Elk, Bears and Helicopters

Looking towards the Chugach Mountains from Talkeetna(Anchorage, Alaska 26 April 07)
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So Alaska.

Snow, ice and seals.

That was  pretty much all I knew before arriving in this beautiful state, nearer to Russia in places than the rest of the USA. Having flew up from Seattle across numerous snowcapped peaks to a very interesting landing (!) in Anchorage, we hired a car and took off to Aleyska for the last week of the ski season. The hill was pretty cool with good corn powder snow and we spent and enjoyable couple of days getting around the mountain in pretty overcast skies.

Stayed a night in Palmer, the 'bread basket of Alaska (Anchorage, Alaska 24 April 07)
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Saturday 21st dawned bright and clear, with bluebird skies in places. Pretty much perfect conditions for Rob to spend his 30th birthday voucher - a day's heliskiing. I opted for the slightly more grounded catskiing option, which still gave great untracked powder runs, but with a little less incline.

Rob had an epic 20,000ft descent day (probably twice as much as we would do on a large resort day!) and the grin threatening to split his face by the time I caught up with him back at base may suggest that he has required a rather expensive new bad habit....hmmm well at least I know what to get him for his 31st!

The Matanuska Glacier, north of Palmer (Alaska 25 April 07)
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Thinking that nothing could probably top our day back in the resort on Sunday, we headed up the Seward highway to the top of Turnagain Arm and towards the town of Hope. We passed the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center on the way, where injured or orphaned animals are taken in and given a second chance. The pictures on this entry of bears and elk are from here - they have massive acres to roam and are very much at home in their habitat.

After a good lunch in Hope we drove along the rest of the Seward Highway to Turnagain Pass, a main snowmachine place and avalanche area. Seeing the topmarks of the machiners just by the runoff zones of the avalanche looked pretty scary!

Rob at the start of the Iditarod trail (Seward, Alaska 22 April 07)
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Arrived in Seward to a warm welcome from the locals and beautiful views of Ressurection Bay inlet. Looking forward to a few days around this area of the Kenai peninsula before heading back to Anchorage and then northwards.

V&R