Alaska: Anchorage Flattop Mountain

Saturday, August 18, 2012

This morning we had breakfast at The Smoke Shack in an old train car. 

The marina was just as beautiful in the morning light. 

After breakfast we drove back up Seward Highway to Anchorage. The Kenai Peninsula is beautiful. 

We debated going to Alaska Wildlife to view rescued wildlife, but decided no but got to see another caribou on our way out.

This part of Seward Highway is through the Chugach National Forest along Turnagain Arm. 

Once we got to Anchorage, we drove up to hike Flattop Mountain.

We already started at a high elevation overlooking the Cook Inlet and Anchorage. 

Still snow on the north side of the mountainside. 

A little higher overlook.

I don’t know how many stairs we climbed up, but Joe had his fill of this hike. The remainder was no longer stairs, but virtually rock climbing. The hike has a 1292 foot elevation gain over 1.5 miles one way.

The view at the 3550 foot peak of Flattop Mountain, overlooking Anchorage. 

The view at the 3500 foot peak of Flattop Mountain, looking toward the Chugach National Forest. 

The view at the 3500 foot peak of Flattop Mountain, overlooking Turnagain Arm. 

Me at the peak of Flattop Mountain with Cook Inlet and Turnagain Arm beyond. 

Panorama. 

The wind from this point almost blew me over. That was my clue that it was time to make the more dangerous climb down. 

Halfway down to where Joe was waiting for me. 

This was the climb. 

Proud that I conquered the 1292ft elevation gain of a 1.5mi hike to the top of Flattop Mountain 3550ft peak overlooking Anchorage. 

Alaska: Seward

Friday, August 17, 2012

This morning we drove over to Portage Glacier. Joe & Smokey the Bear.

I wanted to see a moose so bad. 

With the weather we decided not to drive over to Whittier to do a kayak daytrip in the Prince William Sound. But if it was nice, this is what it would have been like. 

Portage Glacier. 

Next we decided to take a little detour to Hope, a small town on the southern shore of Turnagain Arm, known as being the least touristy place on the Kenai Peninsula. There were some cute log cabins and old schoolhouse turned library. 

Another gorgeous viewpoint on south side of Turnagain Arm.

The sky was starting to clear up a bit over the water inlet. 

We saw more beluga whales today! Multiple ones!

I know the pictures just look like gray mounds in water, but nothing beats seeing wildlife in its natural habitat.

The rest of the drive down Seward Highway to the town of Seward through the heart of the Kenai Peninsula was beautiful! 

We went to Seward Waterfront Park to find a first-come, first-served tent campsite. It’s not the greatest campground being mostly RV parking, loud in the center of town next to a playground, and no privacy between tent sites, but nothing can beat camping at a waterfront view of Resurrection Bay.

We were really “roughing” it with a picnic lunch of leftover French peppered steak sandwiches, capicola, cheese & crackers at our waterfront park campsite in Seward.

Waterfront Park view.

We drove over to Exit Glacier in the Kenai Fjords National Park for a short hike.

This is the water flowing from the base of Exit Glacier. 

Exit Glacier, named because it served as the exit for the first crossing from the Harding Icefield in 1968.

Joe doesn’t like the paparazzi. 

The Harding Icefield spawns 15 named substantial glaciers, Exit Glacier being one of them and easily accessible by car. 

Beautiful Kenai Mountains. 

We’re getting closer to the glacier. 

If you see the group of people to the right that is as close as they let you safely hike. Years ago you used to be able to touch it from this point. 

So close! 

Serious Joe. 

Exit Glacier flows downhill about a foot a day. You can see how the rocks have been shaped and carved by the ice flows. 

Year markers of Exit Glacier’s retreat. 

One final look at Exit Glacier before heading back to Seward. 

Resurrection Bay from camp has become even more scenic with the varying blue tones in the water and sky.

We went to a Mexican style bar for dinner and afterwards walked around the marina area.

Celebrity cruise line at port. 

I loved the reflections at this marina. 

As we got to the main docks, we realized there was a fishing tournament going on in Seward. That’s a lot of yummy halibut. 

This is the largest fish I’ve ever seen in real life: a 215 lb halibut! 

Back at camp, just another gorgeous evening in Seward. 

We enjoyed some beers and Joe a cigar around our campfire. I really enjoyed Anchorage Brewing’s Whiteout Wit Beer. 

Sun beginning to set and cruise ship leaving. 

More rummy this evening around the campfire.