July 4th 2009

Hi to All

Patty wanted me to post some pictures of Flat Top Mountain. It is the most frequently climbed mountain in Alaska so we had to do it. We climbed it on the
4th. It was not a difficult climb and all sorts of people were doing it in all types of footgear. We only saw one person who was limping down, but you still have to be prepared for this climb.

We then went to church and out to eat with a Dave Rutz, a high school classmate and friend who has been up here since after college. Patty is holding a young beaver that Dave rescued. He works for Alaska Fish and Game in their fisheries section. I am holding an Alaskan brewed Amber with Dave in his trophy room.

Hope everyone is well.

Jeff

July 1, 2009

Jeff and I recently took a drive to Whittier. We passed through the two and half mile tunnel to get there. I have posted a picture of a cruise ship docked in Whittier which also gives an overview of the town. Also posted are pictures of glacial ice chunks that have fallen into the bay. You can tell glacial ice by it's blue color. I also had the opportunity to fly to Seattle this past weekend. On my return flight I had clear skies and took some pictures of Alaska from the air. One of the pictures shows a glacier (you can tell by the bluish color). And the grizzly bears are still hanging out in our area. Jeff had another opportunity for more photos.

July 1, 2009

June 15, 2009

The sockeye (red) salmon have started the first of two runs of the season in the Russian river. The second run will be in mid July. We were able to meet up with Chris this past weekend for some fishing and sightseeing in Homer. The fishing was done in the Russian River near Coopers Landing. The guys avoided most of the hundreds of fishermen by walking about a mile and a half upstream on the Russian Lakes Trail. I missed the black bear that came down about 11 p.m., took his fish carcass and left as I had already walked back to the truck. Pictures posted above include a view of the Homer Spit and Mount Redoubt the volcanoe that was spitting ash earlier this year and may do so again. There is also a view of me hiking the Crow Pass Trail which is a fantastic hike with great views. Take a look at the limit of fish from Friday night. The guys started fishing around 8 pm and the picture was taken around 11:30 and it was still light.

Patty

June 9, 2009

There is no doubt that the wild life abounds in Alaska! I have had the opportunity to see bear more up close and personal than I would like, and the moose are everywhere. We had a moose at the edge of our deck the other night. I have posted a picture of him. The picture was taken at 11:15 p.m. and there was still plenty of light. The weather continues to be great and we have had several days of 70 degree weather and plenty of sun. We were able to meet up with Chris for an overnight hike along resurrection bay to a place called Caines Head.

June 2, 2009

I had my first bear sighting yesterday. There were 3 grizzly cubs about a mile and
half up the road from our place. We noticed many cars parked along the road so we just had to look. These cubs were along the bike trail on the other side of a wetland area. They looked like they were last years cubs. We did not see the mama
bear. I took my pictures and left quickly as one started coming more towards the trail. It was great to see them from a distance with other people around any my bike nearby. Also posted is a ptarmigan that Jeff saw on one of his hikes. This is the Alaskan state bird.