. The weather looked good as there was still no snow on the ground in Fairbanks, clear skies through the weekend and into the next week. We planned to get a lot of things done on the property, and that we did. Cleaned up the dog yard, cut and burned brush on the trail and front yard, organized the kitchen, unpacked more boxes, organized the loft and tree room, and retrieved the winter tires from the shed. Motivated we were, because for us and our new circumstances now, we take the opportunity when we can. After our productive weekend, it was while running errands on Monday that we figured we deserved to take our long "Sunday Drive" back to the Top of the World. I had been talking about going back since the spring, to see how things have changed and to gather more rocks for the fire pit. Of course we planned to get up early and go, but our late start left us debating our adventure in the am. Coming to the conclusion that there's always reasons not to do something, we grabbed some food, water the dogs, and left.
We always seem to have the best conversations while on the road and with the extended amount of time to get there, 6.5 hours one-way, we talked about many things. The yurt, the dogs, work, people at work, different jobs, winter plans and adventures, upcoming trip to Japan, making comments about towns as we pass through them, or about the people in them, nothing particularly special. As we got closer to the Taylor Highway snow started to accumulate. When we turned on to the now, unmaintained road, we stayed on top of what looked like a handful of truck tracks. At higher elevations the snow was at least 2 inches thick on the road, but otherwise a very beautiful drive into Chicken. Not as much snow as we past Chicken headed up to Top of the World, the old spooky cottonwood tree is no longer standing, the miners on Jack-Wade are almost mining under the road, and spring & overflow had begun to accumulate on parts of the road. Climbing up to the “Y” we followed one set of tracks onto Top of the World Highway which turned off to a Miner’s claim before our state pit at MP4. From then on we were breaking trail all the way up to the Canadian Border. Up at MP 13 we were above the clouds and it was beautiful. Reminiscing about paving up and through the border station, our hikes around Davis Dome, and hunting caribou down in the valley, we admired and appreciated the view. Driving back down to the pullout so we could let Basal and Hiro out to run, Andy set up his drone to try and follow Basal. What we discovered was the batteries didn’t like the cold; a new challenge we will have to overcome in order to film our dog mushing adventures in the winter. After letting Basal out and watching him run around, we snapped some photos, appreciated a job well done on the project, and all the good times we had while on it.
I made my way back to the truck. Andy requested one more photo as the clouds that were in and out of rolling over top of us, began to clear up again. We walked out to the road snapped more photos, and as I was walking back, Andy mentioned he had something for me. Cold and oblivious I make my way back to the truck. He mentioned something about a photo and I hoped out and walked over to him. Thinking about it now, I can see the pause, where he got the guts to ask, because upon my arrival, he said nothing. So I walked to find a spot that would be a better spot, the light up there was always changing.
He came over, said he had something for me. I gave him a hug and ask “what’s he got,” and that’s when he show me the ring in his hand. I blurted out “what’s that?”
And that’s when in the softest, most emotional tone I’ve ever heard out of him, He asked “will you marry me?” I don’t recall my first words out because, it felt like I was saying: absolutely, of course, yes, and hell yeah, all at the same time. Looking up at him, I’ve only seen a tear in his eye one time before, but this time both eyes held water.
It was cold up there as the sun was setting; we hugged, laughed, and took one more photo, then loaded up and started our trek off the Top of the World and back to Fairbanks. It was beautiful, the drive in and the drive out. Except for a couple miners that passed us on the goat trail, while I was snapping my “soft shoulder” sign, but other than that, it was just us. There is nothing better than being in one of the most beautiful places in Alaska alone with your love. Of course, we made a dinner stop at Fast Eddies to celebrate with some beer and fried food before driving the remaining 4 hours back home.
It was perfect. |