August 31, 2010

Mush!

We've been wanting to do it all season and we finally did! This was the last week of the season that the dog sled tours were running so it was our final opportunity. We tried last week and it was full, but it worked out to our advantage because the weather was perfect this week. We took a helicopter tour up to a dog camp on a glacier and went dog sledding. There was only 5 in our group so Christian & I got our own sled and team of dogs. They also let us each take turns "driving" the sled. It was AMAZING! Getting ready for take off!
Flying over the glaciers. The helicopter could get so close.
Approaching the camp.
Ready to go!

Taking the reigns!
By total coincidence our friends from Juneau Gil & Lital were actually on the same excursion!

4x4

Last week Christian went on a ocean raft & 4x4 adventure in Sitka. There was an extra space and the shore excursion team let him hop on. They took ocean crafts through the Sitka Bay over to the rain forest where they met their 4x4 vehicles. Christian was in luck because the 5th person was grandma who didn't want to drive!
All geared up and ready to go.
Face shot.
Christian & Grandma taking off.

August 24, 2010

Under the Sea

I just finished a submarine tour of Sitka and my mind is currently overloaded with all the scientific names of all the urchins, fish & creatures I saw. My fingers were never fast enough to catch a photo of any of them though so instead I have tons of kelp and coral pictures. I'm not really sure why I was worried about it when I could just download better pictures on the internet, but here's a recap of my view behind the glass. I asked a guy to take my picture and somehow he managed to change the setting to black & white and turn off the flash without me noticing.
The tour guide threw on a dry suit to grab some sea urchins so we could get a closer look.

August 20, 2010

Grandparents & Glaciers!

My Grandpa & Grandma McNay came to cruise last week! They must have brought the California weather with them because we had some of the best weather of the season while they were here. We had a great time and I was even able to sneak away from work in Ketchikan to go on a tour with them.
We enjoyed the glaciers from inside, but quickly went out to snap a picture and hear the cracking and calving of the glacier.
Hubbard Glacier.
Saxman Village in Ketchikan. We took a trolley tour to the park and around the city.

Welcome to Ketchikan, Alaska!
Enjoying the last sunset on their balcony!

August 3, 2010

This is Alaska

Last week in Glacier Bay national park we saw 3 bears eating a whale carcass that had washed up on the shore. I don't think it gets anymore Alaska than that.