Saturday, 25 July 2015

Anchorage to Seward & Kenai then to Denali

After the long day yesterday we decided on something a little slower today. First we headed to the Alaska Native Heritage Centre where we saw some local tribes demonstrating their traditional dances (Anne joined them on stage) & also checked out their displays on their traditional homes, tools, totems, food etc. A really well set up centre.
Next day we headed back to the train station for a magnificent journey to Seward followed by a cruise around the Kenai Fjords. The train journey was spectacular commencing by following the coast before rising through zig zag's & hair pin bends, over a pass via a steep sided gorge surrounded by rivers, waterfalls, glaciers, lakes & stunning views across the mountains.

Views from the Anchorage to Seward Train
We then boarded the Glacier Express for a cruise in the Kenai Fjords. We saw more glaciers up close, puffins, kittiwakes, sea otters, orca's, a black bear close to the shore, seals & more. Another long & stunning day.
Puffin
Sea Otter
Aialik Glacier (note ship in front of middle rock)
On the return train journey to Anchorage we saw dall sheep, mountain goats, moose & a brown bear.
Train track S Bends
As if this wasn't enough, next morning we jumped back on the train for Denali. This was a trip through beautiful birch & spruce forests with patches of low scrub, rivers running thick with glacial silt, beautiful lakes, bogs & swamps - but always surrounded by mountains. We also saw trumpeter swans & beaver dams. The bridge over Hurricane Gulch was a little scary (296 feet above the creek).
View from Hurricane Gulch

A trapper cabin

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