Seven Glaciers Restaurant atop the Alyeska ski slopes in Girdwood, AK

What a treat at this wonderful restaurant!  2,300 feet above sea level with a beautiful view of snow-clad mountains and steep green hillsides, touting one of the few double diamond ski slopes in North America.  I don't know much about snow-skiing, but the steepness of those mountains tell me it would be very challenging.  I was impressed by all the hikers going up the trails, while we rode our tram up this very steep incline to the restaurant.  Even spotted what appeared to be a black bear along the way.

We didn't hike it - we had to wear nice clothes and shoes to eat at this 4-diamond AAA rated restaurant.  Dress code requirements.  However, there were enough sneakers and jeans and sweatpants present in the restaurant that kinda dismissed the dress code.  Marv said that is pretty typical in Alaska.  These adventurous people don't have a need for fashion.  Of course, Marv and I are so conscious of the latest fashions ...ha ha.

It was our date night for our Anchorage stay and the meal was wonderful!  Typically, the price tag would have given me indigestion, but not this time.  It was a very nice experience and once in a lifetime opportunity.  The halibut was delicious...and the "baked Alyeska"...

The picture belows shows a notice to the hikers on the ski slopes, warning them of possible shells that were used to break up snow deposits to avoid possible avalanches.

Hike to Exit Glacier

Arrived in Seward on Wed, the 24th of June and booked a week stay at Stoney Creek RV Park.  Nice, busy crowded park along a glacial run-off creek.  We spent the evening at Alaska SeaLife Center, which helped in the identification of wildlife we would see on our cruise of the Kenai Fjords.  Pricey admission at $20 each, but we felt it was worth it.

Thurs morning we drove to the trail head at Exit Glacier and hiked the easy climb to the terminus of the glacier.  Some pictures below pretty well tell the story.  Mosquitoes were ever present here, so we had to get out the netting.

 

terminus of the glacier

Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise

# 2 on our list of four must-do activities while in Alaska.  It was a cool cloudy evening but the cruise was very nice.   Within 15 minutes of our departure from Seward, we were served an Alaskan wild salmon, prime rib buffet aboard the boat.  It was delicious - even had a cranberry-horseradish sauce for the prime rib (which I could get well-done for my preference).  We didn't linger after eating.  It was out on the deck for wildlife viewing.  We were dressed for the coolness and since it wasn't bright sun, it was easier on the eyes to see wildlife on the water.

Sightings of American bald eagles became almost common place, as well as puffins.   We did see a few mountain goats up high on cliffs above the water.  Viewing of several colonies of sea lions was really a treat.  I got a glimpse of a Humpback (?)  whale coming out of the water, but it was so quick,  it was hard to tell what kind.  We sailed among a grouping of Dall's porpoise  that were engaging with the boat for about 15 minutes.  That was delightful, seeing them up so close and how fast they swim thru the water.  They put on the best show, jumping and leaping around.  There was a forest ranger aboard the boat to explain the fjords, the glaciers and the wildlife.  He was informative, but didn't try to talk the whole time.  Just the right amount of info.

Even without the wildlife, seeing the terrain itself was awesome.  Bear glacier with its terminal lake and icebergs was at the furtherest distance from Seward on our trip.  But the massive power of glacier in the formation of all the fjords was a sight to behold all along the 4 hour trip.  Just to sit or stand and enjoy the immense landscape, hear the sounds, and take in the wildness of the surroundings of our boat in northwest pacific waters 700-1000 feet deep....well, I could go on and on....

And then to hear Marv tell of where he camped along the way, memorable fish catches, and what boats he used to maneuver these wild waters....I was very impressed.  After seeing the whale surface, I could really relate to his tale of being in Katchemak Bay and having a whale breech next to his inflatable boat and how that must have felt.  I know a person can drown in any depth of water,  but there is something really crazy about maneuvering a skiff in water that is that deep and wild.

 Linda enjoying the view of sea lions among the shore cliffs - photo by Marv

20 June 2015

Anchorage was founded 100 years ago.  A still young city.  At the Alaska Railroad Depot the Centennial Committee held a concert by the country group Lone Star.  Big turn out, altho the day was cloudy and foggy on the mountains that surround Anchorage.  The sun broke through the clouds and flooded the area with bright sun for the last 1/2 hour of the concert.  A 19 hour & 28 minute day.  We rode our bikes to the concert (only 3.5 miles) so we didn't have to fight traffic.

The venue for the concert, the hill above the depot.  Don't know who the folks in red are...

This morning, we headed to Hatcher Pass where we toured the old gold mine abandoned in 1951.  It had about 25 miles of underground tunnels.  Its a wreck now, all worked out and kicked to the curb for us to look at.  We headed up through the fog to cross the pass and drive to Willow which lost some buildings to a forest fire.  Some areas we saw were still smoldering.  Saw a little wildlife along the way, Linda saw a snowbank and had me stop. (1st wildlife)  She than proceeded to pelt me and Arlo with snow balls until we surrendered.  The clouds were so thick we had to watch closely to stay on the road.  That was when we saw the second wildlife, a wolverine, which crossed the road in front of us.  An eventful day.

Along Hatcher Pass road, the clouds we spent part of the day enveloped in.  Marv

Snowball Fight on the first day of summer!

We drove to Hatcher Pass today just so I could hit Marv and Arlo with a snowball on this very first day of summer.  19-20 hours of daylight today.  It's 1040 and we just got in from bikeriding home from Lone Star concert downtown.

At Hatcher Pass, we saw a wolverine cross the road in front of the car.  Marv said a wolverine is worth ten moose, because they are hard to spot.  We were in a very remote area.  I was truly surprised we did not see bear or moose.  But it is the first wolverine I have ever seen.  We enjoyed seeing an old mine that was quite active until 1951.  Buildings were still there, some restored, some falling down.  It was interesting to read and see that gold-rush history.

Marv at Lone Star Concert

Bike ride around Anchorage, middle of the city, but looks like the wilderness.  We saw a moose a little further on.  Visited Goose lake, Anchorage's swimming hole (icy water) and pedaled through University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) and by the Alaska Native hospital.  All on sidewalks or paved trails.  Some along side traffic, some along greenbelts such as this.  Linda seemed to enjoy the ride.

Friday, 19 June 2015

We've been so busy we haven't thought of blogging lately, so maybe I should share some of our experiences.

Linda resting beside Eagle River, a long hike with Arlo in attendance.

We spent the morning at the Alaska Zoo.  It's a place with mostly indigenous animals, most handicapped or rescued.  Eagles, Golden and Bald with wing injuries, bears that were brought in after mothers were killed, brown, black and polar bears, 5 or 6 different owls, all unable to survive in the wild, hawks, ravens and many other animals.  There were also musk ox, yaks (from tibet), reindeer from local farms that raise them.  2-hump Bacterian camels from Mongolia and Alpacas from South America.  All cold climate animals.  A new born harbor seal was also on display

that Linda couldn't get enough of.  Momma was very attentive and baby was carefully attended.

Options

Today we're going to get out on Anchorages' 150 kilometers of trails on our bikes.  These trails are jogging trails, walking trails and skiing trails depending on season.  They are used during Fur Rondy as part of the route for the sprint dog races.  One can get almost anywhere in Anchorage on bikes, trails, sidewalks, marked bike lanes on roads.  Only when on roads, one has to obey rules of the road just like cars.  Stop at lights, use turn lanes, signal, etc.

Smoke from fires north and south makes the sky hazy.  Fires are not uncommon, many set by by "dry" thunder storms.  We hesitate to go south because of the fires, but north is the same way, so may stay a little longer in Anchorage.  That's OK with me!