7/24

First full day on the 2nd part of our Alaska trip. We picked up Mark & Janet Gardner last night at the Anchorage International Airport and a motorhome that we will spend the next 17 days in together. 

But before we picked up the Gardners we piled all 19 of our family into the motorhome to head out Alaskan Native Center.  Note Alex hanging down from the bunk bed. 

  

Today was a float plane trip to Lake Clark National Park. Interesting to note that a new float plane has not been mfg since 1962. The plane we flew in was a 1956 vintage. 

It was a 50 minute flight out of Anchorage over the Alaskan Ocean into the wilderness of Alaska. We flew over a mountain range into a camp for a bear watching adventure. It was amazing as we watched 15+ brown  bears catching Silver Salmon as they were migrating up stream as it entered the lake. One of  highlights was a mother and three cubs that came to lake to feed. Also hovering overhead were 7 to 8 Bald Eagles.  

Immature Eagles in the dead tree.

After watching the bears we took a tour of the lake. Wendy & Janet got out and walked on a floating bog. Interesting their feet sunk several inches passed their ankles but not all the way through. 

Views on the way back to Anchorage which included flying over a glacier, moose sightings, black beaters a grizzly bear and beluga whales. Amazing trip!