In the end of June Kristen's parents flew up to Alaska. They took a trip up to Denali National Park. Unfortunately, Jay had to work and Nate was in Moab hosting a bachelor's party. These are just a handful of the hundreds of pictures that were taken. Needless to say we're a little behind on our blog because we're sifting through sooo many pictures. Nate recently took a job with LGL, an environmental consulting company. He's working as a fishery biologist up in Prudhoe Bay! Yay!
Kristen and her parents took the shuttle bus into the park. You can only take the shuttle bus or tour to get into the park.
The park's statistic says that only 30% of people that visit the park actually see the mountain. We were very lucky to see it!
Spectacular!
My mom climbed a 'mountain' to get to our lunch spot and then commented that she didn't feel the need to climb Denali. haha
Great napping spot.
Denali Brewing Company.
We stayed at Earth Song in Healy. Great family run place that does dog sled tours in the winter.
We toured the kennel, his dogs were very well behaved.
Jay and Nate caught up with us and we flew down to Kodiak island.
We took a plane out to Katmai National Park to see the bears. As soon as we boarded the plane Nate recognized our pilot's voice, Willie. He was the same pilot who found the body of the infamous Timothy Treadwell. There are several documentaries that have been made about Tim Treadwell because he lived in Katmai during the summer and treated the bears like people. He even had names for the bears. It's a very controversial story in Alaska because him and his girlfriend were killed by a bear. We asked our guide several questions about him because she knew him as well. Pretty interesting!
The bears in Katmai National Park are very unique. They have an abundance of food and do not associate humans with food. This is why people are able to get extremely close. It goes against all of your instincts to get closer to the bears!
wow!
This mother originally had three cubs at the beginning of the summer but lost two of them to other males in the valley.
Another Sow with two cubs.
Wild orchid.
This little guy was pretty interested in our group.
This video shows the closest we came to the bears. This Mother and cub came within 6 feet of our group!
Willie flew us by the glaciers in the valley on our way out.
Two glaciers converging.
We flew out the following day to Shuyak Island to an isolated public use cabin.
Our goal was to catch lots of crab and fish..... That didn't quite happen but we had a great time.
Setting crab pots.
Humpback whale!
We didn't catch crabs, but we caught tons of starfish.
Sleep fishing.
Dad caught an ugly fish.
Clive the starfish
timer picture gone wrong haha
Hangin by the campfire
Beavers be crazy!
Stay posted for the rest of our summer pictures.
