I signed up for the Four Peaks in Four Weeks challenge, along with two of my granddaughters. We set out to do the Long Lake Loop trail. Prior to the hike, they called me “Momo” and afterward they called me No Mo,” as in “No mo’ navigating for you.” Under my direction, we did indeed loop around Long Lake and put in 5.2 miles rather than the advertised 4.2. We finished at Kepler Lake Campground, approximately four miles from my car, parked with the appropriate sticker at a designated trailhead for Long Lake.
I approached a husky gentleman with a large black pickup and asked, “I wonder if you could help me out?” I explained what I needed and he simply said, “Get in the truck.” I did just that and met two young men, about 11 and 9 years old, who were engaging, comfortable around strangers and clearly as generous as their father.
Mike drove me the four miles to my car, including the last two miles over unmaintained, rugged, typical Alaska back roads.
The truck shook so badly I feared it might have loosened a kidney stone from the older gentleman in the front seat with Mike.
Arriving at my car, I tried to give Mike some money. “Don’t even think it,” was his response. God, I’ve missed that generosity that used to typify America. Thanks, Mike! For the ride and the memory of the way things used to be.
— Dr. John Hall
Anchorage
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