Back in Alaska

Hello You'all, I am glad to be out of the horrible heat of Memphis.  Alaska has wonderfully low 70's and sunny and a couple of days of drizzle rain.  School has been in session for one week and teachers have been in session for over two weeks.  I have started my last year in Anchorage, Alaska and have jumped in to doing so many things already.
We took a drive to Hatcher's Pass to pick blueberries. The countrysides are spectacular with colors - blueberries, fire weed, pansies, marigolds, and so many dandelions!!!

 You may remember this same photo from Hatcher's Pass and the Mine. I bet not because it was covered in snow!

One of the many beautiful flowers on the mountainside.

A local man was preparing his parachute to hang glide off the side of the mountain. He told us it will take him about 30 mins to climb to the jumping off point. We wished him well.

We learned you can tell how many weeks of summer are left by looking at a fire weed. You can see there is about 5 inches of the stalk still not bloomed so there is about a month left in Hatchers Pass.  The fire weed plants in Anchorage are completely bloomed and I hate to think our summer is over.  There is still 20 hours of sunlight. How can summer be over???

This is the park cabin where we pay our fees to park while we hike the area.

We found a fish camp with three usable cabins and one that can not be rented. The cabins had mattress and some left over cooking tools.  Not very luxurious but functional!

We found the fish camp toilet (a chair with not seat).  Much more than we had on the bear trip. Beth is sitting very carefully since one of the chair legs was 1/2 missing, Niki in the center and Kristen on the right. You have seen all these ladies because we did the Bike race and Triathlon together.

 Tuesday after school it was so hot (75) and sunny with beautiful blue skies so we decided to drive to mid-Anchorage to climb Flattop Peak.  Flattop's elevation is 1700 feet and it is very high. There were plenty of people picking blueberries as we climbed. We met some really nice people on the mountain.  We climbed 1/2 way up and it took us a bit over an hour. We hope to concur the top of Flattop on another weekend day - when we don't have to get home and grade papers and plan lessons.

 Here are the three ghost ladies on their way to climb Flattop.  We are holding our hiking poles!

 We are taking a photo op at the first level.

 Here we are about 1/2 way up the peak.

David and I joined Jenna, Jason, Aude and Nicolas and the children in San Francisco this summer. Fourth of July was hot and we all got sunburned.

 We spent the day in Salsalito. It was such fun and we had some yummy food and delicious desserts. The kids loved Alcatraz and the fireworks on the bay.

There was a gentleman who stacked rocks on the bay side in Salsalito. Pretty amazing - yes?

 When I returned to Anchorage, I attended Elise's 5-year-old birthday party.   We had such fun. The kids participated in a "Wipe Out" course outside and then had birthday cake. Elise has been introduced to the ice cream truck this summer so her wish was to have the ice cream truck bring the ice cream to her party. It was delicious.

 Addie enjoyed watching her sister open her presents but Addie was very interested in the "Ice cream truck" cake that her mom made for the party.

David and I spent a weekend with Poli and Bruce at Lake Norris. Bruce has mastered the art of driving the boat with his feet!

This was the sunset on our way back to the floating house for the evening.

So here begins my 3rd and last year of Sheryl's great adventures in Alaska.  I offer an open invitation to any of you to come and see the most beautiful state in the US.  I will try to have some great adventures starting with camping in Mt. McKinley (Denali) park, a float trip with fly fishing and a halibut charter tour.  I will be sharing all my activities with you as the year progresses.  My students are so thrilled to have school back in session and they can't wait to start playing "Minute to Win It" at the end of class.  I wish all of you a wonderful fall and may the weather get cooler for you soon.  I will be with my family again at the end of September for my nephew's wedding.  I wish Chris and Kari all the best and wonderful start of great memories.

Have a great September. 

take care

Nanuq of the North

Sheryl