40!

Tawna came back from Vancouver for my 40th and to head out on a road trip to McCarthy and Kennicott. Although a long drive (10 hours), it was wonderful to get out into the mountains. We started with a hike along the Root Glacier, which is where I taught ice climbing when I first came to Alaska.



The weather was hot and sunny making the glacier really slick, although that didn't stop a little bit of exploring on the ice...Tawna's first time. Turtle seemed to do fine with her claws although the sharp ice was hard on her pads.



We ran for much of the trail alongside the glacier, the 3000 meter "Stairway Icefall" as a backdrop.



On the way back into Kennicott, the trail drops back into willow and alder. It was soon after this picture was taken that Turtle found a black bear although Tawna called her in before trouble ensued! The bear headed up into the brush, not to be seen again.



Small waterfalls were a welcome place to cool off in the heat.



After a few days in Kennicott, our friends Justine and Stacia joined us for some dipnetting in Chitina. Here's Stac at 5 a.m. (having already driven 2 hours to get here) showing how it's done at the confluence of the Chitina and Copper Rivers.



The scenery at Chitina is spectacular. That is Mount Wrangell behind.



Unfortunately, the fishing was a little slow, although Tawna managed to catch this 20 kilo King Salmon. It was a little unclear for a while if the King would take Tawna into the river before Tawna got the King onto land. Luckily, Stac and Justine were close at hand!



Turtle was ready for dipnetting with all the running and hiking she had been doing. She's tuckered out but should get some rest until my comprehensive exams are done in the next few weeks!