HEADING BACK TO THE LOWER 48'S

This is our journey back to the outside! That's what the Alaskan say when you are headed back to the lower 48's! We have been here since the first of May but ready to go back south. Our experiences here in the Last Frontier has been awesome! The rv park where we worked at "Diamond M Ranch" was superior! The owners Ronna & Blair Martin treated us as family and always welcomed us to their home! Great people:)

The other workampers, Ann Marie & Al, Gwen & Bert (who by the way makes great margaritas!), and Jason & Ashley became great friends. We are going to miss them:( BUT hope to meet up in the future!!!

This was the skies the evening before we left. Calm and peaceful

Our last campfire...

Happy Trails

Wrangell Mountains Information leaving Alaska

WRANGELL MOUNTAINS....Beautiful

Going through Canada...What a BEAUTIFUL Country!!

We took a different way  in British Columbia and ended up in Alaska AGAIN...Hyder AK!

What a neat Post Office

These were a few of the residents

Black Bear

Hiding Black Bear

Hungry Grizzley Bear

                        Water just running out of the glaciers...Global Warming!!

Back in the lower 48's!! We stopped in Seattle,WA to visit my son Shaun & Julie! What a AWESOME area!! We went down to Pike's Market and spent the day..great fun and great food!! Look out Shaun & Julie we plan to come back AND stay LONGER!!!!

Next stop Mount St. Helens...our friends JR & Barb took us there for the day. As you know it erupted on
May 18, 1980.The eruption a massive debris avalanche, reducing the elevation of the mountain's summitt from 9,677 ft to 8,365 ft and replacing it with a mile long horseshoe shape crater

                                                    There is still stream that escapes

With our friends Barb & JR... it was a bad windy day not a had hair day!!!

Back at Big River, CA for one more season! We plan on staying here until end of March and then take US 10 thru AZ, NM, TX, LA, and checking out parks in Gulf Shores, AL for next year!!!

WHAT WAS I THINKING???

I have a birthday coming up BUT my brain still thinks it's YOUNG... BUT my body is a wreck!! While we are enjoying our laid back day at Mt. Alyeska, Al & Ann Marie said we're hiking up to the waterfalls..wanna go?? My mind is saying"GO"!! BUT my body is saying " Are you Nuts?"


Here is a sign with trail information. The picture is a hiker with a back pack & hiking poles...

                                                             Here is our hike view looking up...

Here we are..NOTE I don't have a back pack NOR hiking poles!!

Hi Dan! Trust me I'll be ok!!!

See Dan... I'm still okay!!

Wait for me...I'm bring up the rear!

Can you see me????

OPPS!!

I'm COMING!!!

I'm calling Dan & telling him "I'm COOL..I made it!!"

We're all smiles BUT my body is saying #%@&(

This is a shot without zooming in...we're standing on the bridge. Can you see us???

As you can see this wasn't just a afternoon stroll!!

Well we made it back with no injuries but my body is NOT happy with me!! 

MT. ALYESKA ALASKA

The ranch gave us a day off so we could go to Mt. Alyeska to ride the tram. Our friends Bert, Gwen, Ann Marie, & Al decided to go enjoy one more adventure before we all leave!

Looking up to the tram

Here it comes!

All aboard!!

We made it to the top with Our Ranch Buddies!!

What a View at about 4000'! We were on cloud nine!!

That is a glacier in the middle of the picture.
They have a beautiful blue-teal color

AWESOME

We celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary high up on a mountain!!

OUR HIKING ADVENTURE

While we're here in Alaska, I thought Dan & I should do some hiking!! Dan isn't so thrill about this idea BUT as a good husband (or smart one!) he agreed! Ronna our guide makes it look so SIMPLE!!


                                          Looks like Dan is ready! Backpack ready to go!!

Hidden valley over looking Skitah Lake

What a view!

                                Group picture halfway up JUST in case some of us don't make it!!

                                                              YEAH!! We made it!!

Look at Ronna!! She doesn't even look tired!!

The guys are smiling but they're breathing hard from the hike

It was a great day! LIVIN' THE DREAM.....

In case your wondering how long it took us...well.. it was a 1.5 miles in 1.45 hours. I don't know what was worse..going straight up OR straight down!!

A DAY AT THE BEACH - KENAI RIVER

WOW!!! Wait until you see these pictures of dip netting!! This is where Alaska residents are entitled to this wild fishing!! There's a period in July where residents just use these HUGH nets( they sell for $125) to net the sockeye salmon. They are entitled to 25 salmon plus 10 more for each member of the family. That's 55 sockeyes for a family of four! That's an average of 550 pounds of salmon- or about three, average size midwest whitetails!!

                                                      They camp right on the beach!

                                                           Fishing on both sides of the river

Elbow to elbow fishing as far as you can see!

                                          Dip nets are 5 ft diameter with 10-15 ft handles

Variety of handles

They clean them right on the beach

No bikinis here!!!

                                                                 Fishing hopping

AMAZING!!

                                                      Fish heads EVERYWHERE!!

                       ALASKA...THE LAST FRONTIER