Tay Du Ky 2010 In English

IN Kootenay (BC)

We now have evening in Castle Mountain unexpectedly wireless Internet access, we will send another new message. A map follows with the next message.

The Kootenay is the South-eastern area of British Columbia, includes several high mountain ranges in the north-south orientation. Between them extend beautiful, sparsely populated valleys with rivers and a variety of elongated lakes. Brown and black bears, moose, elk and deer have a wide area. Sorry, we do not see it. The West is more humid rain forest, the east drier and the south because of the heat and the possibility of irrigation extremely fruitful. This summer was (and still is) very hot and dry. The bears floating in the valleys, as they are no berries in the woods.


THE GLACIER NP
strengthened fresh from the spa and the massage, we go to Glacier NP. At the pass, the Rogers Pass (1350m), we set the clock back to Pacific Time (Swiss time + 9 hours) and gain one hours weather permitting.
The Glacier National Park is located in the Selkirk Mountains. This mountain range runs parallel to the Rocky Mountains (Jasper, Banff, Yoho and Kootenay NP) in the north-south direction and is in the east, north and west by the Columbia River fringed, 100 km rises south of Radium Hot Springs and first to the north, then flows to the south. Between Revelstoke and Castlegar, the mouth of the Kootenay River in the Columbia, it becomes a 232 km-long reservoir. Then he turns to the U.S. (Washington) and leads to Portland in the Pacific.
In Glacier National Park there are 440 glaciers. Soon there will be less. We are in the Rain forest. In the 'lonely planet' we read: "it rains here only twice a week - once for three days and then again for four." Peter is sleeping obvious: we have splendid summer weather. At the campground, at 1250 m at a former rail loop of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) is 26 ° in the afternoon!

The Rogers Pass is a major transition. came as British Columbia 1871 Canadian Confederation, promised the first Canadian President, Sir John A. MacDonald to join within 10 years BC with the existing Canadian rail network. This was a difficult undertaking, as it was to find a way through the Rocky Mountains and the Selkirk to find Mountains. In the Rocky Mountains, the line of Banff, Lake Louise through Yoho NP was performed. In the Selkirk Mountains Major AB Rogers in 1881 followed her to the Illecillewaet River from the west and the following year from the east and found the access to the named after him after the pass to him for his service issued check for $ 5,000, he never broke . On 7 November 1885 was inaugurated the railway line. By the way, Swiss railway engineers to build the tunnel turns à la NP were contrived Gotthard Railway in Yoho NP. A delicate range of Rogers Pass was myself. Although situated only 1350 m, covered here in the winter usually 12 feet of snow. Therefore, in the first winter 1885/86 went no trains were first used on the pass than 1904 snow blowers, operating in the winter was possible. But only for a few years, the CPR took over the Rogers Pass

The disused railway line is now accessible on a 3.8 km wide path. Information boards tell of the earlier work. To supplement the finances of the railway was here, what is today the camp grounds - as before in Banff and Lake Louise - built a hotel. Tourism began to flourish. Swiss guides were hired, which opened up many mountain tops for the tourists. The area reminds us of Morteratsch: The curve of the railway line, the forest, glaciers and mountain peaks in the background. Then came

the horror: On 4 March 1910 were workers engaged in the digging to free an avalanche buried next to a tunnel route, as an unexpectedly thundered down from the opposite side and an avalanche buried 60 workers. A 4 km long tunnel was built. This meant the imminent end of the hotel operation. In 1925 the hotel was closed and dismantled. In the 80 years, another 14 km-long tunnel built (the longest on the North American continent), but the ride is due to ventilation problems, hardly.

attracts us to the mountain on Sunday. At half past eight clock we go in the shady forest to beautiful hiking trails in the air. Presumably, this way of the former Swiss Guides created. He skillfully overcomes some steep rocky barriers. At the Abbott Ridge (a ridge) are expected after 2 ½ hours of climbing an unprecedented view of mountains and valleys. 345 ° will be the panorama of glaciated peaks. We can not get enough. And what is good: no cow pies, no sheep's dung, no noisy tourists. Only on the way down we meet a dozen people, mostly Europeans.


