Wild Alaskan Blueberries

PICKING WILD ALASKAN BLUEBERRIES
This was a spontaneous idea.  We found our up the canyon into a green valley covered in wild blueberries.   We began picking and got lost in the moment.   We stayed for a couple of hours.   Every time we would say, "should we go?", we would find another great blueberry bush to help fill our bags.   It was therapeutic and addicting at the same time.   Picking berries made me understand why it costs a bundle for blueberries.  It is a lot of work just to get a few berries.   I was imagining how it would have been to live in the time of the hunter-gatherer.  I was also hoping that there were no bears thinking our blueberry patch looked appetizing.   On our way out we spot a mother moose and her two babies up on the mountain side.    What a memorable day in this beautiful blueberry filled Alaskan Valley.

Chillin' on a Glacier

CHILLIN' on a GLACIER

This was the first time I had seen the sun while in Alaska.  The rain finally stopped so we strapped on some crampons (not a play on a menstrual cycle terms, actual spiked shoes put on so you can more easily traverse the glacier) and hiked our tails all around a gorgeous Alaskan glacier.   This massive piece of ice was "cool" to explore.  It would have been cooler to explore on our own, minus the guide and other tourists.  It was probably best that there was someone with experience, otherwise we may have ended up down endless crevasse (deep holes in the glacier).  It was an amazing view and terrain, unlike any other hike we have done.   The ice had many different forms.   Along the way we tried fresh glacier water and admired the sparking glacier formations.    

Dog Sledding

ALASKAN DOG SLEDDING
This was a last minute decision to try dog sledding.  We figured this was a unique Alaskan experience.  These group of dogs are trained for the famous Iditarod Dog Race.  It is a race, over 1000 miles,  across Alaskan frontier in cold and dangerous conditions.  Something I never want to do and I am amazed at those who do it.  It was neat learning how they train and prepare for the race.   Dog sledding was a good experience.  I can imagine it being more exciting in the snow.  

Ride to Remember!

RIDE TO REMEMBER

HIGHLIGHT of the trip on was on HORSE BACK

We mounted our fearless steeds to ride through the Alaskan forests and ford the coastal waters.   We got more then we bargained for on this ride.  It was rainy so we were the only people crazy enough to still go out and ride.  The other tourist canceled, a little rain never scared us much.  Fortunately for us we toughed it out with our 10 dollar rain suits because this ride was definitely the high light of the trip.  Along the way we encountered 2 baby black bears climbing up a tree.  Casey was the first to spot them.  Our guide pretty much saved our lives.  We were like, "oh cool".  He was like, "oh no".   He told us to keep riding.  He flipped around and headed straight for a mother bear standing ready to charge us.   As we continued down the trail we heard him yelling at her.  My heart was pounding.  I was sure glad to be on a horse and to have a guide with experience and a gun.  Our bear spray and city slicker experience would have made for a very different outcome.   He spooked the mama bear away and came back to us.  A few minutes later right in front of us there was another mother black bear and her cub.  They ran off into the woods.  We kept our eyes and ears alert.  Wow 5 bears in one day.   That was a enough bear spotting for me.   The rest of the ride was more calm, but still awesome!  I've seen red, white and brown sand, but I have never seen black sandy beaches before.  Also,  everywhere we went there were multiple eagles perched or soaring around us.  We loved riding through the ocean inlets, making sure not to soak or legs and boots.   We saw salmon making their way up the streams.  Oh and we mustn't forget the gorgeous landscape.   Unforgetable experience and I am glad I got to share it with my man. (And my new hero "Alaskan guide man"...sad I don't even remember his name).   Oh but my horses name was Orca.  I thought that was a perfect Alaskan horse name since it was black and white and we had just seen several on our cruise. 

Alaskan Cruise

Sea Lions, Orcas and Bears? oh my.....!

