The second day we ended up hiking to Rendezvous Mountain which is north of Anchorage. We messed up on the trail, but we ended up getting a nice view of Anchorage, mountains in all directions, and an old Nike missile site. We then decided to bushwack across a small mountain to rejoin the trail. I do not normally do that, but it ended up being surprisingly managable on the tundra. It feels really spongy (good for the creaky knees!), and your feet stay without sliding. The pass we hiked to was a good snack spot, and we spent a long time up there.
Following our hike, there was another river with possible bears fishing (salmon spawning area). There is a reason the trails were partially closed there. We stood out on these viewing platforms on top of Beaver dams watching for wildlife. We did not see any large mammals there, but it was OK since it was so beautiful.
We finished the evening at Chilcoot Charlie's (known as Coots by the locals). It ended up being a fun place, even though it was not busy when we were there. Alaska is consistent with having good beer anywhere!
7 comments:
Looks great, I hope to get up there myself. If I can only figure out how to get there w/o flying (you know my fear). Need to get there before it feels like Florida up there, damn global warming...
That whole blond thing is a bit disorienting. I am used to that dark polish/Irish hair of old.
And is that your sister Ann? I used to think that that you two looked alike, but she looks a lot like your mom nowdays. In that one pic she is a dead-ringer for your mom.
Oh, I forgot, your underwear can kill you, its true.
So, were you guys "Loaded for Bear"? You wouldn't be catchin' me out there without a 0.50 Cal Bang Stick... Minimum! I'm thinking the pepper-spray would simply piss the Grizzlies off.
You guys beat us to the punch. Sad thing is that we live so close AND M knows someone who lives in Fairbanks!
-P
PS Damn Wolverines, they screwed the Big 10
Ah, yes. They all surprised me quite well, in spite of the enormous hints that I was too stupid to notice.
Great trip! We all really enjoyed it and it was a lot of fun having the W's along.
Our host told us "you haven't been to Anchorage until you've been to Coots". So that was a good tip. And yes, they do make good brews in Alaska.
We were "loaded for bear", but the pepper spray is probably more of a psychological thing than anything. Despite their rep, everyone says the grizzes are less likely to attack you than a black bear. They just "bluff charge" you. You have to stand there and let him run at you full speed, while trying not to ruin your underwear....
KC
I am glad to hear that the Colemans had fun. Maybe now we can get them out on a hut trip! We just wanted more people along to decrease our odds if we did get attacked. I think we need to recruit even more people to camp in Denali with us!
P&M - We'll Meet ya Back in Fairbanks anytime!!! A
K-you should feel good about how big you look compared to Mike in the first Pic. I should have had him uphill!
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