IN EASTERN Kootenay
In the town of Revelstoke, we camped right on Williams Lake, a nearly 25 ° warm lake, what comes to us very well. The next day we drive on virtually traffic-free road to the Upper Arrow Lake dammed Columbia River along the south and cross it in a twenty-minute ride on a free ferry. Everywhere in the woods we see smoke and see and hear helicopters, already bringing the fire water. People have become accustomed to the many forest fires that are attributable in large part of human negligence.
to Halycon Hot Springs invites us to turn a spa to relax. The campground is similar but more like a gravel pit, says Esther, but the bathroom is excellent. About 50 m above the steep forested lakeside created, there are four pools with temperatures of 12 to 42 °. In the evening we enjoy a massage again. This time comes at Urs his account: a painless, gentle treatment by female hands. The Masseuse tells us much to go to Osoyoos. There the climate was warm and dry, not humid like here. Tätsächlich and it starts to rain and the same, and we reflect on their advice

About Nakusp is it the next morning southeast of the Kootenay Lake, the dammed river, we drove along in the national park. Since there are almost continuous rains, we do not go on walks and Nelson to Castlegar. This shows again the sun. It had been raining here just ten minutes, and yesterday it was 35 degrees was warm. The rain was badly needed for vegetation. Tomorrow we head to the West Kootenay.

Suck Asdian Women's Genitalia

glorious summer weather in British Columbia (BC)

Since our last news passed nearly two weeks. We stayed mainly in state campgrounds away from civilization and therefore had no wireless access to the Internet. On the other hand, invited the glorious late summer weather for walking, so did not have enough time to find a wireless connection. In Radium Hot Springs we have a comfortable campground with this possibility.

Yellowhead Highway (Prince Rupert - Jasper)
On Monday, 14.8. We will proceed with the Alaska ferry in Juneau (Alaska) from. The sky brightens. We look at the 28-hour journey to us between the islands that shield the mainland from the open Pacific, passes, hundreds of humpback whales, seals, dolphins, as well as icebergs that have broken away from the glaciers that reach down to the sea. So that we do not suffer the fate of the Titanic, the captain gives way to this hidden obstacles of course.
As we awake the next morning, we look out the cabin windows fog pull on the surface of the sea, blue sky above. We can hardly believe it: We're entering after a long rainy and cold in the warm summer of BC.
During a good week it heads east on the Yellowhead Highway. The 2853 km long road the Prince Rupert to Edmonton (Alberta) and Winnipeg (Manitoba) links, is named after a nondescript village, Tête Jaune Cache. This takes its name from a blond-haired METI (= son of a Frenchman and an Indian woman) Iroquois descent, Pierre Bostonais that the French used to be a leader and hidden in this place fur. 1827 Indians murdered him and his family.
Shortly after we left the ferry in Prince Rupert, we adhere to the rapids and make a einnstündigen walk through the rainforest - this time in the sun! The tide has just been used and the water flows over the rapids upriver into the interior - an unusual Sight! Finally, we find in the forest to eat blueberries and what the bear has left us left.
The road along the Skeena River fascinates us. High mountains surround the narrow valley, where in addition to the winding river bed is wide, which is sometimes a long, narrow lake, road and railway line looking for a way. We enjoy the quiet ride on the little-used road.
In Terrace we stay on a beautifully landscaped campground on a small island covered with tall trees. In addition to our RV, we hear a crack and see how to move the bushes. Suddenly we see a dark head with a bright nose: it is a young black bear, the red berries of the Devil's Club, a smelly plant eats. The diarrhea is guaranteed! A little later we see him on the driveway. Preferably we want to pet him, but he would hardly appreciate. A tourist once the steering wheel of his car covered with honey, so a black bear gets in the car. The fact was, licking the honey. The tourist was a super photo. But it was his last! Unfortunately, the bear in his own district, that he must share with us campers not welcome. In the morning, standing next to our RV a bear trap. Preferably we would like to warn our 'bear.
watch the next day and we filmed an adult Bear, who sits in a lawn mowed and the hay is pleasant, which has cut the farmer wants to bring in soon shoveled into his mouth.
The nights are getting longer, and finally dark, the weather getting better and warmer. In Jasper, at 1100 m altitude the thermometer at 21.8. as much as 29 °!
In Hazelton, at the confluence of the Skeena River, Bulkley River, we can visit Ksan, a reconstructed Indian village, which consists of large long-houses. These were the large Indian population as a winter dwelling. From spring to autumn were on the move as hunters, fishermen, berry pickers. After the arrival of whites in the 19 Century exterminated Diseases such as measles, cholera and smallpox before the thousands of Indians from this tribe almost. Since our visit there for a few tourists, we get a private tour from a native of this tribe.
on Yellowhead Hwy are few but well-kept villages. Of Smithers, a town in the 19th Century, mainly Swiss and Germans was settled, we start our first mountain tour. The tree line here extends to 1700 m (Alaska 900 m). At this level we are seeing once again a late mountain spring. Flowers, such as the Indian Paint Brush and Fireweed (fireweed), which are long since faded in the lowlands, are here in full bloom. We enjoy the breathtaking views of the snow mountains in the south. In the car park to fly some Gray Jay, a Häherart to him, and begging for food. You sit down to third on Esther's hand to pick crumbs and even sit on my hand holding the camera.
We meet in a single day four times a German family that we saw on our, Bear Camp Ground '. As they drive towards Lake Louise to Calgary and has approximately the same schedule, we travel a week together, that we do now and then a walk and then gather in the evenings in the same camp on the Common Ground Camp Fire. There are virtually no mosquitoes more Every evening we sit outside and enjoy the odd fine sirloin steak with a good Canadian wine from the Okanagan Valley.

