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Valdez, The Switzerland of Alaska:
An Overview & A Bit of History |
June 16 |
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101 Fun Things to Do In Valdez |
June 16 |
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On the Waterfront: More Photos Along
the Harbor in Valdez |
June 16 |
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Scenes From the Trails & Bike Path
in Valdez |
June 16 |
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Valdez Glacier Campground & Nearby
Glaciers + Other Camping Options |
June 16 |
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Trip Notes from Valdez to
Sutton-Alpine: Lots of Scenic Glaciated Mountains |
June 17 |
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Full of Superlatives:
Wrangell-St. Elias, Our Nation's Largest National Park |
June 17 |
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Alpine Historical Park: Some
Mining, Native, & Pioneer History |
June 17 |
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The Palmer Musk Ox Cooperative:
Shaggy Ice Age Survivors & Their Prized Qiviut Fiber |
June 18 |
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Trip Notes Along the Glenn Hwy. from
Sutton-Alpine to Anchorage
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June 18 |
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Anchorage Area (June 18-July 2) |
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Forested RV Retreat in the City:
Black Spruce Campground at JBER (Joint Base
Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage) |
June 19 |
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Our First Two Busy Days in Anchorage |
June 19 |
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The Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum
& Watching Float Planes at Lake Hood |
June 20 |
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Earthquake Park & the City
of Anchorage Greenhouses |
June 20 |
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Alaska Heritage Museum Showcasing
Native Alaskan History, Art, & Culture |
June 20 |
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Moose & More on Anchorage's Popular
Tony Knowles Coastal Trail |
June 21 |
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The Ulu Factory & Historic Ship
Creek Area in Anchorage |
June 21 |
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Panoramic Views from Flattop
Mountain, Alaska's Most-Climbed Summit,
+ Summer Solstice Photos |
June 22 |
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More Panoramic Views from Rendezvous
Peak & Ridge |
June 23 |
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Weather or Not: Just Get Out & Do
It! |
June 26 |
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Day Trip Along Turnagain Arm, Part
1: Scenic Seward Hwy. & Portage Valley |
June 27 |
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Turnagain Arm, Part 2: Potter Marsh
Wildlife Refuge |
June 27 |
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Turnagain Arm, Part 3: Begich, Boggs
Visitor Center at Portage Lake & Our Hike to Byron Glacier |
June 27 |
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Our Bear & Moose Sightings in Urban
Anchorage |
June 29 |
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Rendezvous Re-Do: What a
Difference One Week Makes in the Chugach Mountains |
June 30 |
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Jim's Bike Ride Downtown, Including
the Vietnam Moving Wall & Alaska Veterans' Memorial
Service |
June 30 |
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Lots to Learn About Living in
Alaska! Other Anchorage Activities &
Observations |
July 1 |
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The Kenai Peninsula (July 2-16) |
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Trip Notes: Anchorage to Cooper
Landing on the Kenai Peninsula |
July 2 |
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Camping at the Russian River NFS
Campground |
July 2 |
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Russian River Fish Walk: A
Rainforest Delight Even for Non-Anglers |
July 3 |
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Bears, Birds, & Salmon at Russian
River Falls |
July 4 |
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Russian Lakes Trail to Lower Russian
Lake (includes information about the
Resurrection Trail from Hope to Seward) |
July 4 |
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Celebrating Independence Day Our Way
|
July 4 |
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Six Days in Seward: Definitely No
Folly! |
July 5 |
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Seward Scenes, Part 1
|
July 5 |
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Seward Scenes, Part 2 |
July 6 |
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Exploring Exit Glacier in Kenai
Fjords National Park |
July 6 |
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It's Lonely at the Top: An
Awesome Hike to Harding Icefield in Kenai Fjords National
Park |
July 7 |
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Seward Scenes, Part 3 |
July 8 |
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Seward Scenes, Part 4: Colorful
Outdoor Murals |
July 8 |
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Kenai Fjords National Park Catamaran
Tour: Sensational Seascapes and Lots of Wildlife |
July 9 |
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Alaska SeaLife Center: Windows to
the Sea |
July 10 |
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Hiking on Mt. Marathon, An Update on
the Missing Runner, & Adapting to More Campground
Challenges |
July 10 |
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Trip Notes from Seward to Kasilof |
July 11 |
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Camping at Kasilof RV Park by
Johnson Lake |
July 11 |
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Day-Tripping in Soldotna at the
Visitor Center, Kenai River Fishwalk, & Kenai National
Wildlife Refuge HQ |
July 12 |
