The last week has been full of adventure. For us anyway. Judy was boarded so we could make room for our friends Mike and Sheila. We met them in Anchorage and headed for Denali. We stopped in the town of Talkeenta for lunch where we commented on an old photo of a lady in front of a plane. A waitress commented that she is still alive and lives next door. Mike talked us into trying to meet her and what a treat it was. She was about to lay down for her afternoon nap, but decided it could wait. She was 17 when she worked in a Fire tower on top of a mountain in Idaho and dabbled in flying throughout her life. She’s a true pioneer for women.
After camping out in the National Park we jumped on the shuttle bus for the day (no cars allowed). Our eyes were peeled as we looked out of the school bus windows for wildlife. 4 grizzlies, 1 moose, and some dall sheep. We thought one grizzly was dead, but instead he was taking a break from a recent kill. No sign of Mt. McKinley due to the weather. After a snow storm passed we headed up the Savage Rock Alpine Hike. 4 miles total, mostly above tree line with amazing views. About a mile before the main road back I looked down to see a grizzly paw print. It was enough to get my blood pumping. I began ringing my bear bell, Mike had his bear spray in hand, and we all took turns telling loud stories the rest of the way back.
As we made our way from Denali toward Seward we spotted a mother black bear with 2 cubs by a lake near the road. Shadow quickly turned the car around and we were able to snap a few photos. That evening at our Bed & Breakfast we saw a fox looking for bird eggs along the owners pond. Wildlife is all around us here and if you keep your eyes open it is easily spotted.
The next day the 4 of us traveled 7 hours back to the Kenai Penninsula for a quick hike in Whittier to Portage glacier. Getting to Whittier was more exciting than the town itself. The road is shared with a train as it travels through a 2 1/2 mile tunnel. In a light drizzle we hiked the mile into a beautiful bay where Portage glacier meats the water. Finding nothing but a ferry port, fishing boats, and a couple bars for a good ass-whipping, we jumped back in the car and headed to our favorite town of Seward. The weather cleared and we spent the next day hiking up to Exit Glacier. The hike was much easier for us this time now that the snow has melted. Just as I spotted a cave in the distance and said “That would be a good place for a bear to spend the winter.” I spotted another mother with her cubs. Two nights were spent camping on the waters edge watching otters and seals. Mike woke early the last morning as saw a whale travel by.
Before dropping Sheila and Mike off for their midnight flight home Sheila remembered seeing some DC-3 airplanes at the airport. The four of us stood at the security gate taking photos and admiring the 3 planes when the mechanic rode his bike over, opened the gate and let us in. He told us the history of all three planes and let us look inside. One can be seen on the movie, “The Big Year”. It’s awesome that a plane from the 1940’s is still needed here. Lack of roads and short runways is a perfect combination for a DC-3 full of cargo. Also at the Anchorage airport is the largest seaplane port in the World. That was actually our first stop after meeting up with our friends. What a treat.
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