NATIONAL PARKS (Jasper, Banff, Kootenay)
The three National Parks (NP) Jasper, Banff and Yoho we know her from our previous trip 1999th We decide to go only up to Lake Louise and then through the still unknown to us Kootenay NP to Radium Hot Springs. The
Campground in Jasper is indeed quite large. It holds over 700 cars. But because the sites are far apart, it is still quiet. We are in the area of the elk. These feed on the large lawn of the Camp Grounds and can also be caused by dogs not bring calm. On Evening, they roam next to our RV through the forest. Squirrels scurry fast, climb trees, throw down pine cones, which they then collect on the ground to pick the seeds from it. Since there is a lovely day, we climb along with the older boys Marion Mount The Whistler. By beautiful hardwood forests, the many - mostly empty eaten - is riddled berry bushes, the road winds upward. Droppings tell us that the bear was there before us! On the way we want to eat. With horror I realize that I only drink - after all, the most important! - Have packed up. Then it goes through pine forest. The tree line here is already at 2200 m. At large Stone blocks, Erika bushes, still blooming Indian Paint Brush and faded anemone past reached after a climb of 1100 m the mountain station of the cable car. With this we go down. In the turquoise blue Lake Annette, a mountain lake at 1200 m altitude, we enjoy a refreshing bath and then warm ourselves in the sun. The Icefield Parkway

connecting the Jasper NP Banff NP, heavy traffic. It has an incredible number of tourists. We are therefore looking at remote Camp Grounds, located in a quiet location on rivers in the forest.
in three daily routes we travel the 230 km from Jasper to Lake Louise. Along the way there to visit: The Athabasca River has changed over the millennia formed at a rock barrier always sought a new path through the horizontally layered rocks, and now a deep canyon. On Sunwaptafall impressed the vertical stratification of the rocks in the river which has dug about 20 m deep. Sunwapta means rice water '. Turnout in a dozen Bighorn Sheep are on the road. The Rampart Creek Campground is very nice and quiet. Nearby flows the Saskatchewan River. On the east side rise over 1000 m high rock walls. After dinner we stroll along the river and see traces of an elk (large deer) and probably by a Cougar (mountain lion). We also stop at Mistaya Canyon. The river, which from Peyto Glacier come from, has eaten here deep in the rocks. As we come back to the car, it starts to rain. While continuing the trip it poured with rain for half an hour. Peyto Lake on the rain stopped and the sun slowly comes out gradually, so that we can photograph the turquoise blue sea. We still get some 200 meters further up, until we have a nice overview.

