Summer! ( Almost)

Just one more week of work then our summer vacation will start. Kristen has 12 weeks off and I am holding off on finding a real job until our families and friends are done visiting. Anyway Alaska is changing from brown to green and quickly. The lakes in the valley have all melted so we decided to take the canoe up to Byer's lake in Denali State Park and do some fishing. Our friends Emily, Dale and Emily's mom Mary had reserved a public use cabin on the lake for the weekend.

 The snow may be gone at our house but there's still plenty of it here. We hauled in our firewood and food on a sled.

Byer's Lake Public use Cabin #2 about a two mile hike in. There are three of them and they are very popular in the warm months because they are right off the Parks highway and they have a view of Denali.

They were very cozy cabins. Sleeps about six with a wood burning stove.

So much for canoeing and fishing.

Spruce Hen

Denali form our window. Dale had not seen it yet and when the clouds cleared he said "that's it?" unimpressed.

Perspective is everything when viewing such a large mountain. One must keep in mind how far away it is.

We put the canoe into a lake system near willow on our way back so the trip wasn't a total loss.

A loon (a classy duck)

The weather was gorgeous thursday so Kristen and I decided to float a portion of the knik river after work since the sun is now up until almost midnight.

Feels more like noon than 6:30.

Being out here really takes the edge off the day.

An impressive view of Pioneer peak.

The knik river valley

Almost to the ocean

They grow up so fast!

Two male sand cranes trying to impress a female. They do this hilarious strut and then ruffle up their feathers in the back. They are pretty entertaining.

Until next time...Can't wait for everyone to come visit the land of the land of the midnight sun.