February 15-23, 2025 - Alaska Vacation

We are heading to Alaska to visit the granddaughters.  I wanted to go in February, to see Alaska weather at its worst.  That did not happen, however.  The weather was the same, or slightly better, than Maryland's during the time we were in Alaska!

There is no comfortable way of flying from Maryland to Alaska.  Leaving very early, arriving very late, long layovers: pick your poison.  So I decided to fly from Maryland to Seattle, stay overnight in a hotel across the street from the airport, then have a reasonable flight from Seattle to Alaska.  This worked reasonably well.

Here we see a replica of the famous Burt Rutan-designed Voyager -- first aircraft to fly around the world nonstop without refueling in 1986 -- hanging in Sea-Tac Airport.  It is on loan from the Seattle Museum of Flight.
   
We arrive in Anchorage.  This is bear country!
   
The girls arrive!
   
Looking out the window of the Noisy Goose restaurant  -- we're not in Maryland anymore.
   
Time to play with Mimi.
   
Feeding the girls.
   
Ready to go out onto the frozen tundra.  Actually the worst it got while we were in Alaska was high-20s (during the day).
   
Looking at Mee-Maw mountain from Maggie's house.  As you can see, there is not much snow on the ground.
   
Having fun at Palmer Family Park.
   
 
   
Be careful!  If you fall off the Polar Bears will get you!
   
 
   
Parker
   
Zoey
   
Climbing and jumping.
   
Just picked a Go-Back card in Candyland.
   
 
   
We drove north a little ways into the mountains near Hatcher Pass to do some sledding.
   
Having fun sledding.  Plenty of snow up here.
   
 
   
We found this slightly inclined trail, perfect for hauling the girls up, then letting them slide down.
   
Just about to start.
   
 
   
Further up the trail a little ways was this foot bridge.
   
The water still flows on this little creek.
   
The weak winter sun tries to poke through the overcast.
   
At the Wasilla Public Library, which is outstanding.
   
We took the girls to the indoor Trampoline Park.  Fun!
   
Parker goes wild.
   
Mimi crosses a narrow bridge over the alligator-filled river.
   
Zoey goes flying.
   
Parker goes flying.
   
We took the girls to Newcomb Park at Wasilla Lake.  The temps were in the low 30s but the strong wind made it seem a lot colder.  We didn't last long.
   
 
   
Wasilla Lake is completely frozen over.
   
Iceboats are out today.  First time I've ever seen one.
   
A better look at one of the Iceboats.  Because of their low resistance to forward motion over ice, iceboats are capable of speeds exceeding 60 miles per hour
   
Back at the Wasilla Public Library, where it is nice and warm.
   
Back at home, playing the matching game.
   
Today Beau and I were at the Snowhook Adventure Center of Alaska to do a little snowmobiling.  You can also go on dogsled rides here.  We got outfitted into the snow-mobile suit, boots, helmet, gogles and gloves.  We were in a group of about ten.
   

We followed the Snowhook van up Highway 3, past Willow airport ont he right, then east on Willow Fishhook Road to the staging area where Snowhook keeps its snow machines.

But the real reason I took this photo is -- look just left of center.  See that big white mountain?  It's the mountain formerly known as Denali, now named McKinley.  Regardless, it's a 20,000 foot tall mountain.  We're at sea level right now.  I estimate we're about 70 miles away.  Amazing.
   
Snowhook has a lodge and cabins up in the mountains.  This is where they stage their snowmobiles, which you can see at right.  It would be neat to stay up here and go snowmobiling everyday.
   

This is the third time I have gone snowmobiling.  One thing I know about them; they require your full concentration.  Both hands on the steering.  Eyes out of the cockpit.  So no pictures while underway.

We drove the snowmobiles along the snow-covered road up to a cul-de-sac.

Here is Beau with our rides in the background.
   
Our guide, Patty, is in the yellow and black jacket, at center.  Our group was mostly first-timers so we stayed on the snow-covered road mostly.  I'd have liked to do more off-road.
   
Patty told us normally the snow would be ten feet higher than what you see here.  All those bushes would be buried in the snow.  In the distance to the east is Hatcher's Pass.
   
Looking west down the hill the way we had come.  Those buildings at left belong to a gold-mining company which mines for gold up here.  They process the ore in those buildings and are the reason the road up here exists.
   
Looking north.
   
 
   
Beau is ready to go.
   
The road back to Willow.
   
I have a new favorite restaurant in Alaska.  It's the Windbreak Cafe.  I had lunch here with Ray -- the gentleman who let me park my RV-7 on his lot back in Augustl -- and then we came back for a family restaurant the day we left Alaska.
   
Inside the Windbreak Cafe.  Nice and cozy and the food and service are excellent.  Prices?  Well, it's Alaska.  Prices are high.
   
The Burton family at play, including the cat.
   
 
   
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