Sat. July 4- "Happy Birthday America"
This morning we head to Alaska Wildland Adventures on the Kenai River for a Raft trip. Santos and I have the entire raft to ourselves, and Laura is our guide. Laura is just 22 years old. She is here in Alaska working as a Raft guide for the summer. Laura is from Chicago, but went to school in Colorado for Biology. She worked in Juneau last summer at a dog sled camp, and when she leaves Alaska in September she is heading to Peru to work at a medical facility for HIV patients. Laura gives us a brief safety lesson and suits us up for our trip. We are going 10 miles up the Kenai river (about a 2 hr. raft trip). A truck will be waiting for us up the river and will bring us and the raft back to camp. The Kenai river is a beautiful shade of turquoise, caused by glacial silt which is a by-product of the glaciers rubbing against bolders and rocks. The water temperature here is 39 degrees. As we’re floating the river, Laura is pointing out all kinds of interesting things. Santos spots a Grizzy bear in the water . . .and he spots us too! Before I can even track him in my viewfinder, he takes one giant leap out of the water and is already in the woods. We’re excited, this is our 2nd bear sighting and Laura’s too!
After the raft trip we head north on the Seward Hwy for Anchorage (it’s about 120 miles). As we get to MM 72 traffic comes to a complete stop going North and there is no traffic coming South. We presume there is either a wildlife sighting or an accident, and unfortunately it’s a very bad accident about 3 miles up the road. People are out of their cars talking to each other and making speculations. There is no cell service in this area so nobody can make calls and we can’t get a radio station tuned in either. Some folks ride ahead on their bikes and return with news that this is a double fatality accident and the road will be closed for a couple hours. Unfortunately, this is the only one road back to Anchorage so we're trapped! We decide to turn the car around and head back south a couple miles to the Turnagain Pass Recreation area where there are a few hiking trails we can kill some time at until traffic starts moving. It’s only about an hour before we see traffic coming south and we are on our way again.
We make a quick stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a non-profit wildlife refuge located on a 200 acre preserve. This is a drive-through animal park that features rescued injured and orphaned bears, caribou, musk-ox, bison, elk, eagles and owls. The setting is beautiful here and we’re glad we got to see it.
At MM 90 we take the turnoff to Girdwood, a quaint gold-mining town and Alaska’s premier ski area. The town is having their annual July 4th Forest Fair which features Alaskan artists, hand-crafted items, exotic foods and entertainers from all over Alaska. We pass thru town and head a few miles out to the famous Hotel Alyeska, a chateau-style luxury hotel with an aerial tramway that goes 2,300 ft up to Mount Alyeska. This area looks like pictures I’ve seen of the Swiss Alps with snow covered peaks all around . . . a gorgeous setting! As we take in the scenery, we notice several hang-gliders overhead also enjoying the views.
Just as we approach Bird Point, we notice traffic is stopped again and people are lined up along the side of the road . . . this looks familiar. We immediately fear another accident, but low and behold it’s a GRIZZLY BEAR! Our third bear sighting on this trip. We feel so fortunate as many people come to Alaska numerous times without ever seeing a bear. We pull over and watch the bear peacefully eat, occasionally looking up at us but not even fazed by all the onlookers.
The Anchorage Daily News posts local bear sightings:
This morning we head to Alaska Wildland Adventures on the Kenai River for a Raft trip. Santos and I have the entire raft to ourselves, and Laura is our guide. Laura is just 22 years old. She is here in Alaska working as a Raft guide for the summer. Laura is from Chicago, but went to school in Colorado for Biology. She worked in Juneau last summer at a dog sled camp, and when she leaves Alaska in September she is heading to Peru to work at a medical facility for HIV patients. Laura gives us a brief safety lesson and suits us up for our trip. We are going 10 miles up the Kenai river (about a 2 hr. raft trip). A truck will be waiting for us up the river and will bring us and the raft back to camp. The Kenai river is a beautiful shade of turquoise, caused by glacial silt which is a by-product of the glaciers rubbing against bolders and rocks. The water temperature here is 39 degrees. As we’re floating the river, Laura is pointing out all kinds of interesting things. Santos spots a Grizzy bear in the water . . .and he spots us too! Before I can even track him in my viewfinder, he takes one giant leap out of the water and is already in the woods. We’re excited, this is our 2nd bear sighting and Laura’s too!
