Lazy Mountain Climb

The mountain shown in the header of this blog is Lazy Mountain (3,720 feet) and was a favorite hike of mine in my younger days. Even though the clouds were hanging over the peak for most of the day, we decided to go for it since our time in Alaska was almost over.
We ended up not climbing all the way to the last peak, we got into clouds, the temperature dropped, and the view was of course gone, which was the point of the hike. We still had a lot of fun.

Trail head


Up we go


Looking for Grandpa's house


Almost to the first shelf


At the first shelf




Snow play


On our way to the Upper shelf


Looking back down the trail

What Should You do while in Alaska?

Why go fishing of course!
The two older kids and Grandpa took and evening and went fishing at a local lake. With poles in hand, a box of hooks, and a jar of Salmon eggs, they set out for Grandpa's fishin' hole. The first fish was on the hook within seconds, but landing the fish proved a little more difficult thanks to a tangled line and a broken reel. They finally pulled it out of the water by using only the line. A total of four fish were caught and made for a tasty breakfast the next morning.

Sissy goin' fishing

Grandpa helps Sissy bait the hook

The first fish of the day

Fisher girl


A true fisherman!!

A Rainbow Trout!


Sissy with one of her fish.

After a good day's catch

My Old View

The following is a picture of Pioneer Peak in the Mat-Su Valley. This is the view I had out my front window while growing up.

Anchorage Zoo

Wednesday we went to the Anchorage Zoo, our goal was to see the tigers. Unfortunately, they were no longer on exhibit, but we managed to have a great time any way. Here are some of the animals the kids got to see.

Bald Eagle


Black Bear


Snow Leopard


Cuddly Teddy Bear


Not so cuddly teddy bear


Us at the zoo, not a real zoo exhibit.

Polar Bear


The girls watching a Harbor Seal

Got Moose?

These were standing on the side of the road a few blocks from my parents house when we returned home.

To the North Pole and Back.

On Saturday morning we loaded up the vehicles and drove 350 miles on Highway 3 to North Pole, which is just past Fairbanks, to visit my older brother and his family. This route had us driving through Denali Park.

The Alaskan Railroad

We had a brief stop at the Santa Claus House to say hello to the reindeer.


My brother and his Chesapeake "Turner"


The necessary sky shot through the birch trees, taken on my brother's property.


Sunday afternoon we took Parrin & Sharon's four wheelers down to the river for a picnic. Everyone had an absolute blast on the four wheelers. I even managed to get my brothers new Yamaha high centered on the same berm twice (you'd think once would have been enough).


Yeah, I did that.....




Group Shot






Cooking out after returning from our afternoon at the river


On Monday, we piled back into the vehicles and drove "the long way" on Highway 2 through Summit Lake and Delta Junction. On Highway 4 through Gakona, and Highway 1 through Glennallen, Sutton, and back to Palmer. It added a few more hours to the trip, but we got to enjoy some great scenary and a part of Alaska that I hadn't even seen.

The Alyeska Pipeline




Random Mountain Shots on the side of the road




The view from Summit Lake


Dinner in Glennallen



The Matanuska Glacier

A few More from Port Alsworth

I found a few more of the 300+ shots I took while out at
Port Alsworth.

Tanalian Falls

Papa and Ali at the Falls

Another Shot of the Bay at 11:oo pm.

A good big brother