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Mid-1900s Alaskan History
Showcased at the Soldotna Homestead Museum |
July 12 |
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Further Exploration of Kasilof |
July 13 |
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From Russia With Love:
Historic Buildings in Old Town Kenai + the Salmon Dipnet
Fishing Frenzy |
July 13 |
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Kenai & Beyond: Leif Hansen Memorial
Park, Nikiski, Captain Cook State Rec. Area, & a Hike at
the National Wildlife Refuge |
July 13 |
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A Busy Day Trip From Kasilof to
Homer, Part 1: Coastal Scenes & the Historic Town of Ninilchik |
July 14 |
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Day Trip to Homer, Part 2: Lunch at
the Saturday Farmers' Market & Exploring the Homer Spit |
July 14 |
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Day Trip to Homer, Part 3: Expansive
Views of Kachemak Bay + Visiting Bear Creek Winery, Alaska
Islands & Ocean Visitor Center, and Beluga Slough
|
July 14 |
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Trip Notes: Kasilof RV Park to
Williwaw USFS Campground in the Portage Valley |
July 15 |
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Portage Valley: Scenes from Williwaw
USFS Campground, Middle Glacier, Portage Lake, & the
Begich, Boggs USFS Visitor Center |
July 15 |
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Hiking on the Scenic Trail of
Blue Ice & the Williwaw Nature Trail
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July 15 |
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Cycling on the Rest of the Trail of
Blue Ice, Moose Flats, & the Williwaw Nature Trail |
July 16 |
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Anchorage & Beyond, Take 2
(July 16-August 2) |
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Back in Anchorage at the Black
Spruce FamCamp |
July 17 |
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Cycling on the Chester Creek &
Coastal Trails + A Documentary About Denali National Park |
July 18 |
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Rendezvous Ridge Hike #3 and a Bike Ride
Down Arctic Valley Rd. |
July 19 |
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Cycling the Eklutna Lakeside Trail |
July 20 |
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Miscellaneous Activities & Thoughts
About Life in Alaska on a Rainy Weekend in Anchorage |
July 22 |
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Impressed by the Anchorage Museum |
July 23 |
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Day-Tripping in the Mat-Su Valley:
Campground Reviews, Visitor Center, & the Iditarod
Trail Sled Dog
Museum |
July 24 |
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Thunderbird Falls Hike & Other
Activities |
July 25 |
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Another Chugach Mountain High:
Twin Peaks Hike |
July 25 |
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Eklutna Historical Park:
Spirit Houses & Another Old Russian Orthodox Church
|
July 25 |
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Cycling on the Coastal Trail,
With Views of Mt. McKinley AKA Denali |
July 26 |
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Tour de Town, Part 1: Arctic
Thunder Air Show Preview & Visiting the Z. J. Loussac
Library |
July 27 |
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Tour de Town, Part 2: The City of
Flowers (Colorful Public Flower Displays & More) |
July 27 |
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Tour de Town, Part 3: The
Alaska Botanical Garden |
July 27 |
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Mat-Su Day Trip to Hatcher Pass &
Independence Mine |
July 28 |
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Mt. Gordon Lyon-Rendezvous Peak Loop
Hike |
July 29 |
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The Arctic Thunder Air Show from Two
Different Perspectives |
July 29 |
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Touring Two State Fish Hatcheries &
A Bald Eagle Display |
July 30 |
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Scenic Gold Mint Trail Hike |
July 31 |
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Celebrating Jim's Birthday on Our
Last Full Day in Anchorage |
August 1 |
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Parks Hwy.: Denali State & National
Parks (Aug. 2-16)
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Road Trip: Anchorage to Byers
Lake Campground at Denali State Park |
August 2 |
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Side Trip to Artsy Talkeetna, Required
Staging Area for Denali Climbs & a Popular Place to Hang
Out |
August 2 |
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Denali State Park & Byers Lake
Campground |
August 4 |
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Scenes from the Trails at Byers Lake |
August 4 |
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The Impressive Alaska Veterans'
Memorial, POW_MIA Rest Area, and Visitor Center at Denali
State Park |
August 4 |
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Wonder of Wonders: There's
Denali!! Trip Notes & Photos from Byers Lake to Denali
National Park |
August 5 |
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Our First Day in Denali National
Park, Part 1: Campground & Front Country Visitor
Services Information (shuttle buses, etc.) |
August 5 |
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First Day in Denali NP, Part 2:
General Hiking & Cycling Information + Photos from
Today's Hike & Ride |
August 5 |
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A Nice Finale to Our First Day at
Denali National Park: An Evening Drive Out to Savage
River at Mile 15 on the Park Road |
August 5 |
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Day Two at Denali National Park |
August 6 |
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Mt. Healy Overlook & Taiga Trails:
I Wonder How Far I Can
Hike Along that Ridge??
