Happy Birthday to Paul

Paul celebrated his birthday in a great way--on the water. We joined a guide and went rafting down the Matanuska in the evening. We watched the sunset over the mountains as they turned an incredible pink. The light was perfect and breathtaking--every color was deep and intense in the setting sun. The green of the mountains, the white of the glaciers, the silty gray of the water, the rock and sand cliffs all just jumped out in the light. Unfortunately, we did not bring our camera because we did not want it to get wet on the rafting ride--which it would have. Even in dry suits, the water was COLD--really cold probably around 38 degrees or so. Running straight off of the glacier--makes for some chilled water.

We saw two moose while we were on the water and then on the way home we saw six more as we were driving. They seemed to be just along the road every mile or so. My one day record for seeing moose was broken after spotting eight of them in one night.

Soo much fun--I love whitewater rafting!

4th of July

A friend from MN came to visit and spend some time with us over the 4th of July weekend. She packed every bit of Alaska that she could into her visit.


We spent the 4th of July weekend touring Whitter—getting some more halibut at my favorite place in AK for fish and chips and hiking down a trial. We saw the local reindeer and met her keeper who creates all of these crafts that she then spends the summer selling. We also were there for the 4th of July parade—lots of sirens and about 6 cars—quite the event. Later we kayaked out into Prince William Sound to the Rookery and over to an island for a late lunch of radishes and banana bread. Not your typical 4th of July picnic but delightful.


We camped near Portage at an incredible campsite, so beautiful and pristine next to a glacier fed stream. Paul rafted down the stream one evening as Amy and I read in the tent. We never got to have a campfire as it seemed to be raining every night but the days were nice.

We hiked the Winter Creek Trail in Girdwood through the rainforest and over the falls of a mountain stream then feeling really ambitious we climbed the mountain to the top of the ski resort, up though some patches of snow that still hung to the mountain scrambling up some rocks to the 5 star restaurant for some hot drinks and appetizers--so good and we enjoyed them in our sweaty muddy gear--only in Alaska.