We have all heard about the horrible road conditions in Alaska. This past week I experienced them firsthand. As I was on my way down to youth band practice, it was obvious that the visibility was poor. As I tried to drive my way through the blowing snow, a moose jumped right in front of me. It seemed like an electric shock went through my body. I was freaking out thinking of all the soon-to-be results. It was too slick to stop; I had no time to think. As the moose went right, then left, and then right as if it were not able to decide the direction to go, it stopped right in the middle of the road. Looking right at me, he decided that he should move out of the way. I was thinking of how I might die or ruin my mom’s nice “bluebarue”. I swerved the opposite direction of the moose. As the right side of the car skimmed the shoulder of the road, I spun a 360 twice.
I felt as if I were in a snow globe for a brief second. As the moose ran off, the car slid sideways and came to a complete stop in the deep snow of the ditch. Thinking I could get out, I put it in reverse and then in drive, and reverse again. I soon figured out that it was stuck. I got out of the car and started running toward the school. Once I took a deep breath, I saw a car with head lights. It looked big enough to pull a small car like mine out of the ditch. I waved it down and it was someone I knew, Tim Reddington. I asked him if he could help me, and explained to him that I almost hit a moose. He said, “Hop in and let’s take a look.” Thank goodness he had a shovel and chains, and took the time to help me get the car out of the ditch. When I think back to this experience, I am so thankful that I didn’t get hurt or even damage the car. I’m thankful that I live in a community that has people who will help in a time of need. It took a couple of days before I was ready to get behind the wheel again. I learned what it was like to avoid a moose on the road and how quickly you have to react when Alaskan moose get in your way.
I felt as if I were in a snow globe for a brief second. As the moose ran off, the car slid sideways and came to a complete stop in the deep snow of the ditch. Thinking I could get out, I put it in reverse and then in drive, and reverse again. I soon figured out that it was stuck. I got out of the car and started running toward the school. Once I took a deep breath, I saw a car with head lights. It looked big enough to pull a small car like mine out of the ditch. I waved it down and it was someone I knew, Tim Reddington. I asked him if he could help me, and explained to him that I almost hit a moose. He said, “Hop in and let’s take a look.” Thank goodness he had a shovel and chains, and took the time to help me get the car out of the ditch. When I think back to this experience, I am so thankful that I didn’t get hurt or even damage the car. I’m thankful that I live in a community that has people who will help in a time of need. It took a couple of days before I was ready to get behind the wheel again. I learned what it was like to avoid a moose on the road and how quickly you have to react when Alaskan moose get in your way.
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