The Last Frontier - the Wild

Ho-ly crap. We got back from Alaska and right away school was up and running again. I started back last week with meetings and today was my first day of school with new students! Oh man, I feel like there are a million things to catch up on. Summer reading, new picture books, back to school stuff, and then some.

Most importantly, I have to tell you about Alaska. We took over 500 pictures so this might take a couple of posts. No, I won't share all 500 hundred. But there were so many parts of our Alaska trip I loved.  I'll start with logistics and then tell you all about how to spot the best wildlife, cuz that was our top mission.

My Aunt Julie, Uncle Richard, and their two sons have lived in Juneau for my whole life. Well, Alex and Jonathan are younger than me, but you get the idea. I lived on the west coast for a total of 10 years and never, ever, ever did I take advantage of the proximity to Alaska to visit. Of course it is now that I am on the other side of the country it worked out. Regardless, we are so glad to have made it!

Most people I hear from these days wander into Alaska on a cruise. I've heard they are amazing and you get to see many different parts of Alaska. Because we were staying with family, we settled into Juneau and really got to know this stunning corner of southeast Alaska. The BF and I are the kind of travelers who tend to avoid super touristy attractions. We like to vacation with a healthy dose of getting out and doing things and laying low and relaxing. So Juneau, rainy and 55 degrees, was the place for us.

My Aunt Julie - our activities coordinator as she lovingly dubbed - led us in the right direction to see all the wildlife. We came in ready to check off boxes because we had been obsessively watching every Alaskan documentary available. (Seriously, watch Wild Alaska, Live! You won't regret it.) The only animal we didn't see was a sea otter. That was probably for the better because those things are so darn cute I would have tried to smuggle it out of there.

Here's what we saw!

Not a wild animal - just the beautiful home we stayed
in where we got to see wildlife from those windows!!

Aunt Julie's "front yard"
We saw porpoises and seals roam through here

At the entrance to Mendenhall Glacier

This sow and her three cubs passed right in front of that bear crossing sign!!

Up close and personal. I can't believe how close we were to these black bears

There is a porcupine in there! One of my favorite sightings!

Seals. On ice bergs. Because Alaska. 

Lots of quiet days just fishing in the front yard.
This is a sculpin, aka a "Double Ugly."
We threw these guys back in. Yuck. 

Dolly Vardens. Ate these ones, used others for bait in the crab pot

Caught three Coho Salmon on this fishing adventure! All around 10ish pounds

Uncle Richard with one of his salmon

BF with his 40 pound halibut

This is what we call Sea to Table. Delicious!

The crabs liked the Dolly Varden but they escaped. This flounder did not.
We let him go. 

Smoked salmon that arrived in the mail yesterday!! #yummmm

I lost count of how many bald eagles we saw. Approximately 1 million

We're heading out on our last summer adventure this weekend so I will post more when I get back! Have a lovely 3-day weekend!