on the famous Lake Louise ski races through the past we drive up to the Moraine Lake early in time and find a parking space. The view is breathtaking: the turquoise blue sea, in the background ten mountain peaks with glaciers, one a hanging glacier, like a waterfall between the rocks, throw himself down seems. First, we go the Pockpile Trail, a vantage point with good information boards. Then we want to move up to Larch Valley. For these groups, like other trails only be approved by at least six people, because he leads by Grizzly territory. It join us in two Americans from Minnesota and two Dutchmen, and we go about 400 m upwards until we reach the larch forest. From here, we enjoy the beautiful views of nearby mountain peaks.

on the TCH (Trans Canada Highway, which leads over 7400 km from Victoria on Vancouver Iceland to the Atlantic coast) and then on # 93, we continue on the Vermilion Pass in Kootenay National Park. By 17 clock we are at the Marble Canyon Campground, where we have agreed with Marion and the boys. The campground is closed due to grizzly bears. Which are more dangerous than black bears. So, we have no other choice than to wait on the roadside at the entrance to Marion and the boys arrive and then take them to 60 km from the nearest Campground, McLeod Meadows. The ride in the evening is very nice. The valley of the Kootenay River is deeply incised. Forests stretch to the rocky summit. Unfortunately, a large part of the forest is burned. Whether caused by lightning or by careless campers, we know, unfortunately, not on the information boards. Here we adopt We are running from Marion and the boys, the direction of Calgary.

In Radium Hot Springs, we enjoy the spa, which is nestled between high wooded cliffs. We can then indulge our palates in a restaurant in the open. The sun is shining nice and warm. We have over 25 °. Then we go to the spa again and give us a massage. I was expecting a relaxing massage by a beautiful young masseuse. Rather, it shows a true giant, a 2 meters large muscular masseur who kneaded our old, tired muscles. The well-being after the painful procedure can be forgotten. Then I begin to knead itself, namely the dough for two Butter braids out there tomorrow for breakfast. Meanwhile, Esther washed in the laundry the campground our laundry. And then it's off to the Internet, to the participation by all our friends to our happiness.

Retro Looking 35 Film

rain - a sweet summer


THE RICHARDSON HIGHWAY (Valdez - Delta Junction) had
The earthquake of 2004 damaged the Glenn Highway between Glennallen and Tok strong. From a trip to this 220 km, we were strongly discouraged. Consequently, we make the 100 km detour to Delta Junction. The drive through the Chugach Mountains, is at the western edge of the mountain peaks of the Wrangell-St.Elias NP and along the eastern Alaska Range varied. We enjoy the view of the snowy mountains, huge glaciers, vast valleys. The Wrangell-St.Elias NP NP is the largest in North America and larger than Switzerland. With the Mount Logan, located in Canada, however, he even almost a six-thousand (19'550 ft./5950 m). Incorrectly it is spent on some maps, and so in the new Center Wrangell-St.Elias than six thousand (19'850 ft./6050m). At last the weather is sunny. The road ride is very weak, and we relax a little unusual from the hustle and bustle of traffic from road to Kenai Iceland.
The construction of the Richardson Highway is back as the other roads on the Alaska Gold Rush. First, a trail of Valdez (the Delta Trail) applied across a glacier. At the beginning of the 20th Century was extended then a road through the Thomson Pass, in the 2nd World War II was extended for strategic reasons.
opened in 1973, 800 miles long Alyeska pipeline runs parallel to the road. A dozen pumping stations to ensure that the warm above 40 ° C within a week, crude oil is pumped from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez over three mountain ranges. At one of the major geological fault places in America, the Denali case, in the event of an earthquake made provisions: the tubes can move horizontally vertically to 7 m, up to 2 meters. Many information boards give us information about the numerous problems of the pipeline, the play is beyond the scope of the blogs. The current reduction of BP because of corrosion damage to a quarter of the normal amount of gasoline has driven the price up.

