The Weather is STILL JUST DUCKY

Actually, the feathered ones might want it a bit more damp.

MOOSE HUNTING CITY VERSION

Last Friday (Oct 22) we took a stroll down Powerline Pass Trail hoping to see some city moose.  We saw a few, fourteen to be exact.

WINTER IS NEAR

A chilly 30 degrees in Bootlegger's Cove this Wednesday morning.  Early morning fog has been replaced by clear skies and sunshine.  In addition to the cooler temperatures, Sleeping Lady across the Knik has a new blanket of snow up high signaling winter is out there nearby.  Seasons change is inevitable.  Only in Texas do they seem never to vary.

Nevermore

Halloween signals the beginning of the Holiday season.  I remember the Halloween Carnivals at Highlands Elementary as being something special.  Had almost as much fun the following morning as we searched thru the trash for treasures.  Living near the school had its perks.  Likewise trick or treating was always an adventure as we tried to fill our bags over and over with candy.  Mrs. Hopper's popcorn balls also found a spot in our bags year in year out.  Wonder how many she would make each Halloween.  Looking back its amazing the degree of freedom we had to roam the streets at night essentially unsupervised.  Those days are gone now, stolen from not only us but all future generations of little ghosts witches goblins by the depraved actions of a truly evil person, the Candyman.

CRESCENT LAKE CABIN

Last week, we had a string of bluebird days so Champ and I decided to visit the Crescent Lake Cabin down on the Kenai Peninsula.  A few weeks back, we hiked to the southern end of this large crescent shaped lake nestled between two mountain ridges hoping to reach the USFS cabin in the saddle on the lakes west curve.  Turns out the heavy rains that had been falling daily tuned us back as the creek crossings were raging infernos.  Nonetheless, our appetite was whetted and we vowed to return to this picturesque venue.

So Thursday morning we loaded up the truck and made the 100 mile drive to the Crescent Creek Trailhead.  Beautiful sunny day with temperatures hovering right at freezing.  The trail was in good shape with a gradual uphill gaining about a 1000 feet over seven miles.  Hiking in we met a Father/son goldmining team hiking their gear out for the season, and managed to scare a black bear off the trail in the meadow near the lake.  Reached the cabin about 5 pm. 

Took pictures off the lake and then set out to split the spruce log someone left in the wood shed.  30 minutes of work produced a nice stack of wood for the night, insuring a warm slumber for man and beast.  After a dinner of Cuban Rice & Beans, we settled in for the evening with a new book feeling lucky to be where we were.

Next morning's weather was a little cloudy with small snowflakes starting to show.  A pretty litle rim of ice had formed overnight along the shoreline.  We took our time getting packed up and left the cabin around noon.  Almost immediately, we spied a black bear galloping across a slope high to our right. Fun to watch but I had no idea where he was heading or why he was in such a hurry.  Moving on we stepped gingerly over and through a few frozen creeks as we followed the trail back to the truck.  Halfway back, we began to meet a local boy scout troop heading in for the weekend.  All told, there were 25 in the group strung out over a mile or so.  Glad to see scouting is alive and well.

VALDEZ

Following our aborted trip to Crescent Saddle Cabin that amounted to a long drive in bad weather to spend the night in the truck with Champ, I was ready for some real vacation.  Luck would have it that Frank was headed to town for a visit and Nancy had a week off after working 12 days straight.  SO....

View from Cabin

We decided to head to Valdez.  Stopped on the way to spend two nights at the Cabin overlooking Matanuska Glacier.  Wow, weather was nice and the cabin had electricity.  Lots of good pics and even some snow.  THEN..........



Snowy Camprobber

 We headed on down the road to Glenallen, then Copper Center and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.  Wednesday afternoon found us going over Thompson Pass just as a snow storm hit.  Stressful driving as the road was slick.  By the time we neared Valdez the snow had stopped and we admired the many waterfalls alongside the road.  Stayed at the Totem Inn and hiked the Mineral Creek Trail (more waterfalls).  THEN..

Boarded the fast ferry Friday morning for a trip across Prince William Sound to Whittier.




Valdez Harbor



POLYCHROME BACKPACK

Morning visitor

Sept 15 I boarded a camper bus for a trek in the Polychrome area.  Dropped off about 3 on a sunny warm afternoon.  Sheep were high above the road trying to stay cool.  Found a nice tent spot and enjoyed exploring a small stream nearby.  Went to sleep listening to the "go back goback " calls of a flock of Ptarmigan and later awoke to the howling of wolves alongways off but still lound enough to register.  Got a morning visitor while trying to take pics of the mountain.

CRESCENT LAKE

Despite severe weather warnings, Champ and I headed south Friday hoping to hike to the Crescent Saddle Cabin Saturday morning.  Alexis and Ted rounded out our troop as we plowed through heavy winds and pouring rain aiming for the Carter lake trailhead about 30 miles from Seward.  Plan was to spend the night at the trailhead and start hiking Saturday morning.  When we reached the trailhead, rain was pretty hard so we headed into Seward where Ted and Alexis got room in Army Rec hotel and Champ and I bunked in truck.  Rained all night and still raining next day.  After nice breakfast we headed back to the trailhead only to be stopped short by an avalanche of mud and downed trees that had the highway closed.  So we headed back to Seward and spent the morning in the Safeway drinking coffee and bullshitting.  By noon the road was opened so off we went.  Hiking by 12:20 as we went steeply uphill dodging small streams in the trail and wading larger ones that crossed the trail.  Reached 1600 feet and Carter Lake in short order and watched the ducks there enjoying the weather.  Just before we reached the trail to the cabin, met two hikers who advised that getting there would involve waist deep stream crossings.  Worried about what they would look like the following day as it was still raining, we chickened out and turned around at Crescent Lake.  Probably wise move as the steams we crossed earlier in the day were much deeper on our return to the truck.  Oh well, at least we got a nice workout...a 7 mile dayhike with full pack.  Plus Champ had fun!