Knic River 06-23-2011

A final drive to Knic and along Eagle River. I've had enough Alaska and it's time to go home. Had a red eye flight at 1:45AM so I was pretty shagged out when I finally got back to Chicago. With lungs cleansed with fresh air, hopefully some lower blood pressure, and eyes that saw the beauty that is Alaska, it's time to tend to the matters at hand and move forward at the homefront. Thanks for looking at the blog and hopefully we can share some time together soon. Peace,
Jim

Customer Apreciation Day

Free reindeer dog at the Ulu factory. Being a fan of processed meats and sulfites, I have to say it was pretty tasty with kraut and onions.....

Last Day in Alaska

Picked up some gifts at the Ulu factory. Got Stan an Ulu knife. Not sure if he liked it or not. My lucky day, it was customer appreciation day.

Last Day

Checking out of the Marriot so I won't be able to finalize until I get home. It's always good to go home....

BTW - You can click on the pictures to enlarge them.

Chicago Hot Dogs in Alaska?

After not seeing any beluga whales at Beluga Point I went to get something to eat. Couldn't pass up what a Chicago hot dog tastes like in Alaska....Actually, they did a great job. Dog and fries tasted just like a Chicago hot dog should. Celery salt and sport peppers too. Two thumbs up. I would have liked to try a beef sandwich but they wanted $8 just for the sandwich. I'm on a budget!

Now I Get It

On the way down, I met two ladies who said they used to climb the back end of the mountain, but there weren't any stairs so they used the normal way. I always like a different route so I went for it. I might have cussed them a few times on the way down.

No Problem

Or as the local Eskimos say it......"no problem". It felt good to climb again.

Flattop Mountain

The peak was just in the clouds. Interesting climb with the last 50 feet or so pretty tough scrambling with no path to follow.

Time To Get Out Of The Car

No more driving. Decided to go climbing at a local mountain. Didn't sound bad. Turned out to be a good workout. No problems, but I'm outta shape! Kids and dogs passin me!

Arrrrgh!

There ain't no damn moose up here!

Denali Again

The drive to Denali was mostly like a drive through the Michigan UP until you get about 50 miles to the entrance, then it closely resembles the Rocky Mountains terrain. Seen it before....time to turn around and head back. Here is the Alaskan Railway close to the entrance. Could be my old Colorado photo, right?

More Denali

I've read that there is only a 20% chance of seeing Mt. McKinley on any given day. Today will keep that percentage low. It got clearer and clearer on the trip up, but I guess the Alaskan range traps all the moisture and I did not see the top of the mountain. The drive was long, tedious, and boring. People have wrote about this, now I understand.

Denali

So after a leisurely breakfast, I check the weather at Denali. Partly cloudy today and rain for the rest of the week. Hmmmm, should I try it? I'm here, why not? It's just burning up some gas and time.... My luck, the GPS has me zigzagging through little neighborhoods and I get stuck on one lane roads and construction behind bigass motorhomes.

Signs Signs, Everywhere Are Signs

These things are everywhere on every highway. I've put a lot of miles on the past two days and haven't seen anything yet....

Here It Is...In A Nutshell...

I've now been to ALL 50 states. Don't give me no shit! I've been to all of them. They all have good and they all have bad. Trust me. Only the Chicago area is superior to the rest. Some have good weather, nightlife, food, people, natural features etc....whatever....Chicago has a little bit better of everything in general and that's why it's the best overall. Come on and see if you don't believe it. And buy me a Vienna beef hotdog when you're finished. I never get tired of them.

Want More????

This is the big box store. The dude at the liquor counter told me they have to check ID's because it gets dark for 8 months and people go nuts. The driver's license's are marked so that people with DUI's can't buy liquor.

And we have these fancy expensive blow devices to start cars....

Enough Bitching

There are tons of things to do and see here. This is the Exit Glacier. Alaska is truly is a wilderness paradise. There is no pressure, and there are many many many trails and parking spots. It gets crowded in the popular areas but there is so much space here you can easily avoid the tourist traps if you want.

National Parks

Ok, every park wants $5 to get get in even if you just use the outhouses. I just want to look around and move on. I didn't have the forethought to buy an inclusive pass like we did in 2006.

http://westerntrip.blogspot.com/

So I just passed on a lot of these and tried to see anything....anything without dishing out the clams...

BTW - if you're going...get the yearly pass

Here's The Deal...

Ok, here's the deal....Don't go swimming in the 40 degree water and don't harvest any kelp and we'll all get along fine.....OK? Welcome to Alaska!

Lowell Point, Alaska

Google Earth Location
60° 4'39.99"N
149°26'37.05"W

Not much going on here. Cackling Seabirds and small rockslides. A playful seaotter in the distance....but that's it.

Day Two...maybe....

Ok, so we arrive in Alaska about 1AM local time. I don't have a hotel until later that day. I decide to drive to Seward but I'm a bit tired at this point so I pull over at this quiet little waterfall and crash out in the car for 2 hours. No problems.

Day One Continued

This is Joey. It is Joey's first day on the job at USAir. Toward the end of the flight, he pokes his head around the divider and asks me if I finished my crossword puzzle. Well I had about 80% of it so I let him have at it and he helps me out with a couple clues.....

OK, The Adventure Begins

OK, so here we go. I have seat 3F. The guy in 4F asks if I will take his seat and he will give up his seat so a couple can sit together. OK, I say. Next, I sit next to Marilyn who explains that that is her son and would I mind switching seats so that she can sit with her husband who is in 4C? What a nutjob of a family but they were really nice about the whole thing so I traded seats again and told them they would have to let me take picture of them. So here is Marilyn and Craig from Phoenix.

Day 1...Getting There

I used to fly everywhere but haven't been in the air since....I can't even remember.