It’s midnight as I write this. We woke to a glorious day in Denali with crystal blue skies. We met the train at the Denali Rail Depot and boarded for an incredible trip to Anchorage. However, there was a “broken rail” down the line that needed fixing before our train could pass. We moved slowly for a couple of hours and then sat still for another. As a result, we arrived in Anchorage an hour and a half late. The train had not only a domed car but also an outdoor platform, allowing me to capture stunning shots of Mount Denali in full splendor, shooting south to north. What a day. Come along for the ride! Definately click to full screen.
Tag Archives: #Anchorage
Exploring Anchorage: A Day on the Trolley
We took a trolley tour of Anchorage today. Sure, it’s touristy, but if you only have one day in a city, it’s a great way to get a general sense of the place. The only downside? Everything went by so fast, there was NO TIME TO SNAP A PIC. The trolley whisked us through several neighborhoods, showcasing Anchorage’s economic diversity, from trailer parks to mansions.
As we trundled down 4th Avenue, our guide explained how the street was dramatically altered by the 1964 earthquake. This 9.2 magnitude quake still holds the record for the largest in U.S. history and the second largest in the world. The North American Plate and the Pacific Plate run right down the middle of the road, splitting it in half. During the quake, the Pacific Plate side sank a full story. Today, some buildings have their original second floors at street level.
Next, we visited Earthquake Park, which used to be a neighborhood of elegant homes. During the quake, the ground liquefied, washing all the homes out to sea. It’s a sobering reminder of nature’s power.
The highlight of the tour was the Lake Hood Seaplane Base, the busiest seaplane base in the world. The road winds around the natural shore of the lake, with slips for planes and little storage huts dotting the landscape. In total, there are 781 aircraft here. The 500 float slips cost just $105 per month, but there’s a catch—the wait time to get one is 3,352 days (that’s over nine years!).
Jen’s Restaurant did not disappoint.
Grilled Kodiak Scallops
Citrus and pistachio quinoa, whipped feta, sugar snap pea and red bell pepper salad.
We’re up early tomorrow (at the crack of dawn?) to catch the train to Denali.
How Many Mechanics Does it Take to Change a Tire?
So we flew out yesterday on a 737 Max 8, so you know there had to be some bad parts on the plane. Ours turned out to be a wheel. Once we got going the flight was uneventful. It was a 6 1/2 hour flight, overcast most of the way. And while they found a new wheel for the plane they weren’t able to find any food for those in steerage class so that little bag of pretzels had to tide us over. Once the clouds cleared as we got closer to Anchorage we were treated to some incredible views, including glaciers.
After a long and tiring day, you’d think sleep would come easily. However, that wasn’t the case. We had read about the sun rising at 3:30 AM and not setting until 11:00 PM, but reading about it is quite different from experiencing it firsthand. It turns out it never really gets dark. Here’s a shot of the view from our hotel at 10:45 PM.
Tonight we are dining at Jen’s Restaurant for some local cuisine. I found out about it from a UPS pilot who I follow on Twitter. She flies all around the world and always posts comments about food. Tomorrow will be an early rise (shouldn’t be difficult with dawn at 3:30 AM) to catch the train to Denali.