That time I was collecting data on the Parks Hwy, and we locked the keys in the trunk...

So a few weeks ago I got to collect data and take GPS points of recreation access points and facilities (and some other recreation components). I did this along the Parks Highway that goes from Anchorage towards Denali National Park and Fairbanks.

The day started out lovely! Clear views of Denali (Mt. McKinley)--it's another post worthy to discuss the name of the giant mountain. I call it Denali because that's what most people call it here, and because it seems more fitting use a native word instead of the last name of a senator from Ohio. Denali is Athabascan for "The High One". Here is actually a Wikipedia page describing the name.

Anyway, as I digress, back to the lovely day of data collection.

Denali. "The High One".

Can't believe we are getting paid to collect data here!

Uh-oh. Keys are locked in the trunk. Cell phones, food, and water are all locked in the car.

Oh crap! What do we do?

Fortunately, we were stuck at a rest area with water and had just eaten lunch.

I also moved this picnic table into shade. It was legitimately hot and sunny!

Guard the data collection device!

Well, it's 5:15pm, and we've been stuck here all afternoon.

Hooray! Assistance had to drive all the way from Willow to rescue us.
That is a 1.5 hour drive, and it took a long time to reach someone willing to get to our location.
We were stuck at the rest stop about 4 hours in total.

We have keys again!