To Yentna On a Float Plane! - August 2, 2013

Another first for me... flying on a float plane! I've been on several small planes, but until this day had only seen float planes from afar. I've been intrigued, so this was a great experience that is not necessarily unique to Alaska, but a common mode of transportation in Alaska.

This was a trip for work, so we had some equipment to load and stuff. Here's our plane...

The Chugach Mountains looked pretty as we were taxiing out to the "runway".

I got to sit up front with the pilot (It doesn't take much to convince me to take that seat!). We had a great, entertaining pilot, who was nice enough to take a photo of me as we were taxiing.

Taking off from Lake Hood/Lake Spenard...

We had some beautiful views along the way, that's for sure!

A shower off in the distance...

A rainbow!

That's where we're going... the buildings just to the right of the plane engine in the photo.

Coming in for a landing!!

And here we are... with several of the guys from the lodge helping to unload the gear. 

The view from the lodge. Not bad!

Is it a lake? A creek? A lodge? All three!

Our plane took a few lodge visitors back to Anchorage after we were dropped off.

Bluebells. :)

The lodge from across the river.

When we got done with our work, there was some extra time before the plane returned to bring us home. Might as well get a fishing lesson! It was neat to hang out with some of the other guests there in the afternoon.

While I was sitting on the dock enjoying the scenery, a couple birds flew in and landed on the water near me. I figured out that they're Red-throated Loons... a first sighting for me! It wasn't the best lighting for photos and I didn't bring my zoom lens with me, but I tried to get some neat shots anyway.

There's the red throat that confirmed my identification!

On takeoff...

Caught a fish!

This display occurred a few times... they were showing off for us! I was clearly the only person taken with these guys... nobody else seemed to care at all.

On a side note... lots of salmon were swimming in the water there.

Time to leave after a fun day!

And last but not least, landing back at Lake Hood in Anchorage. 

'Til next time...

April Bowl Hike (Hatcher Pass) - July 28, 2013

When I found the Meet-Up Group that was doing the kayaking, I also found that a different group had a hike on their calendar. It sounded like a hike I could handle and I had the day off again, so I signed up. It was cloudy down in the valley, but the trail head was above the clouds, so it was quite beautiful!

A view from the parking area

Looking over another parking area near the one we used. That's the Alaska Range way off in the distance... the snow-capped mountains out there.

That's where we parked...

A couple photos that one of the other hikers took...

There are the clouds that we got above as we drove toward the trail head.

We stopped to have lunch and I enjoyed watching the clouds ebb and flow around the valleys while we sat in the warm sunshine.

Another photo that one of the other hikers took. I have no idea what was so funny, but clearly something was! It was the perfect spot to rest and refuel.

A golden mushroom!

More awesome views, with the Alaska Range a little clearer now way off in the distance. Denali is one of those peaks out there!

Clouds are breaking up in the valley now.

Back down at the bottom, looking at the trail. There were quite a few people out hiking that day... I don't blame them! It's a great trail with awesome views.

Driving back home, even more awesome views.

I hope to get out for more hikes next summer... they can be pretty intense here in Alaska, but surely there are more that are suitable for me. Consider it a goal! 'Til next time...