Our driver picked us up in a fancy Ford Explorer, which had newspapers and candy bars waiting for us.
Our flight from Boston to Chicago was terribly turbulent. I had to bribe Chuck with a hunk of beef and cheese to convince him to get on the 6hr flight to Anchorage.
We arrived in Anchorage. But our bags didn't. Never fear, American Airlines gave us a small bag with soap and toothpaste for our troubles.
The 'Skis and Hadlers in our Home Sweet Home. Since we lost our luggage, we had to spend an extra day in Anchorage waiting for the bags to arrive.
Dad forgot his red shirt
After 2 days of solid rain, we finally see the Alaskan sky.
Chuck thought it was funny that every road sign had bullet holes.
Slightly ironic?
Our home for 2 weeks. Two Couples, 20 sq ft. 2000 mi of road.
Mom and I on Turnagain Arm, near Girdwood AK
Stop for lunch on Kenai Pennisula
Mt Iliamna across the Cook Inlet
Overlooking Homer Spit
Dad is scoping out the eagles flying around the lookout.
Mt Augustine - spewing some smoke and ash
I'm sure Speilberg started of videoing landscapes and piping in music via his iPod.
Tourists leave their mark at the Salty Dog
And leave their underwear...
Salty Dawg in Homer Spit
Unloading halibut from the boats
The transportation of choice in AK
Chuck and Dad's salmon fishing trip
Lovely rainy day
Dad is reeling him in
Chuck's big catch
Dad brings in a silver salmon
Exit Glacier, near Seward, AK
The blue ice of Exit Glacier
overboots for our glacier landing
Our ride!
Mom before her FIRST flight!
In front of a DeHavilland Beaver
Before lift-off
so excited!
Taking off out of Talkeetna. Susitna River below and miles of muskeg.
Muskeg and mosquitoes!
Starting to fly into the foothills of the Alaskan range
Fresh snow on the foothills
Nice glacier carved valley
Foot of the 44 mi long Kahiltna glacier. Note the terminal moraine.
Terminus of the Kahiltna.
Flying into an area known as Little Switzerland
Approaching KIA (Kahiltna Int'l Airport) -- the landing strip for climbers tackling Denali.
Pika Glacier -- as the glacier encounters the uneven downhill, the glacier cracks open and creates crevasses.
Smooth landing on Pika Glacier.
Standing on a glacier.
Nice Views!
Family Photos!
Hmm... think I could fly this thing?
Another plane coming to visit us.
Taking off from the glacier
Just in case you didn't know....
There she is..... Denali's summit is coverd by a lenticular. The Cassin Ridge is in the center.
Mt Foraker
Ruth Gorge
Crevasses on the Ruth Glacier
Deep blue pools of water on the Ruth Glacier
Medial moraine on the Ruth Glacier
Old snowmobile in Talkeetna
The famous sign
Driving from Talkeetna to Denali NP
Mom and I getting on the school bus that takes you into Denali NP
Rainy day in Denali
America's life blood. Oil that is. Black gold. Texas Tea.
Good to know that we rely on duct tape to repair the pipeline.
A Chinese tour bus stopped at the same time we did.
Good PR from the oil company.
Billions of dollars in profit each year, but this is the only toilet the oil company can afford?
Moose!
Chuck and Dad visit Santa at the North Pole
Santa's reindeer at the North Pole
Prancer
Comet
End of the Alaskan Highway!
Rumsfeld was visiting this base while we were in Alaska
On the road to Valdez
Worthington Glacier outside of Valdez
Bridal Veil Falls - outside of Valdez. This waterfall is grade 5 ice in winter and has been the site of ice climbing championships.
Horsetail falls on the road into Valdez.
The southern terminus of the pipeline in Valdez.
Glacier cruise in Valdez. Pretty chilly for an August day!
Adorable little sea lions!
Tanker coming into Valdez.
Sea lions basking in the sun
A puffin
Remnants of an iceberg.
Ice bergs that have calved off the Columbia glacier in the distance.
Deep blue ice!
Dad has to help me put on my boots!
Getting ready to climb some ice.
Moulin in the glacier
Rainbow over Kenny Lake. Last stop in civilization before we head down the McCarthy Road.
Kennicott Mine
Abandoned copper mine. The mounds of dirt and rock is the terminal moraine of Root Glacier.
The view from Kennicott. Welcome to the Wrangells.
Welcome to my glacier!
Wrangell-St Elias Nat'l Park.
Alaska State Fair
Huh?! Why do you do this to your kid?
Home for Sale at the Alaska State Fair
