Chicagocwright, thank you for a very interesting read.
Of course, I'm biased -- I had my first exposure to Alaska over 18 days this last May/June. I most assuredly left a piece of my heart there, and look forward to returning.
Now, regarding your hike -- you mean it's harder than hiking Flat Top Mountain?!
(A semi-"inside" joke that will be understood by those who are familiar with Flat Top (Anchorage). That was the only hike I did during my visit. It is the most climbed mountain in all of Alaska.)
Wondering if moose (not you, Laura!
) were a hoax -- I had that EXACT thought about Mt. McKinley/Denali during my visit. Despite a number of good opportunities it was never completely visible to me. Couldn't see it from the south viewpoint on the George Parks Highway, couldn't see it from Eielson Visitor Center on the road in the national park, couldn't see it from a highly regarded observation point on the University of Alaska campus in Fairbanks, COULDN'T SEE IT FROM A TWIN OTTER FLYING AT SUMMIT LEVEL! It was completely cloud obscured all the time. (Not unusual -- it's notoriously fickle at being seen.) Oh well, just one of MANY reasons for a return trip. I at least DID have some great views into the mountains in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.
If I'm naïve here, please forgive me, but my impression when you referred to polar bears in one of your pictures was that you must be mistaken, as I was pretty sure they didn't populate the area around Anchorage, or anywhere really close to it.
I Googled it all quickly, and this
map of the polar bears' range seems to validate my thoughts. Or perhaps you were just kidding when you called the animals in your picture polar bears?
Once again, your trip report has -- and all previous posts you've made about Alaska have -- been very interesting to me. Now having 18 days in Alaska under my belt I have some degree of envy for you living there.
