New Web Cam Links & Local Legends

To the right, you may have noticed that I added several new live web cam links. There is one for the Red Rocks at Sedona, Arizona and another for the Grand Canyon in honor of Abbey's recent trip there.

Additionally, I have added two Alaska web cam links. One is for a view of Mt. Susitna or "Sleeping Lady" lies across the Cook Inlet from Anchorage. The other is of Mt. McKinley or "Denali" a bit further north in the Denali National Park and Preserve taken from Eilson Visitors Center about 6 hours into the park (by bus). Below is the story of Denali and Susitna:

Once, long ago in Alaska, there lived a race of people along the shores of Cook Inlet. The land then was warm and covered with fruit trees of every kind. Woolly mammoths and saber-toothed tigers roamed the forests and beaches but did not harm the gentle Inlet people.
Peace and happiness ruled the land.

Especially happy were a young man named Denali and a young woman named Susitna, for they were in love and soon to be married. As the wedding day neared, the Inlet people eagerly prepared for the celebration. But the day before the wedding a stranger burst into the village and warned of a warring tribe’s invasion from the north. Denali and other villagers planned to travel north to meet this tribe and convince them to lay down their weapons and live in peace. They would carry gifts rather than weapons so they would not be attacked.

Sadly, Susitna and Denali said goodbye on a hill above the village where they had spent many hours together. "We will be married as soon as I return." promised Denali. "I will wait for you at this very spot," answered Susitna. Susitna watched until the forms of the men disappeared into the forested mountains. Susitna made ready to wait. She ran back to the village for her needles, knife, and baskets, then busied herself gathering nuts and berries. But many days and nights went by, each more slowly than the last. Finally Susitna could no longer pick berries, weave baskets, or even sew.

"I will lie down just for a moment," she said finally. And she fell fast asleep. While Susitna slept, word of a terrible battle reached her village. "Denali was brave." reported a boy who had escaped. "He led our men to meet with the warriors. But as he and their leader were about to speak, someone threw a spear! Their men set upon ours and we fought until all our men were dead or dying, and many of theirs, too." The women and children wept to hear the names of the fathers, sons, and brothers they had lost.

When the women went to tell Susitna the terrible news, they couldn't bear to wake her from such peaceful sleep. Let her rest, they decided. Why break her heart any sooner than we must? And they wove a blanket of soft grasses and wildflower blossom, which they gently laid over her. May Susitna always dream of her lover, they prayed.

That night all warmth and joy left the village. As the air grew colder and colder, Susitna settled more deeply into sleep. All around her, the fruit trees froze and died, falling like the men in battle. The tears of the villagers gathered into clouds and, in the chill air, returned to earth as Alaska's first snowfall. The snow fell slowly at first, one flake at a time, but soon it filled the sky, spreading thickly across the entire land.

Days passed into years, and years into hundreds and thousands of years. Today Susitna still sleeps through the seasons, dreaming of Denali. If you look across Cook Inlet in the winter, you can see her covered by a snowy quilt. Denali still lies to the north where he fell. It is said that when the people of war change their ways peace rules the earth, Denali will return. Then Susitna, the Sleeping Lady, will awake.

Just over a year ago I asked Abbey to marry me at Eilson Visitors Center with a view of "Denali" in front of us. This link honors the 1 year aniversary of our engagement.