Retirement and Projects: 07/19/11

7-11-2011 Exit Glacier

Took a Ranger tour, then walked back to the glacier. Exit Glacier is 3 miles long and descends from the Harding Icefield.

7-10-2011 Seward

Another favorite spot of ours, it was so good to see it again. We lucked out with two camping spots (Rolly and Bonnie and us) right on the water of Resurrection Bay. Awesome view!

Becca and Brian chillin. The rig in the background is the Campground Host's rig and satellite dishes.

Awesome view to wake up to. What else would Rolly be doing but cleaning :) He really put us to shame on this trip.

A few bald eagles here, but not as many as Homer.

7-9-2011 Hatchers Pass and Matanuska Glacier

Cloudy and cold at Hatcher's Pass and Independence Mine. Bonnie, Becca and Kitty stayed at the info center to keep warm while the guys walked around. The info center was actually quite nice with lots of very old photos, etc. The Info Center is in what was the Mine Managers home, built in 1939. We went up to the top of the pass, as that's all our vehicle could do safely. Independence Mine is an on-going restoration project.

Matanuska Glacier is in Chugach Mtns and heads north 27 miiles. Width is 2-4 miles. Didn't get close to this one as there were fees everywhere to get to it. Knew we would see Exit Glacier, so by-passed this one.

7-8-2011 Port of Whittier and Glacier Boat Tour

Day trip to Whittier, and glacier boat trip on Prince William Sound. Whittier was created by the US Army during WWII as a port and petroleum delivery center (Milepost).

The tunnel to Whittier handles both vehicles and the railroad. Time perfectly, the cars wait in a staging area like waiting for a ferry, until the time for vehicles to travel through. You can see the rr tracks in the pix above.

The Klondike Express boat was very nice, holding 330 passengers. Smooth ride all day, cloudy but no rain. Saw one humpback whale, lots of sea otters and seals, but only two bald eagles. Drove up very close to two glaciers.

Saw one black bear close to shore.

Sea otters are one of my favorites....too cute!

7-6-2011 Denali Tour 6

Last posting for this date. There were many awe-inspiring sights in Denali! Makes one realize/remember that a higher being had to create this wonderful awesome scenery!!

7-6-2011 Denali Tour 5

7-6-2011 Denali Tour 4

Caribou

Denali Crew, Rolly, Bonnie, Becca, Brian, Kitty, Al

Awesome place to sit and eat!

7-6-2011 Denali Tour 3

Moose

Fox

7-6-2011 Denali Tour 2

This is the road through Denali that the buses drive on...mid right side. Glad we were not driving LOL.

Thre is a bear mid pix...I should have zoomed the photo!

This is about 66 miles out, the Eielson Visitor Center, where we had lunch. Awesome view.

7-6-2011 Denali Tour

Denali, another highlight and one of our favorite places didn’t disappoint us at all. Camped right in one of Denali’s campgrounds. First night we took a shuttle bus out 15 miles. They also only allow private vehicles to go out 15 miles. The tour buses go out much further. There are 6 million acres, but only 92 miles are open the public, and that is by shuttle/tour.

Next morning, up at 7, and on the bus to Kantishna at 8:30 for 13 hour tour. Not bad at all. Packed snacks, lunch and dinner sandwiches and drinks. We had a lot of pit stops in between also. Mt McKinley again in view; the total view is just awesome! Saw 11 bears, 5 moose, 3 caribous, 1 wolf, 1 porkupine and a gray jay bird. The first bear was special as it walked down the road right past the stopped bus and on down the road. It was a great day!