Cordova Holiday

Vanagons lined up for the ferry

Cordova harbor under partly sunny skies

Childs Glacier & the Copper River

Old ice baby

Over the Fourth of July holiday we joined several friends for a trip across Prince William Sound. Two couples have recently acquired Volkswagon Vanagon camper vans and were eager to get them on the road, or sea as it were, to camp. We drove to Whittier in the Vanagons and sailed aboard the M/V Chenega, a high speed ferry, to Cordova. Arriving in Cordova we sampled the local cuisine (oysters and red salmon) and drove the 50 mile stretch of road to Childs Glacier where we camped for two nights on the banks of the Copper River. The Childs Glacier towers more than 200' above the River and was quite active during our visit. The Glacier moaned and cracked, sending thunderous kabooms across the valley each time house-sized pieces fell from its face into the silty Copper River. We spent most of one day watching the Glacier calve, cheering each time a large piece came crashing down. More pictures to come...

Valentine Getaway to Exit Glacier

For the long weekend Meghan and I joined our friends the Needs - Harry and Leslie - for a ski-cabin getaway. We drove to the trailhead early Saturday morning and began our quest after a quick stop at the Seward Safeway (which reminded us of the one in Kodiak). Our 8 mile ski out to the cabin began sunny, but the sun soon disappeared behind rain/snow clouds for most of the weekend. Our destination was a cabin in the Exit Glacier Area of Kenai Fjords National Park. While the weather did not offer much in the way of outdoor exploring, we enjoyed several games of Mexican Train, Hearts, and a menu of surprisingly tasty cabin-cooked meals (even a lil' champagne to celebrate V Day). Not much wildlife to speak of during the trip, only moose tracks (not the ice cream flavor) and a few bald eagles.

Meghan makes strides to the cabin

Entering the Kenai Fjords National Park's Exit Glacier Area

"...And some flapjacks."

Harry spies the toe of Exit Glacier

Nothing says Happy Valentine's Day like a warm afternoon ski to the glacier

Skiing home with packs empty and spirits full