Denali NP with Mom!

Mom got to see the Mountain!  I was hoping she would be able to, because as i've said before it is only out about 30% of the time!  She was able to see it for three days!  Our trip to the national park was very successful.  We saw grizzly bear, caribou, golden eagles,  ground squirrels, and the Parks very own sled dogs.  I'm sorry I couldn't upload more pictures, but the website said I have reached my max!  Good thing its the end!

Denali

Caribou

Denali from inside the park

Me at Toklat

Grizz with two cubs.

Seward and Kenai Fjords

On the last two days of our trip we went to Seward, which is on the Kenai Peninsula.  It is a very popular tourist destination for day trips as well as the starting point for many of the cruise lines.  The first day we visited Exit Glacier which is a popular hiking spot for getting up to the Harding Ice Field.  One of the hikes I tried to do this summer but wasn't able to due to weather.  Just another reason to return :)  The second day we went on a Glacier and Wildlife Cruise and we couldn't have asked for better weather.  We saw everything from Beluga Whales, Eagles, Dall's Porpoise, Mountain Goats, Puffins, and Sea Lions.  We also got to cruise up to Holgate Glacier and watch as it calved into the ocean.  The sound is indescribable!  The last and final stop before the airport was Flattop Mt, which was also my very first stop after arriving in Alaska.   

Good Friday Earthquake Memorial

Exit Glacier, Kenai Fjords National Park

Exit Glacier Rd.

Wildlife Cruise, Kenai Fjords

Whale's Tail

Sea Lions

Holgate Glacier

Dall's Porpoise 

Black Legged Kittiwake, birds that nest on cliffs.

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

     On one of the three days that my mom and I spent in South Central Alaska, we went to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.  They take injured and orphaned animals in and rehabilitate them.  We were able to see many of the young from this year some of which were orphans and others that were born on the premises.  There is an entire herd of Wood Bison at the AWCC that are gearing up for release in 2013.  Wood Bison were once native to Alaska, but had since been extinct in the area, they are the largest living land mammal (don't quote me, only 85% sure).  They have been at AWCC for many years now and their herd is now considered large enough and sustainable enough for release.  There are three possible release sights that were studied in the state, most of which are close to the Yukon.  In addition to the animals in the photos we also saw bald eagles, coyotes, moose, black and grizzly bear and lynx.  It was a great place to see the animals up close, and they are doing a great thing for the animals, but it still doesn't compare to spotting them in the wild.       

Baby Black-Tailed Sitka Deer

Two Caribou Locking Horns

Baby Musk Ox

Wood Bison Herd

Two baby Moose

Portage Glacier

Troublesome Creek

Tonight, Brad stopped by and asked if I wanted to join him while he went fishing.  He is one of the members on the trail crew and has been asking me all summer to go fishing.  It just so happened that I was home tonight and was able to go.  We drove down to Lower Troublesome Creek and hiked out a little ways to access the creek.  It was about the third cast when he caught his first rainbow of the night.  I was excited, because I haven't been able to fish all summer, and although I was just observing tonight it was still a good time!  We had a little streak where were didn't have any bites, but then we moved downstream and ended up catching four more rainbows.  We then hiked to the mouth of the creek where it meets up with the Chulitna River and saw extremely fresh bear scat!  It was thick with bushes and grass, so we were sure to be loud and make ourselves known.  It was my first time on the lower Troublesome trail and I was excited when I saw this HUGE cottonwood tree.  It is 7ft in diameter, and around 22 in circumference!  I am trying to make my last few days here exciting, and tonight definitely helped with that!

Hatcher Pass Pictures

Drove through Hatcher Pass which is another state park and an old mining area.  There is still mining happening in the area.  It is a gorgeous ride on a rough dirt road along the river.  

Hatcher Pass

View down the valley

again

Up the hillside

gorgeous everywhere you look!

nice ride.

cheesin

down the other side

Little Susitna river

Paragliders over the Chugach Mountains

Hope Pictures

Gorgeous day to hike up a mountain and make your own trail!

Start of a hike in Hope, Ak.

Panorama of Hope

Palmer Rd in Hope, Ak.

Steep rock face I had to climb down

Chocolate Lily

View from part way up

looking down the valley

Hope, AK

This week I went to Hope, which is an old mining town in south central Alaska. It is a small town that is accessed by a 16mi spur road off of the Seward Hwy. The Main street has four businesses on it! While I was there I also drove down another road that is off the Hope Rd and hiked up a mountain. There was no trail needed for this hike, it was just pure hiking. It was a beautiful day and once I reached the top there is not better feeling of accomplishment. There was a raging waterfall off in the distance, a glacier and many pristine lakes in sight as well. Since Hope is an old mining town you could see many mining roads heading up into the surrounding mountains and I saw one old mining cabin. Hope was a gorgeous small town located in the heart of the Chugach Mountains and right on the ocean, I definitely wouldn't mind living there someday!

On another note can any of you believe that it is already August! I am not going to lie about it, I am freaking out. I will soon be leaving Alaska for the first time, but I know for certain that I will be back. I am anticipating a few bumps on my transition back to school and living in Maine, but I know I have to go back for a little while longer. I am excited to see everyone, but I am devastated to leave this place I called home for the summer.