Denali !!

We didn't make it to Denail in time to get into the national park but we did get to see the mountain which is so rare because it creates its own weather so often it is rarely seen. September and a few days in the winter are often the only clear views available from a distance. We stopped in Talkeetna on the way north which is where most of the denali climbers grab their outgoing and returning meals at the famous West Rib ftd. on man v. food. Talkeetna also offers most of the flight tours of Denali and its glaciers.

The West Rib in cute talkeetna.

Kristen really liked this extendo car.

Most of the drive to Denali was lined with yellow aspen and birch.

Ha this is the south view point on the day we showed up. No big mountains to be seen. We have a feeling this sign is mainly here to show people what they're missing 90% of the time.

Walking around camp in Denali State Park. One person takes a picture, the other holds the guns.

Lucy just does her thing as always, mostly protecting us from squirrels.

Searching for large mountains in the clouds.

Kristen really liked how the bark on the birch was peeling off. you could peel it off like a sheet of paper.

Camp. Lucy watches over while we relax.

Hiking early the next morning. The beavers here are some of the most experienced in the world. (A nate made up fact)

Finally! Our first view of "the high one" as it tranlates to in english.

We are about 50 miles away and were thrilled to see it semi-cloudless. We sat on the ridge taking pictures every few minutes for a while because the clouds would change and it is just breathtaking in person so we apologize for the repeat pictures that don't do it justice.

Lucy even enjoyed the view for a few minutes.

The mountains on the right and left are about 11,000 ft tall. Denali in the center is 20 miles past these and stands 20,320 ft. This perspective makes you appreciate the enormity of the mountain.

South viewpoint. You can see the West rib and the south peak slightly peering out of the clouds at the top.

The clouds blowing off a little bit.

The entire range is breathtaking.

Playing with color schemes.

We had an amazing trip, we hope to stand atop it one day! Jay (kristen's brother) is coming to visit next weekend and we have a packed schedule planned. Can't wait! Happy B-day Dad!

Exploring Palmer

Last week was a whirlwind. Kristen and I flew to Colorado for Danny's wedding and never stopped moving. Nate and the other groomsmen succeded in getting Danny married, made a quick stop at home to see the parents and then flew right back up to AK. This weekend we decided to check out the Palmer area which is really close but has very little access to the surrounding mountains and glaciers.

Danny and Brittany's reception on her dad's ranch in wyoming. Many famous people had stayed there including bush I and II. Clinton, johnny cash, robert redford. it was a beautiful place but hard to find!

When we got back all the trees had changed color.

The morning drive to work.

For the weekend we headed to pioneer peak. The south peak is accessible with some scrambling but the north peak requires technical climbing gear.

The colors are just amazing right now.

Like most trails in AK they are slightly unmaintained, unpopulated, and moose and bear danger is very high! But...

Nate now has a very big gun on his hip loaded with steel jacketed hollowpoints. Thanks Dad!

The hike was strenuous to say the least. 4.5 miles with 5300ft. elevation gain, but the views were incredible. to the right looks up the knik river to the knik glacier and to the left is mat-su valley where we live.

Nate and his fearless bear dog.

The Knik glacier which strangely enough is not accesible by any trails. Only boats and planes can access it.

This is a good view of the matanuska-susitna valley. We live in the far upper left corner at the base of the northern mountains. This is also as far as we made. We got a late start, light was fading and we didn't want to be caught in the woods at dark.

This is what we look like, in case anyone forgot.

More foliage, Nate blends in well.

Camp on the Knik River, got the ol silver bullet back in action.

The colors were incredible.

Pioneer peak in the morning.

We hopefully want to get up to Denali next week. The park is closed but september is supposed to have some of the best views of the peak, so we will see. Until next time.....

Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day seemed to be the pivotal turning point from summer to fall, we now have leaves falling!  One step closer to this winter everyone keeps warning us about.  We headed down to Seward to check out the Kenai Peninsula.  Before heading into the wilderness we had a fabulous lunch right next to the marina.  We backpacked up Resurrection river and then hiked up to the Harding Ice Field the next day.  It was raining non-stop but we decided to hike in ponchos anyways.  We're actually headed back to Colorado for our friend's wedding so it will be nice to feel the heat and see the sun before it disappears up here.

Sailboats and Fishing boats in the Seward Harbor

It's not pouring yet, big smiles

Drink of Champions

Exit Glacier

Exit Glacier up close, the signs leading up to it show the recession since 1850, pretty amazing

This tree had perfect spiral cuts around it

Devils Thumb.  They are super thorny on the stems and they give off an oil that is activated by photosynthesis, apparently it really burns.

Bear tracks on the resurrection river trail.  The hiking log had 3 previous entries that included black bear encounters.  At one point the rangers were turning people around because there had been so many.  Lucy was going crazy on the trail and we were yelling "hey bear" as often as we could.  We didn't run into a bear but we did run into two moose that were crossing a river next to the trail when we hiked out.  They were too fast and the bushes were too thick, hence no picture.

Tiny mushrooms, they're everywhere up here.

Yellow flower that looks like it could be in the orchid family

Expert food hanger, Nathan Allton

Camping next to the river

Hiking next to Exit Glacier

mmmm wild raspberries

Looking back on the valley.

So much ice!

This starts to show the Harding Ice Field and how all of the glaciers are connected

Cool ice cave, we could hear the river rushing underneath it

Emergency hut near the ice field, it was actually chained down to the ground because of how bad the weather can be.

Drying off in the hut. 

Behind Nate is the most spectacular view of the Harding Ice Field, we didn't see it but it was significantly colder with the freezing wind from the ice field.

Ptarmigan would be an easy target, they let us get extrememly close.

Lost our view of the glacier on the way down

Comforting sign at the beginning of the trail

Fun trip.  We wish we had time to visit everyone while we're in Colorado and we'll do our best to try. :)