|
August 6 |
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Horseshoe Lake Trail Hike |
August 6 |
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Summit Fever: Our Flight-Seeing Trip
Over Denali, N. America's Highest Peak, with Jim as
"Co-Pilot" |
August 7 |
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The Rest of Day Three in Denali
National Park, Featuring the Park's Sled Dog Kennels &
Demonstration |
August 7 |
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Day Four: Teklanika River Campground AKA "Tek" |
August 8 |
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Exploring the Teklanika Riverbed &
Park Road from Tek to Igloo |
August 8 |
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Day Five: An Introduction to
the Bus System at Denali NP |
August 9 |
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Our First Shuttle Bus Ride Into
the Park, Part 1: Teklanika River CG (Mile 29) to the Toklat
River Rest Area (Mile 53)
|
August 9 |
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Denali Shuttle Bus Ride, Part 2: Toklat River to Eielson Visitor Center (Mile 53 to 66) |
August 9 |
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Denali Shuttle Bus Ride, Part 3: I
Could Spend Days at the Eielson Visitor Center &
Nearby Trails! |
August 9 |
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Denali Shuttle Bus Ride, Part 4:
Eielson Visitor Center (Mile 66) to Wonder Lake (Mile 85) |
August 9 |
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Denali Shuttle Bus Ride, Part 5:
Wonder Lake Back to Toklat River (Miles 85 to 53) |
August 9 |
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Shuttle Bus Ride, Part 6:
Toklat River Back to Polychrome & Teklanika CG (Miles 53
to 29) |
August 9 |
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Day Six at Denali:
Teklanika River Hike & Bike Ride |
August 10 |
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Day Seven at Denali: Sue's
Eielson Alpine Hike & Shuttle Ride + Jim's Bike Ride from
Teklanika River to Sable Pass & Back |
August 11 |
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Day Eight at Denali:
Miscellaneous Activities in the "Front Country" |
August 12 |
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Day Nine at Denali, Part 1:
Savage River Alpine Hike |
August 13 |
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Day Nine, Part 2: Savage
Canyon Hike
(includes several caribou photos) |
August 13 |
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Day Ten at Denali: Seasons of
the Park |
August 14 |
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Day Eleven at Denali:
A Memorable Hike on Mt. Margaret-Primrose Ridge + Jim's Bike
Ride on the Park Road
(includes wildlife close-ups of three of the Big Five + a
lynx) |
August 15 |
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Anchorage & Beyond, Take 3
(August 16-26) |
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Back at JBER: Sunsets, Moose,
and More |
August 17 |
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Cycling on the Campbell Creek
Greenway |
August 18 |
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Hiking the Wolverine Peak Trail
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August 21 |
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City Moose, Beluga Whales, and Jim's
Long Bike Ride |
August 22 |
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Rendezvous & Gordon Lyon Ridge Hike:
Variation on a Theme |
August 22 |
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More Photos from the Coastal Trail +
An Update of Our Activities & Plans |
August 24 |
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Day Trip to Portage Valley: Byron
Glacier, Portage Lake, Trail of Blue Ice, & Salmon Viewing |
August 25 |
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Denali National Park, Take 2 (August 26-Sept. 3) |
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Back at Denali: Road Trip and
First-Day Activities |
August 26 |
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The Murie Science Center, Fall
Scenes in the Front Country, & More About the Park's First
Fatal Bear Attack in 95 Years |
August 27 |
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Brilliant Fall Colors Along the
Denali Park Road & "Bear Necessities" Presentation at the
Murie Science Center |
August 28 |
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"Loopy" Hike on Taiga, Rock Creek,
Meadow View, Roadside, & McKinley Station Trails |
August 28 |
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Jim's Long Bike Ride on the Park
Road Between the Entrance & Teklanika River Campground |
August 29 |
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Sue's Eielson Alpine Hike &
Bus Ride: Learning the Extent to Which "Bears Rule" at
Denali
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August 29 |
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Savage Rock & River Canyon Hike |
August 30 |
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A Selection of Alaska Photos from
June to August (100+ pictures on
four pages) |
September 1 |
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What to Do When It Rains at Denali?
Musings from the Last Two Days |
September 1 |
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Awesome Autumn Colors on Healy Ridge
+ Our Last Drive Out to the Savage River |
September 2 |
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Fairbanks (Sept.
3-6) |
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Trip Notes: Denali National
Park to Fairbanks + Information About Camping at Ft.