In Delta Junction, the official end of the Alaska Highway, the flows from the south of the Alaska Range next Delta River in the Tanana River, which flows from the southeast along the border with Canada since the Alaska Highway. From the river bank we have a magnificent view of the white peaks of the Alaska Range: Mount Deborah (3639m), Hess Mountain (3761m) and Mount Hayes (4216m). Nearby stands the Donnelly Dome (formerly Delta Dome), the weather symbol for Delta Junction: Two weeks after the only 3910 ft high and therefore only about 500 m above the DJ uplifting summit is covered with snow, DJ falls in the first snow. THE ALASKA HIGHWAY

(Delta Junction - Haines Junction)
from Delta Junction we drive southeast along the Alaska Highway, First Tetlin Junction to a distance that we at 11.7. had traveled. The ride through the beautiful woods is peaceful. Again, we can enjoy the ride on the low traffic street. The mountains of Wrangel NP in the southwest form during the whole trip a beautiful setting, which always stimulates their transit stops. Then it goes in the same direction, and soon We cross the border to Canada (Yukon). Belonging to the Alaska route to this point is 'only' 322 km. The rest, 1969 km, runs through Canadian territory (Yukon and British Columbia).
The border between Alaska and the Yukon was established in 1908 definitely. A 6m wide swath stretching from south to north along the 141st Longitude by tundra and taiga. Haines Junction is to show the landscape monotonous. So I do not miss anything if I have to concentrate fully on the road. The road surface is bumpy and that is riddled with pot holes, and several times we go through miles of construction sites. The RV is again covered with a solid soil crust. We choose not to clean it, because the onset of rain soon washes it himself, more or less clean.

At Kluane Lake, we stay in a fantastic location right on the lake shore. We want to once again enjoy the sun. We sit at the window overlooking the lake, which is stirred by the strong Bise. White crests race across the water. All the next day it rains!
On the spacious grounds of the Camp Ground, about 500m along the lake attracts pamper themselves often Grizzlies to grow since many berries. We see many of the perennials Canada Buffalo Berry (Soopolallie), which is rich in vitamin C, but also causes diarrhea. We can find the traces at the park entrance: a mash of bright red berries, which has eliminated the bear almost undigested again. Show on the east side, so it warns us, often a bear, on the west side of a mother with two boys. At the end of our transition game, we must admit that we are really happy to have not met them!

THE HAINES Higway (Haines Junction - Haines)
include the 250 km to the Lynn Canal on the Pacific coast to the most beautiful stretches of Alaska, and we take our time. Moreover, from the sun is shining and so we can make a few walks.

The connection to the sea through the mountains inland was a long time by the Tlingit Indians closely guarded secret. Only they drove over the Chilkat Pass trade in the Athabasca Indians of the interior. In the days of the gold rush it was a white man, Jack Dalton, to elicit the Indians this mystery. He put 1894 on a trail to Fort Selkirk on the Yukon just before Dawson City, ie every 20 miles he installed Camps (tent accommodations with meals), and collected massive street duties. The Tlingit, he was behind trying to turn it off by the tents away with the inventories. But Dalton was able to eke by, he lay back in the cold winter without provisions 80 km on snow shoes.
began in 1943 the United States to build the road today as a feeder to the Alaska Hwy. 20 years is not required for the simple route. She was always extremely problematic as topographical road. In 1970, the passage was controlled at five posts. Came a car within a specified time from one heading to another, was immediately sent a rescue team. Just before we Haines
cross the border to Alaska - and it starts raining again. The thermometer does not rise above 11 ° C.

HAINES
One evening we drive along the bay to the Chilkoot Lake. For two hours we are waiting on the river, which flows from the lake to watch the Grizzly, which each evening on the bank shows. But today he does not show up. It has quite a lot of people that are heranchauffiert buses. A large proportion of them are probably passengers of the cruise ship anchored in Haines. Suddenly we see a wolf for a few seconds. Fifteen minutes later he appears again. Word gets around, and prompt us stand around 20 people. Because this talk, there was no longer the wolf! But once the people are gone, we can some time even two wolves that look over us, watching and filming.


