WEEK FOUR

BACK TO MENU We saw this sign of wildlife in at a trailhead. We think it is probably a sign of...uh..."BARE".

The best part of Whittier was the 2 1/2 mile drive through a single lane tunnel with railroad tracks in the center. Traffic both directions took turns with the train.

Our campsite at Whittier...

We hiked with a ranger to Byron Glacier and helped collect ice worms for exhibit in the visitor's center. Bill thought we were being hauled off on a "snipe hunt" until we saw an ice worm. They do exist! They live between ice crystals near the surface of the glacier and eat microscopic algae. I caught one but I replaced his little chunk of ice and let him go about his business. Mr. Ranger had enough ice worms!

We drove to Seward and made camp on the beach at Resurrection Bay across from Fiords National Park. We watched sea otters, black bears, and bald eagles. We took a boat tour and saw sea lions, puffins, eagles, and lots of glaciers and ice fields.

We hiked four miles to Exit Glacier. The color of the glacier really does look this blue! This glacier is about 10 stories high at this point. We could hear it "growl" and crack.

We camped on a cliff overlooking Ninilchik Beach. We could see Mt. Augustine, an active volcano spewing ash and steam. The most prominent peak is Illiana, across Cook Inlet on the Alaskan Peninsula. Yes, the blues REALLY look like this. Wow.

We watched the clamdiggers while we drank our morning coffee.

The drive from Ninilchik to Homer was spectacular.

We camped on the beach at Homer for 2 days. There was plenty of driftwood for campfires. We met "Thelma and Louise" and spent an evening that we will NEVER forget. If you are out there ladies, sign the guestbook.

We drove the beautiful Glen Highway. More amazing scenery. It is definitely fall here. It was raining so I didn't get many pictures.

The Haines Cutoff was vwery remote and badly frost heaved. Many businesses have closed for the season and some are boarded up and for sale. So it is a very long way between services.

This is an overwhelmingly beautiful place. More to come.