Anchorage Photo Diary

Alyeska Finish Table: A tired Cleo Scribner at the busy finish table.

Alyeska Prince Hotel, Rear: A shot of the small lake behind the Alyeska Prince Hotel, one of only two 4-star resorts in Alaska .

Blacksmith Shop at Crow Creek mine, now a National Historic Site near Girdwood

Botanical Garden: One of many displays in Alaska’s Botanical Garden, where the route took us on the first walk of the Northwest Regional Conference.

Byron Glacier: While many took a 1-hour cruise to see the Portage Glacier, your photographer chose to see nearby Byron Glacier. It is accessed by a short 1-mile hike from the road leading to Begich-Boggs Visitor Center in Chugach National Forest .

Delphinium

Eagle Creek

Earth, Sea, Sky: Jim McCain’s “Earth, Sea, Sky: Cycles of Alaska’s Seasons” is a popular sculpture located in front of the Anchorage Museum of History and Art. Cleo Scribner, Jan Breneman, & Nancy Allen. Photo by a fellow tourist.

Fireweed: The forget-me-not is Alaska’s state flower, but during our week’s stay, the fireweed was everywhere, growing in delightful abundance. The natives used it for medicinal purposes. I liked the fireweed and honey ice cream!

Four Corners Tram: This unique tram was our turnaround point. Some took the hand-pulley tram to the other side of the creek and back before retracing our steps back to the start point at the Alyeska Grand Hotel tram station.

Garden Duo: Cleo Scribner and Nancy Allen in front of a beautiful outdoor garden display.

Gorge Rapids: Looking down over the Winner Creek Gorge. Frothing rapids on both sides of the bridge were unforgettable!

Group at Beaver Pond: Our group at the beaver pond in the Eagle River Nature Center . Moose were often seen in the pond but not while we were there this day. We did see fresh bear tracks on the trail, though. L-R in back: Joan Heins, Cleo Scribner, Liz Connors; Front: Jan Breneman (kneeling), Nancy Allen. Photo by Kitra Burnham from West Virginia .

Iditarod Dog: In front of the Wendler building is Jacques and Mary Regat’s “Balto” a bronze sled dog sculpture commemorating the starting point of the annual Iditarod Sled Dog Race, a 1049-mile race through the roadless interior of Alaska to Nome .

Log Steps: The log steps that Liz Connors and Joan Heins are standing on were carved from a single log and led down to the shore of Eagle River. They were at the edge of a large campsite in the park.

Matanuska Trio: Matanuska Mike, Matanuska Mary, and their four-legged friend on the corner of 4^th & E Streets.

Moose: The three of us who first arrived in town hoped to catch sight of a moose sometime during our trip, but this one appeared our very first day out, alongside the road leading to Kincaid Park .

Ship Creek: Eager fishermen at Ship Creek, birthplace of Anchorage and drop-off point for miners and early settlers.

Sleeping Lady: Cook Inlet with Mt. Susitna, which appears to be in the form of a sleeping lady. According to early legend, the sleeping maiden Nakatla is waiting for her beloved Ahgupuk to awaken her when he returns from war. He was killed in battle, so she remains asleep (we hope).

Statehood Memorial: The statehood memorial at Ship Creek Overlook, featuring the bust of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was president in 1959 when Alaska became a state. In the background is Ship Creek.

Turnagain Arm: a narrow body of water reaching 30 miles from Anchorage and Cook Inlet . Captain James Cook made three trips to this region and named Turnagain Arm in 1778. This is a view from a large viewpoint above the Seward Highway (below).

Visitor Center: an old log cabin with a sod roof. The surrounding gardens and hanging flowers are typical of Anchorage . They genuinely appreciate their too-short summers! Behind this building is the main building of the Anchorage Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, recognized as one of the best in the WORLD every year since 1995!

Wendler Building: the oldest building in Anchorage, constructed on the original 1915 townsite as the town’s first grocery store. In 1949 it became Club 25, a gathering place for local women. Remarkably, it withstood the 1964 Great Alaskan Earthquake.

Winner Creek Trail Alyeska: a beautiful trail in Girdwood, Alaska . What is not seen are the millions of flies which plagued us during the entire route - unfortunately.

Woodsy Cabins at Crow Creek mine, now a National Historic Site near Girdwood