Skagway Skagway is the most important testimony of the Klondike Gold Rush. here to put the steamer from Seattle, and the 30,000 Stampeders set about to reach the Pacific coast, the 800 nautical miles from Dawson City. In winter 1898/99, everyone is trying all his by the Canadian authorities demanded and controlled material (around one tonne) the steep path on the glacier (Chilkoot Pass) to create the Lake Bennett over what he the pass 20-40 times cross had (see blog from 11.7.). The cemetery where buried, especially people under 45 years are testimony to the climate problem and hygienic living conditions. Within a year the entire forest in the area of Skagway and the Bennet Lake was cleared. At the Bennet Lake Stampeders built for their onward journey by water vessels.
four cruise ships in port have created, therefore romp over 1,000 tourists in town. The White Pass Railway is apparently all available locomotives and cars.
We also make the ride, but only in the evening. We are lucky: it does not rain and we enjoy the ride with views of the Lynn Canal and the mountains. It is brighter. In fact, they are still there, the sun!
On a bridge to brake the train. Two bears also use them to cross the gorge. Somehow they feel that our train is stronger with three locomotives and 13 cars as they, and are reflected immediately on the other side in the bushes.


Skagway - Prince Rupert (northern part of the Inside Passage)
our original travel plan, we had already changed in late May (before the start of the rainy summer!): Instead of Skagway to go back to Whitehorse, then to the Cassiar Highway to the Yellowhead Hwy reach, we booked via the Internet, the Inside Passage to Juneau (three nights) to Prince Rupert (Canada). We save 1000 miles by car and hope to pass on a fantastic journey through fjords, of glaciers and mountain peaks, on whale watching, to hiking, etc.

JUNEAU
arrival by 20 clock with the Alaska fast ferry Fairweather (ironic name!). She drove significant 38 Knots (nearly 70 km / hr.)!
Upon arrival it is pouring rain. We ask: Does it always rain here? And one answer: No, sometimes it snows! That autumn has begun, is for us a little comfort. In a brochure we read that there are in Juneau per year 250 inches of rain and 250 cm of snow. Skagway is 60/100 cm drier than Zurich. As a small consolation to the coast at Little Port Walter 550 cm rain and snow CM 300. For us a reason not to go there. At the same time we see on the Internet that it rains in Switzerland and cold. In southern Canada, the Okanagan Valley, on the other hand, it is 31 degrees warm. In two and a half weeks we are there and hope that we then another enjoy the rest of this heat.
Juneau is the capital of Alaska. It is made of about 30,000 inhabitants, lies on a narrow coastal strip, where a 30-mile road running alongside it. The hinterland, there is no road link. So it is reachable only by plane or ship. The airport is 15 km from the downtown. He has two slopes: a 2 km long for conventional aircraft, and parallel to a lake for seaplanes. The ferry terminal is located further 5 km. However, there are a large passenger port in the Downtown. On Sunday, four large cruise ships anchor. Accordingly, the densely populated town of kaufwütigen tourists from all over the world. Actually
Juneau has a lot to offer, and we had the intention of some nice hikes to glaciers and mountains in view to make. The hinterland is a vast ice field, stand out from the mountain top like islands. Instead, we get to the glacier (it is located at 30 m height on the outskirts of the city), in the Mendel Glacier Hall (20 km long and 2.5 km wide) that comes down from the Arctic Ocean pushes. An impressive sight, even if through a veil of rain. We observed swarms of salmon spawning, strenuous work for females as for males. The latter must constantly defend themselves against competitors by biting them even in the tail. In addition to the stream bed a bear the remains of his meals are left. Of the salmon he eats only the brain and the eggs, a ranger tells us. The rest was almost inedible because the salmon eaten since leaving the ocean any more and their meat is tough.
We enjoy our last day in Alaska with a delicious salmon dinner, which we eat everything, because the salmon was of course the young catcher.
Tomorrow morning at 6.15 we are waiting at the port on our boat, which takes us in 28-hour drive to Prince Rupert, where it currently also raining!

