Out the window, a palette of colors stretchs out beneath me, like an artist’s canvas. An expanse of twisting brown rivers and mats of green shrub pass below, as the majestic, snow-covered Mt. McKinley rises in the distance. Glaciers cascade down from the summit, like highways racing into the valleys. A gust of wind blows against the plane, causing it to shudder. I am overcome by a feeling of insignificance, as we quickly advance towards the immense mountain. The plane takes a sharp turn and prepares to land on Eldridge Glacier. Other planes, already resting on the surface of the glacier, appear to be the size of a child’s toy. Our plane shakes again and swiftly descends. Looking down within the ice crevices and pools, we observe a vibrant shade of blue that cannot be …show more content…
Ahead of me lies a thirty mile stretch of ice and snow. The noise, from one of the other planes, catches my attention when it begins to take off. The pilot releases the brake, the propellers whirl, and the plane is pulled along on its skis. With a deafening roar, the plane speeds down the makeshift runway and eventually soars into the air. I return my gaze up towards the summit of Mt. McKinley. Snow is being blown through the thin air, giving the mountain a sinister look. Unaccompanied, I walk away from the plane and head towards the towering cliff beside us. The rocks are dull gray and worn from many years of relentless wind. As if controlled by another, my hand instinctively reaches out to touch fridge, wet stone. I feel as if I am connecting with something far grander than anything I have ever experienced. I stride back to the plane to meet with my family. The radiant sunlight reflects off the snow and into my eyes, making difficult to see. To get more closely connected to the mountain, I lie in the crisp white snow and gander at the feathery blanket of clouds in the