Teklinika River, Denali National Park 12 am
We definitely had an exciting week! Last Sunday we picked up an RV in Anchorage. Tim and I and two other teacher's from Togiak, Kim and Claire, decided to spend a week RVing around Alaska. Sunday we made the drive from Anchorage to Denali National Park. We met some of Claire's friends there that came with us 30 miles into the park that night. At 12:30 am we were standing in the middle of a frozen river in Denali National Park. I was so tired, but it was pretty cool.
We didn't see as much wildlife as we thought we would, but we did see some caribou, a bear eating a caribou, a moose, and some porcupines.
We didn't see as much wildlife as we thought we would, but we did see some caribou, a bear eating a caribou, a moose, and some porcupines.
Entrance to the Park
Monday we spend the whole day in Denali. We took a walk by the river and went on a hike in the park. I wouldn't mind going back to Denali in the future to do some backpacking.
Ice Museum in Fairbanks
Tuesday morning we drove a couple hours to Fairbanks. We weren't exactly sure what to do in Fairbanks, so we spent the first evening walking around downtown and checking out a few shops. We visited an ice museum where we saw a bunch of ice sculptures and watched an artist carve some ice.
Who knew Santa was so big?
Wednesday our plans were changed. We started off the morning by visiting Santa's Clause House in North Pole, Alaska, complete with reindeer. Following that visit, Claire had a job interview to do over the phone and then it was off to the doctor. Tim had somehow injured his eye earlier in the week and it was getting worse. He thought he scratched it. After 2 hours at the eye clinic we learned that Tim had a corneal ulcer and he needed antibiotics, pain relievers, and several more appointments to make sure it was healing and he didn't get an infection. After another hour or two at Wal-Mart we finally had his prescription and we were off to play some more. We visited Mary Ann, a native teacher in Togiak, who has a summer condo in Fairbanks. She introduced us to her kids and grandkids. Finally we were off to Chena hot springs. After an hour drive, we made it to the hot springs at about 8:30 pm. They were wonderful. On the way back to Fairbanks, we stopped to see the pipeline. By the time we were ready for dinner it was 12:30 am. Unfortunately, Papa John's was closed, but fortunately, they had 3 pizzas they were about to throw out and they were kind enough to just give them to us.
Hiking on the Matanuska Glacier.
Thursday morning we were planning on heading out early, but had to delay our departure so Tim could visit the eye doctor again. Luckily, his eye had improved a lot, but we had to set up another appointment for the following day with another doctor in Anchorage. We spent the majority of the day driving down the Richardson Highway. I got really excited when we started driving through areas that you could tell had been formed by glaciers. That evening we stayed in the Matanuska valley, just above the Matanuska glacier. We spent a couple hours hiking around on the glacier. Kim and Claire had never been on one before and they were loving it. We had a brand new guide that had arrive from LA just the day before. We were his first group. He took us to some spots that we didn't have the proper gear for and we had a hard time safely getting back down. Luckily, a more experienced guide had noticed us going in an area we shouldn't and came to save the day. He had to lend Tim is ice axe and give him a crash course in how to self-arrest yourself using the ice axe. We all made it off the glacier safe and sound and mostly happy.
Halibut fishing in Homer.
Friday morning I got up at 5:00 am so we could make it to Anchorage in time for Tim's 8:00 am eye appointment. I got the RV all ready to go while the rest of the crew slept on. Tim got up to keep me company while I drove. After we dropped Tim off at his eye appointment, we dropped Claire off at the airport to head back home to Wisconsin. We picked Tim up again and then headed off to Homer, Alaska. It was about a 4 hour drive, but we were all so glad we went. Kim had talked us into going to Homer and it was my favorite place we visited on the trip. It's a fishing town of about 5,000 that has a fair bit of tourism as well. It is a beautiful place. Friday night stayed in Hal's driveway. Hal was a teacher mentor in Togiak this year. He wasn't Tim's or Kim's mentor, but he was very friendly to all of us and offered to let us visit him in Homer. Unfortunately, he wasn't there, but he offered his house for hot showers.
Two of our four halibut.
Saturday we decided to splurge a bit and go halibut fishing. I am so glad we did. We were out on the boat for about 6 hours. We took about a 1 hour boat ride to our fishing spot. Along the way we so tons of otters. I've never seen so many otters in my life. We were both allowed to keep no more than 2 halibut. Tim and I caught 5 each, so we both had to throw 3 back. We also both caught a cod. Fishing is so much more work than I thought. My arms are sore. We had a two or three pound weight on the end of our pole and let our line out 140 feet to the ocean bottom. 2 pounds doesn't sound like much, but when you have to reel it in 140 feet multiple times, it starts feeling like 40 pounds.
Sunday, today, we drove back to Anchorage and returned our RV. We still have another week and a half before we leave Anchorage, so Tim and I got a hotel here in town. Dad is also here with his friend, Justin, so we got to see him tonight.
It's been a long, fun week and I'm wondering if we're crazy for leaving this Alaska in the summer. I love Alaskan summers.
Sunday, today, we drove back to Anchorage and returned our RV. We still have another week and a half before we leave Anchorage, so Tim and I got a hotel here in town. Dad is also here with his friend, Justin, so we got to see him tonight.
It's been a long, fun week and I'm wondering if we're crazy for leaving this Alaska in the summer. I love Alaskan summers.