If Your Testicle Hurts Is It A Hernia

from Anchorage to Valdez from Fairbanks to Anchorage



Why Elche no headaches, although they (the must wear Elchstiere) so heavy antlers / may? They do it like we do: they eat, aspirin ', ie, the active ingredient of the bark of the willow!

Alaska is, in the language of the Aleut Alyeska, that vast country. This we experienced in the past three and a half weeks, although we are a very small part of this state have seen.

KENAI ICELAND
drive from Anchorage, we - along with Brigitte - on Sunday, 23.7. stay in the sunshine along the Turnagain Arm towards Whittier, however, before the tunnel at the Camp Ground Williwaw. There we can expect a like torrential downpour that lasts up to our departure the next morning. The heavy rain has washed our campers (the next night he is after a ride on a 2 km long site again covered with a layer of dirt). During our coffee break on the parking lot of the Visitor Center at Portage Lake, we keep our campers involuntarily laid on the table, when a squall our campers almost knocked over! The storms so fierce that we can hardly go to the Center from the parking lot to be without blown. Only later did we learn that Williwaw means 'in the language of the Aleutian Islands, strong wind'.
In Seward we see two more rainy days that we visit the Alaska Sealife Center, which was built by Exxon for about $ 50 million. romp in large aquariums the puffin, fish of all kinds and even seals, for which the basin is somewhat small. On a short hike to Exit Glacier, we observe long been a moose, the ten yards ahead of us, ruminating on the ground.
In better weather, we go north again. The turquoise blue of the Kenai Lake gives us a few times to photo stops carried away, especially since even a blue train runs along the shore. At Tern Lake, we observed during the coffee break terns. The trip by the Kenai Lake, through the mountains, over passes (which are less than 200 m high) and, finally, does the Kenai River westward along in sunshine and heat well.
On the way to Homer, we want a different photo stops: at Kenai River to photograph the fanatical sports fishermen who are like herons on the river bank. Your sport is to catch salmon and returning them to throw in the river and we think some kind of animal cruelty, in Soldotna on traveling Kenai River; in Clam Gulch, where we find the majestic volcanoes of the Alaska Range across the Cook Inlet (inlet ) see (10'197 ft. Volcan Redoubt, Iliamna Volcan, 10'016 ft in the sea Augustine Iceland, 4025 ft, from the top of a long cloud of smoke moves northward). From the 400 m high ridge, we enjoy a magnificent view of Homer Spit (Spit = headland), the bay and the opposite glaciated mountains.

select In Homer Spit Campground for a change, we as the luxury version: the Heritage Spit Campground, a beautiful place where we can observe bald eagles in the morning on the beach.
We walk along the beach and eat in, Spit Fire ', which was recommended to us by the lady at the Visitor Center, fine salmon salad. On Hole, a large artificial pond, are the hundreds of anglers!


visit on the way back we Ninilchick, an old Russian village from time with a beautiful Russian Orthodox church on a hill. The view the opposite is breathtaking volcanoes. The village is famous for the shells. We watch the people looking at low tide with small shovels tubes for these treasures. Of course, we also taste the specialty here, and it tastes good to us all wonderful!
Before we arrive back on the court Williwaw, we also furnish the old gold mining settlement of Hope a visit, but find almost no parking. Instead of gold mined today, salmon is caught: hundreds of salmon fishermen, and mosquitoes ravaged this village!
On Sunday, 30.7. we go through the 4 km-long railway tunnel to Whittier - a strange feeling to drive a car on rails. Thank God we will not Train meet! In the afternoon, we let the ferry for six hours through the Prince William Sound to Valdez lead, in the belief that it was for Brian, a brilliant end of her visit. But hardly has placed the ship in Whittier, the glaciated peaks disappear behind clouds, the rain begins. Although we see a few sea lions and seals, otters and icebergs two playing swam 30 km away from the Columbia Glacier. About nine clock in the evening we reach Valdez, we can barely make out the dense fog. The sun only breaks out again on Monday afternoon, as we observe on the other side of the bay salmon.

