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Alaskan Adventures and Friends Forever

someone holds up a peace sign with a grassy valley opening up into the ocean in the background

By Madison Braswell, Montclair State University

Editor’s Note: This is a delayed post from earlier in the cruise… transport yourself back in time!

June 11th and 12th represented the final days of our journey, and the energy is as bittersweet as can be. We arrived in Dutch Harbor, Alaska yesterday, and we were all way too excited to feel some real land after 11 days on the water! As soon as we docked, we cleaned up our rooms and headed on the first hike we could find; up the mountain of a nearby National Park called the Aleutian World War II National Historic Area!

Five hikers stand around a sign reading Aleutian World War II National Historic Area
Team members next to the Aleutians World War II National Historic Area’s sign on the way up the hike!

The venture up was beautiful, sights that could not be justified purely by pictures, but we sure can try! The hike up the mountain embodied the trip completely. A bit arduous, but filled with childlike wonder and scientific questions about the geology and ecosystem of the area (as well as a couple of songs and silly pictures along the journey from our team!).

A scientist poses as though her force is sending another scientist through the air
Jess, proving she has The Force on top of the mountain!
A bald eagle with snowcapped mountains in the distance
Amazing photo taken by Jess of an eagle flying above the snowy tops.

The 12th of June was Jen’s birthday! We made sure to celebrate by giving her a card and singing at least four different birthday songs in her honor. Afterwards, we explored as much as we could of Dutch Harbor. We got to see some amazing things. A nearby ship laid out its catching net to dry after an expedition, and a swarm of bald eagles flew around it for some fishing leftovers! Some of them are closer than expected!

Two bald eagles stand in a puddle in a parking lot with a red car in the background
Eagles are enjoying a sip of water a few feet away after feasting on the shipping net.

That wasn’t the only kind of wildlife we saw. There were hermit crabs, sea otters, and we saw a couple of other whale spouts in the open ocean to remind us of our long journey. Later in the night, the team went to a nearby restaurant, which had an outside area that led to the Alaskan shoreline. Most of us crowded around, skipping rocks and having fun on our final night together. There were unforgettable conversations, shared laughter, and melancholic tears; things I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Five scientists pose by the water of a rocky beach with snowy mountains in the distance
Trinity, Sarina, Jess, Victoria, Legend, and Kaylee are next to the shoreline on the final day of the journey.

Thank you, STEMSEAS, for such an amazing experience, and thank you to all of my expedition-mates, from the mentors to the crew to my lovely friends, you have all made this one of the best experiences I could ever have.