Alaska Skies Painting

This impressionistic painting is loosely based on Alaska, which is located in the northwest extremity of the United States West Coast. Denali, the highest mountain region in North America is located in the Interior region of Alaska. Of the 20 highest peaks in the United States, 17 are in Alaska and Denali is 20,320 ft. above sea level. The Interior is the largest region of Alaska, much of this area is uninhabited wilderness. As the Travel Alaska website states: 'It helps to have a healthy dose of wonder'. For me Alaska is a place to behold and admire, it is wild and rugged, a place to visit once in a lifetime. I dream of either going on a Royal Caribbean 'Answer the Call of the Wild' Alaska Cruise tour or going on a Ray Mears Bushcraft style expedition (currently only in Finland or Norway for winter expeditions) and immerse oneself in the wilderness. 'Winter is a popular season in the Interior region of Alaska, where visitors flock to see the glorious aurora borealis, or northern lights, shining overhead, or to marvel at the handiwork of world-champion ice carvers. Winter is also dog mushing season in Alaska, with the 1,000-mile Iditarod sled dog race.' (Travel Alaska) We are guardians to three dogs, admittedly not Seppala Siberian Sleddogs, but one can always dream of driving a dog team through the Alaskan wilderness. Benedict Allen (an explorer) says: "For me personally, exploration isn't about conquering nature, planting flags or leaving your mark. It's about the opposite: opening yourself up and allowing the place to leave its mark on you..." Having watched Benedict Allen's Ice Dogs and the movies Togo, Iron Will, Eight Below and Snow Dogs, I agree with his statement and I believe Alaska is a place which would leave a mark, a fingerprint that one could use to remember the unique patterns and lines of the wilderness once one returned back to reality.