Wainwright |
September 3 |
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Two
Visits to the Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center:
Because It's Special! |
Sept. 3-4 |
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Scenes Along the Chena Riverwalk
(includes Yukon Quest Sled Dog Race HQ) |
Sept. 3-4 |
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Birdwatching & Hiking at Creamer's
Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge (lots of
migrating sandhill cranes and Canada geese)
|
September 4 |
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It's a Wrap: Miscellaneous
Activities on Our Last Days in Alaska |
September 5 |
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Farewell to Alaska -- the Journey
South, Day 1: Fairbanks, AK to Snag Junction CG, Yukon
Territory |
September 6 |
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Tour of Rika's Roadhouse & Landing
at Big Delta State Historical Site, AK |
September 6 |
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CANADA (Sept. 6-12) |
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The Journey South, Day 2: Snag
Jct. Provincial CG to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory |
September 7 |
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Day 3: Whitehorse to Watson Lake,
Yukon Territory |
September 8 |
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Day 4: Watson Lake, YT to Fort
Nelson, BC |
September 9 |
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Visiting Liard River Hot Springs
Provincial Park, BC |
September 9 |
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A Banner Day for Wildlife on the
Alaska Hwy. |
September 9 |
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Day 5: Fort Nelson, BC to
Hythe, AB |
September 10 |
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Day 6: Hythe to Olds, AB |
September 11 |
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Day 7: Olds, AB to Great
Falls, MT -- Back in the USA!! |
September 12 |
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Across the Lower 48 (Sept. 12-Oct.
8) |
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Great Falls, MT: Activities at
Gateway FamCamp, Malmstrom AFB |
September 16 |
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Great Falls, MT: Scenes from
River's Edge Multi-Use Trail Above the Missouri River |
September 17 |
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Great Falls, MT: Scenes from
the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Trail and Giant Springs
Heritage Park |
September 18 |
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Rapid City, SD: Enjoying
Summer's Last Hurrah at Ellsworth AFB |
September 23 |
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Spearfish Canyon Fall Leaf Tour by
Bike & Truck |
September 24 |
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"Striking More Gold" at Roughlock
Falls in the Black Hills |
September 24 |
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Cycling Tour Through the Black
Hills: Mickelson Trail, Stockade Lake, & Custer
State Park |
September 26 |
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More Fun at Custer State Park:
Hiking the Sylvan Lake & Harney Peak Trails + Scenes from
the Needles Hwy. |
September 26 |
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Black Hills Cycling Tour #2:
More Photos from the Mickelson Trail & Stockade Lake + A
Visit to Prairie Berry Winery |
September 28 |
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Exploring More Trails at Custer
State Park |
October 1 |
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Bison & More In Custer State Park
and Wind Cave National Park |
October 1 |
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Other Activities We've Enjoyed in
Rapid City & Our Travel Plans for This Week |
October 2 |
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The Rest of Our Journey Back to
Virginia |
October 8 |
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Final Thoughts about Our
Adventure to the Far North |
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Traveling To Alaska: Observations
& Tips for Other Intrepid Travelers |
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Part 1: Introduction to the
Series & Great Reasons to Head to Alaska |
October 9 |
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Part 2: Pack Your Sense of
Adventure + Plenty of Time and $$$ |
October 9 |
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Part 3: Getting There &
Getting Around + An Itinerary from Hell |
October 9 |
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Part 4: Research & Planning,
Routing & Road Conditions (+ wildlife
photos) |
October 9 |
|
Part 5: Timing a Visit to
Alaska (peak season, weather, roads, etc.) |
October 9 |
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Part 6: In Defense of
Spontaneity + Some Challenges We Faced |
October 9 |
|
Part 7: Vehicle Considerations
If You Drive to Alaska (condition of vehicle, type &
size of RV, etc.) |
October 9 |
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Part 8: Some Tips re:
Communication & Border Crossings
|
October 9 |
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Part 9: The Next
Time We Visit Alaska -- What We Might Do Differently
|
October 9 |
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The Final Numbers on Our Road Trip
to Alaska (includes
a comparison with our previous RV trips) |
October 10 |
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Virginia (Oct. 8-Dec. 31) |
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Now
What?? Our Tentative
Winter Travel Plans |
October 24 |
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Cody Finally Got a Puppy!!
Why and How We Chose Her |
November 2 |
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Happiness is a Warm Puppy: Watching
Casey Grow & Introducing Her to Her New Home |
November 2 |
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Busy, Busy, Busy: Life With a Puppy
is Harder (& More Fun) Than We Remembered! |
November 2 |
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Forest Therapy: Sue's Version
of Japanese Shinrin-Yoku, Illustrated with Scenes from
Recent Hikes in the Blue Ridge Mountains |
December 15 |
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Happy New Year!! |
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You can find additional photos of
our travels and recreational pursuits from previous years
on our
Picasa
site.
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