I was born in Alaska, and I’ve lived here all my life, so I’ve had enough time to experience Alaska’s ups and downs. There are lots of reasons to love Alaska. I love the peace of Alaska, and I just can’t imagine living in a big city. I love having woods, and trails all around me, and just being able to disappear into them. I love being surrounded by mountains; as if protected by great walls, in a world apart Continue reading
Tag Archives: bear
Take a hike in Wasilla Alaska!
Toninght we sit at the kitchen table mapping out the route we are going to take tomorrow. We want to end up at the top to watch the sunset; this late in the season, sunset is around 10pm and lasts a long time. We want to do some berry and mushroom gathering. This wasn’t going to be a hike to see ‘if we could’; this was a hike for sustenance. We need to collect for the winter! The area we went to last year happened to be in the news lately for bear sightings; we need a different location now.
Hatchers Pass looks like the location for this year. It will be a drive for us, but it’s worth it.
We will stay in Wasilla at the Best Western; “we will need the Jacuzzi after”, my wife claimed! Our backs do get a little sore, I’ll admit it.
With the record rain we had this year, we expect a bumper crop of wild berries and the mushrooms should be pretty meaty.
We have packed our bags with small containers so the berries and fungi don’t crush from their own weight while we hike. The raincoats will also be going to this year. We packed a picnic basket for lunch and a bottle of wine for the sunset (she loves that). We’ll fill up on berries along the way so we only need a couple of sandwiches and plenty of water. We’ll take bino’s to scan the landscape; we won’t be the only ones out hunting berries!
We also like to enter photo contests, as well as entering photos into the Alaska State Fair, so we will certainly be taking our camera. Mosquitoes don’t bother us anymore so no worries there and I think that should do it for our plan. That is what we do for our hike and how we do it!
Jake Kimber
Our Greatest Travel Special EVER!
Have you been to Denali yet? Right now we have an amazing offer of $800. If you book three nights at the spectacular Denali Backcountry Lodge you have an $800 credit towards the purchase of any other tour or activity Alaska Denali Tours offers. That opens a world of opportunity for you and your family! Continue reading
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
You’re planning your Alaska Vacation and want to see the magnificent sights in Alaska, as well as the vast array of wildlife the Last Frontier has to offer. But how can you fit Moose, Lynx, Caribou, Bears and many other popular animals without trekking all over the state? The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is your place to go. They host all kinds of Alaskan animals ranging from Black Bears to Eagles to Musk Ox.
Located in near the scenic Portage Glacier, just outside of Anchorage this little animal haven puts you up close and personal with animals. The center takes in orphaned or otherwise ‘at-risk’ animals and raises them to health and releases them back, or in some cases, allow them to live in the habitat provided to them by the AWCC staff and supporters.
Upon entrance into the center you are able to see Moose wandering around the gated areas. The center is open year round, and a schedule is available here. Don’t hesitate to ask the staff questions about the animal’s histories, names, and circumstances! You may be surprised at what you hear! Continue reading
Spring has Sprung!
Alaska is thawing. The trees have taken on a red hue, a precursor to their eventual new-growth. Bears are awakening, moose are heading back to the hills, and people emerge from their homes. The mountains still boast a white curtain over their crests, and the forests still harbor patches of snow beneath them, but it is surely going to fade away. Even as I type this, the temperature soars. Recently the Anchorage bowl experienced temperatures in the mid-fifties. While that may not be entirely welcoming for some of our warm-blooded readers, for an Alaskan this is a wonderful sign of shorts and tee-shirts to come. Soon the bottom of our lakes will be unfrozen, the hills will be devoid of ice, and the maroon tips of trees will have turned a lush green. Continue reading