Travelogue: Alaska Part Three

Denali.  At first I was planning on only one post for Denali.  Then I realized, Denali is way too incredible to limit to one post.  So there will most likely be three more.

This one is all mountains.  I took a helicopter ride where we landed on a glacier to view the mountains from above.  Best. Purchase.  This was beyond incredible to be flying over this relatively untouched wilderness and seeing the grandeur of the area from the best vantage point.  This post is almost entirely of mountains - you're welcome.

Views from the train ride there.

First full view of Mt. McKinley or Denali.

 This is passing over the canyon on a bridge while riding the train. Straight out of a movie.

 These next ones are all from the helicopter.

 Avalanche

 I know this is a terrible picture (I was sitting on the wrong side of the helicopter), but that's Denali Mountain off in the distance there.  This helps give some perspective to it's IMMENSITY when you realize the peaks right in the front are around 8-9 thousand feet tall.

 Go to Denali.  Don't ever skip it on your Alaska trip.  And take a helicopter ride.  It's worth the hefty price.
-Leah

Travelogue: Alaska Part Two

The beauty never gets old.  I decided to drive across the Kenai Peninsula where I stayed for two nights on a hostel/farm owned by this famous local family, the Kilchers in Homer.  I was able to work on the farm for a free room.  I love being a money savvy traveler so that was right up my alley.

I headed back to Seward after my time in Homer to go ice climbing on Exit Glacier.  I highly highly recommend ice climbing. Strenuous, beautiful, tremendous, challenging, and rewarding.

 View on my four hour drive across the peninsula.

  Back at the Harbor watching a sea lion in the bay before catching my bus to Anchorage.

Next up: Denali.

-Leah

Travelogue: Alaska Part One

Travelogue: Alaska Part One

First things first, I loved Alaska.  Vast, extreme, epic, unforgettable. My advice on traveling to Alaska: GO.

All found on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail in Anchorage.

On the train ride from Anchorage to Seward.

At the SeaLife Center

 Seward Small Boat Harbor

 Sea otter

 Rare Harbor Seal - they are usually very shy of boats.

 Sea Lions

 Aialick Glacier

More to come.  Alaska's beauty and wildness is too much to contain in one post, two posts, a whole blog, or the whole internet.  

-Leah