The Sea cook almost salmon from the thousands who flock to a Gulch Hatchery (salmon) in Solomon. The salmon trying to swim upstream to a fish ladder, which is due to the strong current is quite difficult. If they succeed up to swim, they are exhausted and ready to spawn, which is done in the factory for them kindly! The following spring the young salmon in the sea exposed will come after two or three years back here at their place of birth, and experienced the same fate. Out at sea we observe seals, the salmon catch and throw them almost playfully in the air. Gulls fly screaming approach and try to peck the captured salmon.
The next day Brian flies back to Switzerland and arrive the following day on the Richardson Highway to the Alaska Highway near Delta Junction (200 km north of Glennallen). Because the Highway is Tok since the earthquake of 2002, a catastrophic construction site, we have selected the 180 mile detour. Now we will immediately depart towards Beaver - cross the border to Canada - Haines Junction - Haines (re Alaska), where we will arrive on Tuesday (see map on the blog from 11.7.).


SPORTSMEN
We believe now finally know what a real, Sportsman's'. The "Sportsman loves' the lonely wilderness, mountains, rivers, lakes, wild animals like us, but the motive of this love is different. He is not to be confused with a sports man, because he differs from him already in his appearance: a sportsman is slim, distinguished the 'Sportsman' by a certain girth. He not only loves juicy steaks, but strong, loud engines. With its big pickup, he makes the evening a little tour. When he walks, he limps slightly, because his right foot is growing stronger from all the throttle.

to exercise his athletic ability he have the following options: first
He drives an ATV (All Terrain Vehicle =), that is a toy for children surviving men, in sand dunes, next to Highway on a separate track, dozens of miles straight, or on its own trail through the forest. For a change, he will be pleased to personal watercraft and race with turbo howling through the lonely forest lakes. A wonderful feeling! If there are frozen lakes and rivers in winter, a snowmobile it is available (snow mobile). Already in northern California, we saw specific paths that are paved only for this winter sport and reserved.
second He goes hunting, usually with use of an ATV, because ultimately it would be unsporting to carry guns and ammunition himself, and the prey must somehow find the way to his hut. A real Alaskans considers it his duty to the wildlife to regulate. Therefore, it hunts each year a moose, a grizzly, three black bears, deer, wolves, foxes and other small animals, the course will be caught in traps. He collects and sells furs, like other people their stamps.
third He goes fishing. On a hike to a waterfall called salmon at Russian River, we see people with boots, waterproof clothing and fishing rod, which we meet: no one has apparently caught something, because no one wears a tank. The solution we find the following day: on the banks of the Kenai River, the people are standing in water like frogs around a pond. The sport of many fishermen now is to catch the fish, the fishing rod carefully to emerge from the mouth when we are not, they let in there and cut the cord, then the fish back to feed his element. It is therefore recommended not to use stainless steel fishing, so they are possibly in the stomach of caught and released fish can again decompose. We think that these fishermen should first get through a test: You should pierce their cheek with a hook to pull a few times a jerk in it and then remove carefully, and if this procedure a few times has done with them, issue the Fischer patent. A smaller number of fishermen keep the fish they feed right out of big (the discarded remnants were still a treat for us!) and they take home. It has so many salmon that they can eat them all!
Despite all, we are pleased with the wilderness and are excited every time when we can observe a wild animal - even if 'only' a squirrel - and wish him good luck, long life and a natural death.

But there are also hard, really athletic Alaskans: We see them walking around in shorts and T-shirts when we are cold even in long pants, sweater and windbreaker. Minus 15 degrees Celsius when we are in the Engadine not dare leave the house is referred to here as too warm!
Each year in March, a competition is held over 800 km, on foot, by bicycle (Wide tires) is discharged or ski. And of course we meet again in the footsteps of the famous Iditarod sled dog race, which is known all over the world. The historic launch on 21 March in Seward. Today is officially launched in Anchorage, due to lack of snow on the coast effectively in Wassila. The target is located on the west coast of Alaska Nome.