Follow the Leder: June 2006

Portage Glacier
The Lake was created as the glacier has receeded. Nothing lives in the lake because the silt that is in the lake does not allow any sunlight in, so there is no plant life.

It was really cold...and we were not prepared. We both had sandals and capris on....bad idea!

It was raining again, but it wasn't as bad the first time we attempted to go!

Eklutna #2

My beautiful sista!

a black bear off in the distance...our first time seeing one in the wild!

Gorgeous sun on the lake!

Eklutna #1

Eklutna
We went mountain biking on Sunday night out in Eklutna. It was really pretty. Eklutna Lake is a glacier feed lake that Anchorage gets its water from. It was a little cloudy, but the sun peeked through by the end.

Portage

Iceberg and Byron Glacier in Portage. Sunday Nathania and I attempted to go on a Portage Glacier Tour. However, when we arrived in Portage it was WINDY, COLD, and SHEETING RAIN. So we just drove around and will attempt to go there at some other time!

Winner Creek

Winner Creek Trail
It's a five hour hike that goes over Winner Creek gorge by hand tram. You have to pull yourself by a pulley system to the other side...it was really cool. It also goes along the traditional Iditorod trail--the original one, not the trail they use for the race today. We also saw some hang gliders coming of the mountain from the view the second two pictures were taken in front of.

Alaska Wildlife Refuge

These are pictures from the Alaska Wildlife Refuge. The refuge takes in hurt and abandoned animals, to recouperate them. They are trying grow a herd of wood bison so that they can introduce them back into the wild. At the refuge there is a black bear, an adorable porcupine, a hungry elk, and a lopsided caribou(pictured). There were also moose, buffalo, brown bears, and musk ox.

The poor caribou couldn't lift his head...his antlers were too heavy!

Exit Glacier

Exit Glacier, just north of Seward. I accidentally stepped in one of the streams coming off the glacier....my foot was really wet and cold! The rocks were really cool--they were really flat, and great for skipping. There was a lookout that was extraordinary!

The clouds were really low on the mountains. It was like a mist on the mountains.

Alaska Sealife Center

Seals and Sea Lions at the Alaska Sealife Center

Shooting

We went shooting at the Rabbit Creek shooting range...so fun. I shot three different handguns, a shotgun, and 2 different rifles. I like the SKS the best...not a big fan of the handguns though!