We made our way to the coastal town of Seward.  Our Alaskan Cruise was almost canceled, but luckily it was only shortened.  We were able to go out on the rough seas in search of whales and wildlife.   Several orca surrounded our boat and kept surfacing for us.   We were so excited and we headed on deck into the elements to see them.  There were icy winds and rainy conditions.   At this point we were wishing we would have packed more appropriately for Alaska.  (Note:  if going to Alaska bring good cold weather gear....no brainer right...apparently not for us).   Even the captain told Case he should get himself a new coat.   Tangent, anyway as I was saying....the whales were amazing to see, this was no Shamoo either.  

This was a true Wild Alaskan Orca Pod.    

We also spotted sea lions, puffins, eagles and otters.   

We picked up some glacier ice which looked like a piece of art. 

  As for the bears...well they come a little later in our Tall Alaskan Tale....

Case and Meg Hike Alaska

WILD ALASKAN ADVENTURE...REALLY BEGINS

HIKING IN ALASKA

Megan's first day in Alaska was filled with activity.  Now it was time to really begin the fun together.  We started out by trying to rollerblade on the coast, but had to turn around because Casey's blades were to small.  We got the idea and it was pretty, until Case was pretty lame with squished toes.   So we decided to try a hike instead.  Flat Top Mountain is a favorite hike here in Anchorage.   It was definitely not flat until the top.  Whew!  Good hike, a little rain and windy at the top.  At times I felt like a mountain goat climbing rocky cliffs.  In my mind I kept thinking,  "3 babies at home".  (a reoccurring thought throughout my Alaskan adventures).    On the way up and down Casey was patient with his slow hiking partner.  After hiking with Keith this was probably a walk in the park.   It was great to see Alaska from a from so high up.  The mountains there are different then Utah mountains.  They are more steep, angular and full of lushes green vegetation.    What is it in mankind that makes us want to climb to such heights.   Is there like some internal need to progress or some great fulfillment of conquering a great mountain.  I know I am obsessed with the olden' days, but I can imagine people hiking like this just to get from here to there in the "olden' days".     Well whatever it is, here we were with many others aspiring for something higher.   Hiking as those ancestors before us did, but our trip was for pure thrill.  The next hike we went to was through the Alaskan rainforest.  Yes, Alaska has rain forests.  Something I was not aware of until I was hiking in it.  The massive spruce forest are full of lush underbrush.  There were very few hikers on this trail.   We were nervous about bears and had our spray ready.   I was hoping not to have to use it.   

Luckly no bears, at least not this time =) (foreshadow).  

We made our way through a soggy trail to a hand tram.   

We pulled ourselves over a river and to the other side.  We saw some rafters float under us. 

 It was a dazzling sight with the drizzling rain all around us in the Wild Alaskan rainforest.  

Side note:  I thought almost everything sounded better with 'Wild Alaskan' in front of it.  The whole trip I kept using the phrase wild Alaskan.  Case found the humor turning into annoyance and then he actually started using the phrase too, yes success!

Our Trip includes lots of Wild Alaskan Weather, Wild Alaskan Animals, 

Wild Alaskan Frontier and Wild Alaskan Adventures....

all for the sake of these Wild Alaskan Lovers =)!

Salmon Fishing

Casey Fishing All Around Alaska

Case and Keith Hike Alaska

Casey and Keith in Alaska
Case took off for Alaska early to get some 'guy time' hiking, fishing and biking.  Within 30 minutes of arriving at his friend Keith's house, he spotted a moose and her baby in their yard.   Case and Keith had a great time, so I heard.    They went on some killer hikes straight up the side of steep mountains and even ran into a heard of mountain goats. On their bike ride they saw grizzily tracks and heard growling in the bushes.  Then one of their bikes busted and they couldn't go on.  I think it was a blessing in disguise.   If they had biked any further, there could have been a crazy grizzly bear story (one story I would prefer not to tell).   Two old friends exploring the Alaskan frontier together.   Thanks to Keith and Cathie for letting us crash their house and steal their car.  
It was great seeing you and your great state of Alaska.