After the raft trip we head north on the Seward Hwy for Anchorage (it’s about 120 miles). As we get to MM 72 traffic comes to a complete stop going North and there is no traffic coming South. We presume there is either a wildlife sighting or an accident, and unfortunately it’s a very bad accident about 3 miles up the road. People are out of their cars talking to each other and making speculations. There is no cell service in this area so nobody can make calls and we can’t get a radio station tuned in either. Some folks ride ahead on their bikes and return with news that this is a double fatality accident and the road will be closed for a couple hours. Unfortunately, this is the only one road back to Anchorage so we're trapped! We decide to turn the car around and head back south a couple miles to the Turnagain Pass Recreation area where there are a few hiking trails we can kill some time at until traffic starts moving. It’s only about an hour before we see traffic coming south and we are on our way again.
We make a quick stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a non-profit wildlife refuge located on a 200 acre preserve. This is a drive-through animal park that features rescued injured and orphaned bears, caribou, musk-ox, bison, elk, eagles and owls. The setting is beautiful here and we’re glad we got to see it.
At MM 90 we take the turnoff to Girdwood, a quaint gold-mining town and Alaska’s premier ski area. The town is having their annual July 4th Forest Fair which features Alaskan artists, hand-crafted items, exotic foods and entertainers from all over Alaska. We pass thru town and head a few miles out to the famous Hotel Alyeska, a chateau-style luxury hotel with an aerial tramway that goes 2,300 ft up to Mount Alyeska. This area looks like pictures I’ve seen of the Swiss Alps with snow covered peaks all around . . . a gorgeous setting! As we take in the scenery, we notice several hang-gliders overhead also enjoying the views.
Just as we approach Bird Point, we notice traffic is stopped again and people are lined up along the side of the road . . . this looks familiar. We immediately fear another accident, but low and behold it’s a GRIZZLY BEAR! Our third bear sighting on this trip. We feel so fortunate as many people come to Alaska numerous times without ever seeing a bear. We pull over and watch the bear peacefully eat, occasionally looking up at us but not even fazed by all the onlookers.
The Anchorage Daily News posts local bear sightings:
http://community.adn.com/adn/node/140917
Back in Anchorage, we join Maria and the kids tonight for their annual 4th of July baseball outing to watch the Anchorage Bucs play the Glacier Pilots. The Anchorage Bucs Baseball Club is America's # 1 summer collegiate baseball team containing players from Universities throughout the world. The Anchorage Bucs and 5 other teams that make up the Alaska Baseball League have seen many future Major league players compete within their stadium gates . . . like Mark McGwire. Tonight they are having a double header and then midnight fireworks (which should be interesting in daylight . . .lol), however we don't make the second game or the fireworks as the first game was sooooo sloooow and everyone got antsy! We did hear the Glacier Pilots won 9-7.
Back in Anchorage, we join Maria and the kids tonight for their annual 4th of July baseball outing to watch the Anchorage Bucs play the Glacier Pilots. The Anchorage Bucs Baseball Club is America's # 1 summer collegiate baseball team containing players from Universities throughout the world. The Anchorage Bucs and 5 other teams that make up the Alaska Baseball League have seen many future Major league players compete within their stadium gates . . . like Mark McGwire. Tonight they are having a double header and then midnight fireworks (which should be interesting in daylight . . .lol), however we don't make the second game or the fireworks as the first game was sooooo sloooow and everyone got antsy! We did hear the Glacier Pilots won 9-7.
*Tomorrow morning we are heading 5 hours North to Denali National Park. We'll try to stay in touch, but this area is very remote and you may not hear from us for a couple days . . . stay tuned.
Temp: 72 degrees and abundant sunshine
RV miles: 137
Wildlife Sightings: Grizzly Bear, Brown Bear, Caribou, Musk-Ox, Bison, Elk, Eagles, Owls
Just to let you know that I reserved all three of those bears for you two!! I think there maybe one more before you leave!By the way what were you two wearing? Great fashion statement!!Have a safe trip,blog when you can!
ReplyDeleteRamona
Ramona - Thanks for setting up those bears for us . . .you are too kind!
ReplyDeleteP.S. - The words Fashion & Alaska do NOT go together . . .lol. Your brother hasn't shaved since the wedding and thinks he is Daniel Boone. As they say . . . when in Alaska, do as the Alaskans do!
ReplyDeleteLove, Grace
Sounds like you guys are having a wonderful time.. miss you around here!
ReplyDeleteI can tell about the fashion statement!! When did Jr. start shaving?LOL..I am so happy the bears behaved..watch your driving,make sure Jr. doesn't tail gate,and tell him to wear his glasses!! Love Ramona
ReplyDelete