Backtracking a bit.
Current mood: good

So, prior to the roadtrip, I had a birthday.

Mom and I paddled out to Caines Head to celebrate before getting together with all the Sunny Cove friends left in Seward. NOAA was calling for rain, 15 knot winds and 3 foot seas...as usual. We ended up having sun, minimal breezes and glassy water, aka perfect day for a paddle in Resurrection Bay.



Click on any photo if you'd like to see it for more than .43 seconds.

Backtrack Continued
Current mood: blah

We also made the obligatory stop at the Alaska Sea Life Center. I wouldn't normally post pictures from this adventure, but Woody, the gargantuan sea lion was going insane.

See...Crazy.

I don't really understand why a 2400 lb animal would go crazy alone in a man made tank. Huh, weird.


Oh yea, and the walk on the beach. I miss this beach...wish I would have walked it more.

The Saga Continues....
Current mood: discontent

So....

I didn't really take alot of pictures of the road trip to Wisconsin. Oh yea, for those of you who don't know, my mom flew up to AK to road trip back to Wisconsin with me. So on September 19th, my mom, my two dogs and I got into my truck. 8 days and 3,900 miles later we were in Wisconsin. The first half of the trip was beautiful; mountains, caribou and fall colors. The second half was boring; prairie, flat and flat. Some of you already know that I have driven the Alaska Hwy probably about 7 times now. I don't take pictures anymore unless I see something that is astounding or fantastically beautiful. On the other hand, my mom has never made the trip and she took a thousand pictures. I've posted the most interesting or most spectacular here, and I will give my mom credit for those she has taken.

Here we go.


Prior to departure we took a Kenai Fjords Tours boat into Aialik Bay. It was the day after my birthday. I was hungover. There were 9-10 foot seas. I get sea-sick when I'm not hungover. Ok, put two and two together. I didn't take any pictures. In fact, for much of the trip, the six hour trip, I didn't lift my head off of the bench I was lying upon. Mom's pic....see the black spot?! Whale!!


Aialik Glacier. Mom's pic.


Seward Small Boat Harbor. Mom's Pic.

Ok, we're getting on the road now. These photos may or may not be completely in order.

Chucker's is making himself comfortable. My pic.


Beautiful BC lake. Mom's pic. We were lucky. We had alot of sun, and reasonable temperatures. I know Cody, Michelle and Chris (Seward Guides) ran into 10+ inches of snow on their trip south the week prior.


This is Whirlpool Canyon just north of Liard Hot Springs in northern BC. Everyone passes the tiny sign on the side of the highway, but this is a beautiful spot to stop for a few minutes. Every rafter and kayaker will stare at this imagining how to run it and will be blown away by all the debris indicating exactly how tremendous spring runoff must become.


Whirlpool Canyon sunset. My pics.

Don't ever, ever pass up Liard Hot Springs. Ever. Mom's pic.


Near Stone Mountain, BC...around Muncho Lake Provincial Park. Mine. Caribou...not reindeer or elk.


Mom, wine, day 5, mile (or was it kilometer) 2000, camping with mom and a camera. Mom's pic.


Jasper or is it Banff? One of the two. Oh wait, it's Lake Louise. Mom's pic.


Lake Louise. Mine.


Lake Louise. Mine.


Columbia Icefield. Banff. Mom.


Columbia Icefield. Banff. Mine.


Columbia Icefield. Banff. Mine.


Jasper? Banff? Mine.


One of the two. Mine.


Banff. Mom.


Whitetail Deer. Not that exciting, but a sweet photo. Banff? Mom.

Ok, thats it with the exception of one photo from the flat lands that deserved posting.

The prairie is good for at least one thing. Sunsets! Mom.

Well, it appears I'm a slacker....
Current mood: discontent
Category: Travel and Places

Ok, so anyway it appears that I owe all of you a big apology. I just have been having way too much fun to keep you all in the loop with exciting blog updates filled with spectacular photos. Anyway, I'm going to try to make it up to you now by absolutely inundating you with two months worth of photos! I know you just cannot wait.

Here we go....hopefully in the right order.

Fox Island. For those of you in the know, well you know. Fox is one of the most special places in the universe. Fox has this wonderful ability to take away every care you have because, quite frankly, you are on an island with minimal transportation and communication possibilities surrounded by Resurrection Bay and the Gulf of Alaska. So, sit back relax, take a paddle, hike a mountain, lay on the beach and enjoy the view. Whatever you want.....


In this case its a hike....


with (whoa, sorry the photo is gigantic) Chris, Aaron and Cody to the top of one of Fox's peaks. Not a tremedously high peak, but a bit of a scary steep hike.

View over the Gulf of Alaska

The Fox Spit (Sandspit Point) and Elderado Narrows

The Fox Island Wilderness Lodge....curious check out the Kenai Fjords website. I should get commision, calling right now to set it up.

Next, Denali National Park. Located just 5 1/2 hours from Seward, aka a long drive for a short amount of off time. Nevertheless, Denali is awesome, and I wish I had more time, but I will return next summer.

Gotta love the highspeed sunset drive by photo ops. Sometimes they turn out great!

The following photos are from the bus ride into the park. The ride was 9 (yes, 9) hours long and travelled about 55 miles into the park. These photos are absolutely not in order. You try remembering the exact order of your photos after a 9 hour bus ride, about 15 hours of total driving, two months and a road trip to Wisconsin. I dare you.







I really like this one. The clear runoff into the glacial runoff creates a great contrast. It also doesn't hurt that the fall colors were nearly at peak.



This is an overview of where the bus turns around to head back. This is also where my batteries died. So, I know you don't believe me, but its true. On the return trip we saw a wolf that hung around plenty long enough to snap many photos and a moose with the largest spread (that means BIG antlers (not horns)) anyone on the bus had ever seen. Also close enough to snap the best wildlife photos ever. I have a witness, and I'm not afraid to get him out if you care to dispute my claims.

Now, the drive home...just a few photos of the George Parks Highway.





Ok, thats all I can deal with supplying to you right now. I will shortly post the details of my 3900+ mile trip that landed me here in Wisconsin for the interim. I will, I swear.

Love you all! Stephanie