Dog sledding, Zip lining and Bears! Oh, my!

We've had a great time visiting my parents in Alaska and created some wonderful memories, but unfortunately, the time is quickly coming to an end.  Sunday, Russell and I will begin the long journey back through Canada, heading towards Salt Lake City, so I can attend Close to My Heart's Annual Convention at the end of the month.

During our visit to the 49th state, Sarah and I went for a dog sled ride when we visited the Iditarod Sled Dog Museum and Headquarters in Wasilla, near where my parents live.  The dogs were actually hooked up to a four-wheeler that wasn't running.  They just pulled it and they pulled fast!  The video is a little blurry, but you can see what a great time we had doing something we had never done before and may never get to do again.

Sarah and I also went zip lining in Talkeetna, which is near Denali National Park.  We had a blast trekking and zipping through the forest.  We were fortunate, as our tour only had 4 of us:  Sarah and I and another couple who were from the local area.  Once we completed "zip line school", we zipped on 9 lines, crossed 3 rope bridges and rappelled down one tree stand... One of us, not so successfully, and that is why I have one less photo than Sarah does.  😏  However, our tour guide, still said that I won the "Cool Mom Award" for going.  Honestly, I wouldn't have missed it.  We had a great time!

Russell and I spent a number of days visiting Denali National Park.  Although it rained for a good portion of the time we were in the park, there is so much beauty that I highly encourage you to add it to your list of places to visit.  Everything to see from natural history, to beautiful vistas to wildlife... some closer than others.

On one of our walking adventures, Russell and I were headed back to Coco with Major and 50 feet in front of us was a grizzly bear!  He did not appear very old, but was he was alone, so we presume he was a mature bear of at least 3 years old.  He looked at us and growled and grunted, but just stared trying to figure out who we were and what we were doing.  We talked loudly to him and took pictures and he wandered off.  Major was great.  He didn't bark or pull, just looked curiously at the bear.

When we returned to our camp site, Russell realized that Major's tennis ball was missing.  It had been on the ground earlier in the day from them playing.  We suspect, but cannot confirm, that the bear stole his ball, as we never did find it and the bear had been coming from the direction of our camp site.  😱

On another day while at Denali, Russell and I took a bus tour of the park up to the Eielson Visitors Center.  Taking a tour bus is the only way to go to the interior of the park, unlike other national parks where you can drive your car throughout.  While on the tour we saw lots of other wildlife, including dahl sheep, caribou, ptarmigan, more grizzlies, countless arctic squirrels, snow shoe hares and more!  (Most were off in the distance and only show up as specks on a photo.)

Not to mention the flora.  Beautiful flowers were everywhere we looked.

Of course, no camping adventure is complete without a bonfire and roasting marshmallows.

Mt. McKinley did not want to cooperate and be seen until we were leaving the park.  It had been shrouded in clouds throughout the time we were there, but as we drove away, we were able to catch a glimpse of the peak of this magnificent mountain and see its splendor.

Take a trip, see the sights and make an adventure of it.

Until next time and more travel adventures,
Roberta
The Traveling Crafter (in Alaska for a few more days)