Together on Crescent Lake, father and daughter paddle on a remote Alaskan lake
About 25 years ago, I went with my family to Lake Clark National Park in a remote part of Alaska. We travelled by sea plane to get there as there were no roads in and we stayed for several nights at a fishing camp. It was located beside the pristine, glacier-fed waters of Crescent Lake. The lake was turquoise blue, and there were beaver and loons popping up now and then and a pair of bald eagles nesting nearby. One afternoon, I paddled out on the lake with my daughter Jaline, who was 9 years old at the time. After we got back home, she described that experience in a 4th grade writing assignment. Here’s Jaline, who is now 34, reading her prose poem entitled “Alaska”:
They were laughing while kayaking in summer-time Alaska. There were shades of blue above the pure white mountains and a sweet cool breeze on their faces. The musical birds and paddles splashing were the only noises except the kayakers’ laughter. The clean fresh air and the cold water licked their hands and faces.
Ralph & Jaline King • he/him, She/Her • Portola Valley, Calif
I am a documentary filmmaker and climate activist who organizes with Rich City Rays. Previously, I worked as an investigative reporter for the Wall Street Journal and other national publications. My daughter, Jaline, writes: “I spent six years teaching kindergarten in Oakland. I loved teaching the kids how to read and write as many of them don’t have access to private educations. While living there, I enjoyed the many good eats and diversity of people there. The water is very special as we have shared many moments together in it!”
