sir_climbsalot

like portage, this glacier has receded tremendously in the past few years! it is no where near as big as it was when i was a kid, but is a much better glacier to visit than portage in my opinion. if you like exit glacier, visit the matanuska glacier! that is the best, easily accessable glacier in alaska.

i can remember when i was a kid and the glacier was easily viewable from the vistor center and the lake was filled with icebergs. you could practically (although not recommended!) walk from one side to the other without getting your feet wet. now however, the glacier has receded so fast!! the only was to get a real good look at it is to take the boat trip out on the lake. to see another glacier (of the hanging variety) check out the byron glacier, just up the road and a short hike away from portage.

i have to admit, seeing stuff in person that you’ve grown up seeing on tv and the media was pretty cool, and some of the sights were pretty amazing; however, it was dirty and most of the people were rude. overall it was someplace i somewhat enjoyed, but i wouldn’t want to bring my kids there i don’t think.

one of the most amazing places i have ever laid eyes on! i knew i would like it, but was asounded by the sheer size and beauty of the trees and the entire park. i don’t think i will ever forget the wonderful smell of the forest!

i haven’t been there since i was a kid, (lived in white sands missle range when my mom was in the army) but would love to revisit with my wife who is even far less traveled than i.

this is an area in the talkeetna mountains just north of wasilla that is absolutly beautiful. great hiking and the best rock climbing (not mountaineering) in the state! this picture of me was taken in the archangel valley (more specifically, just off the reed lakes trail) area of hatcher’s pass.

i was unable to spend any real period of time here, but for the few hours i was there, i had an absolute blast! the climbing was out of this world! the rock was great!

i loved this place! was finally able to get there, but i had to go in the middle of the summer, and i got super luck on the weather, in never got above 88 degrees! for an alaska boy, that’s hot enough!

i went here on a field trip in 7th grade and fell in love with the place. i talked my family into returning several times for a day trip. they fell in love with it too. haven’t been back in years, would love to take my wife here some day.

i grew up in the washington dc area, so i’ve been there several times. infact, this is where i proposed to to my wife. on august 13th 2002 at the top of the eiffel tower just before 10 pm, with the colored fountains as a backdrop. the real tower in france would of been preferable, but since i couldn’t afford to go there, had to settle for the next best thing.