Alaska Day 4: Minimal Visibility with Maximum Satisfaction

 Well....our beautiful weather took a drastic change on Day 4.  We were excited about Girdwood.  This little community is nestled at the base of a beautiful ski mountain and resort call Alyeska.  The plans for the day included taking an enclosed gondola up the mountain and taking one of the many trails that begin from there.  We were also excited to enjoy a lunch in the restaurant on the mountain with breathtaking views of the valley below.  The rain definitely had the ability to put a damper on all these plans, but we grabbed our ponchos and went for it.

There were slight moments on the gondola where the views opened up a bit, but for the most part the area was socked in with clouds.

When we arrived at the top, it was cold and still raining! We also discovered that most of the trails were still closed because of the heavy snow experiences over the winter season.  Kids were cold and their hiking legs were left behind.  Things were looking a little bleak.  We finally found mountain road that wound through left over snow fields.  Instant entertainment!  All three kids were drawn to the snow like magnets.  I kept semi-scolding the kids telling them they are going to get all wet and then be freezing.  I realized I was being a daddy downer and then just embraced it.  I'm so glad I did.

This snow field will forever be in Edwards' memories.  The kids started surfing, body sliding, but sledding over and over again. 

Kate entertained us with mermaid flops when she came to a dead stop.  Her jacket wasn't quite as slippery as the other kids.

Then they started racing.  On your mark, get set, go!  Owen got the award for biggest bomber!  Karen and I were laughing so hard.  Owen went all out--sprinting as fast as he could and diving head first in body boarding fashion.

We actually enjoyed seeing Alaska in the rain.  It was a fun change of scenery.

Zac tossed a snow chunk on this snow bridge crossing a rapid moving stream.  It was crazy--the whole section dropped into the river with loud whoosh!!!  We all were glad we didn't step out ourselves over the snow bridge.

The hike was a pretty steep decent from the gondola which meant we had our work cut out for us to get back up to the top where were planning to eat.  Karen used this as an opportunity for an extra challenge and ran up a good chunk of the trail.

After our mountain climb, we were all famished and ready for some grub.  Because of the poor weather, we were the only family in the restaurant!  Hot cocoa, soda, bread bowls, fish n chips, french dip, and chicken tenders, and treats.  There have been some memorable family meals in our past.  This one was definitely a top three experience.  To clarify, the food was decent, but the experience was incredible.

Owen being goofy after lunch.

Kate being cute on the way down the gondola.

After reaching the bottom, we had to quickly jump back into the RV and drive 20 minutes to the Alaska Conservation Center.  This place was a highlight.  Yes, it was still raining.  You stay in your vehicle and drive around a large area where wildlife has been rescued and care for.  Moose, caribou, bears, deer, eagles, wolves, to name a few.

Of course, there was a gift shop where the kids were stoked to start spending some of their summer savings.  Although not pictured, Owen purchased a stuffed animal eagle for $35 and name it Fluffball.  He knew what he wanted and never looked back on his decision.  

Kate trying on some cute bear slippers.

Is Kate making fun of the moose and pretending she has antlers?

Moose skins.

The mountains are still pretty--even in the rain.

This evening was such a great moment.  I remembered as a kid watching "Harry and the Hendersons"--a movie about a family that hits a bigfoot in the mountains and brings it home to their house.  Our RV site in Girdwood was tucked deep into the woods and very remote.  I thought it would make the perfect environment to watch this show on a rainy evening.  We all gathered around the iPad and watched and laughed!  Owen would carry some fear about bigfoots for weeks to come, but he loved the experience as well.

It's interesting that Karen and I were just trying to make the best of what could have been an awful, gloomy, wet day.  In the end, all three of our kids remember this day as their favorite day in Alaska.  There is something so fulfilling as a parent watching your children enjoy being together and laughing together.  It was certainly a day to remember.

Alaska Day 3: A "One or 5 Mile Hike"

 If yesterday's motto was "The Mountains are Calling and I Must Go," this day's mantra was "How Many Ways Can I Complain About Walking?"  

I'd been awake most of the night two nights in a row with an infection and knew I needed to get to the doctor.  Rather than explore in Denali another day, we decided to do a hike heading out of the park.  The kids hassled us about which hike we planned on and we through out ideas.  They heard us talk about a couple possibilities and honed in on the one that was 1-2 miles, deciding collectively that this was the decision.  We found a better option with dramatic views--including of Denali Mountain--but one child who shall not be named continued to complain 50% of the time.

We tried so many poses of Zac jumping off this rock but couldn't quite get the view he wanted.  Look at all the land!  Look at the views!  Feel that crisp air with the sunshine!  What a lucky morning.

Owen loved finding rocks and said he wants to be a glass blower like always, but also a geologist.

Owen was carrying a rock during some of the hike and a lady told him to "put it down right now."  Owen looked up with giant eyes and immediately replaced the rock, getting an earful about leaving natural elements in their place.  I was proud of his humble response to the abrasive encounter, and he was able to brush it off pretty quickly.  I told him we'd always have these photos, and we had a good discussion about why it is important to leave rocks, sand, etc. in their original places (while inwardly giving the lady stink eye for her brusque manner with my innocent and curious kiddo).

Such different terrain after a day of trail-less hiking to get on a well-traveled path.

After catching the shuttle bus and heading out of the park, we looked up Urgent Care locations and hoped for the best.  In the end, we didn't get back to medical services in time for me to get an appointment without waiting at the Emergency Room, and it wasn't yet that escalated.  We made a plan B, relied on Google Searches and Walmart's pharmacy, and headed to Red Robin for a late dinner.  I remember thinking Red Robin was a fancy place to eat in college, and the kids thought the endless fries/drinks/salads, etc. were exceptional.  We thought it was on par and slightly better than the Walmart prepped foods options we ate the days previously.

After a 6-hour-driving day, we ended in Girdwood.  It was after midnight when we pulled into our campsite, a place renowned for gold mining.  It was raining hard and Brady had to reverse into our site with the monstrosity we were driving.  We laid down under mostly dark conditions for the first time on the trip, so grateful for the burst of sunny weather and beautiful conditions we hit in Denali during Alaska's "less-than-sunny-summer" (Alaska Public Media).