2012 in Review

August and September, 2012

Yukon River paddle and Southeast Alaska

It seems we can not get enough of the far North!  We left home on August first and drove west through Montana and entered Canada and drove the Ice Fields Highway to the Alaska Highway to Whitehorse, Yukon.  On the way we spent a few days in Hyder, Alaska viewing Brown bears feeding on a Salmon run and then a few days in Skagway. 

 We met the Road Scholar group in Whitehorse and geared up and put in for 12 days of paddling canoes and camping along the historic river.  We spent 3 days on Lake LeBarge before we entered the Thirty Mile section of the Yukon River. Lake LeBarge, made famous in Robert Service's "The Cremation of Sam McGee" :
        "The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
          But the queerest they ever did see, 
          Was that night on the marge of Lake LeBarge
          I cremated Sam McGee".

The Yukon River is gin clear with a very fast current.  We could easily travel 30 or more miles a day, and spend some time rafted together and still make progress.  We stopped and often camped at historic Klondike Gold Rush related sites, small ghost towns, paddle wheel  boat repair yards, abandoned boats and trading posts.  Parks Canada is stabilizing and restoring some of the old log buildings.  We paddled almost 200 miles on the river and took out at the town of Carmacks, along the Klondike Highway.

Lake LeBarge

Houtalinga boat yard

Thirty Mile section of the Yukon River

Camping at the Big Salmon town site

Rollin' down the river

A fun Road Scholar group!

It is always bittersweet when a trip comes to a close.

 

2012 in Review

Update Part 2

May 2012:  Owhyee River Raft Trip; Oregon

We have had our eye on this rafting trip with Road Scholar for a while.  The Owyhee River is in South Eastern Oregon, in the lava flow areas of the Columbia Plateau.  We spent 5 days on the river in 6 person paddle rafts.  The white water was not huge, the scenery, geology and desert flora were stunning. On the way to Oregon, we visited the Tetons, Yellowstone, Black Hills and points in between. We just can't pass up an opportunity to explore.

 Enjoy a few pictures of our adventure.

 Raft tripping with an outfitter is always fun, the crew makes plentiful and delicious meals. Camping on gravel bars can be windy and cold at times, but it is all part of the adventure.   

 Others were using the river long before we arrived.

Can't pass up a chance to spend some time in Yellowstone.

We hiked to the top of Harney Peak in the Black Hills. 

 2012 in Review

 An update from 2012-2013:  Still on the move!

Hello!!  We haven't updated our Travels page for a long time.  In fact, I had a good summary of our 2012 adventures  in the works, but as computers go, it all disappeared in an instant and I gave up on it.  So, here goes the next try!  Keep fingers crossed.

March 2012:  HIKE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE GRAND CANYON

After spending the first part of the year getting in shape, by hiking with packs around our trails etc, we drove to Arizona and spent some time in the Sedona area and then met the Road Scholar group on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.  We prepped for the hike down the South Kaibab Trail.  At the bottom, we stayed in Phantom Ranch cabins for two nights, then hiked up the Bright Angel Trail.  We started and ended the hike in snow at the top.  Along the Colorado River the temps. were in the 70's.  The scenery here is eye-poping.  Here are a few pictures from that adventure.

 A Grand Canyon

 The first mile or two near the Rim was covered in snow and ice.

 Part of the South Kaibab Trail, endless switchbacks on the way down.  The river is not even in view!

 The River Trail was cut out of rock by the CCC, travels along the Colorado River at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

 The lower part of the Bright Angel Trail.  We hiked along the river then turned up this section, the first of many steep areas in the 9 mile distance and almost 5000 feet gain in elevation on the way up.

 Phantom Ranch is way down there somewhere!!  We liked this hike so much we are going to do it again in September, 2013!  This time we will backpack from the North Rim, down to the bottom, then up the South Rim.  We will spend 5 nights in the canyon.

Ned and I at the start of the hike down into the Canyon.

Ned and I after the hike down to our cabin at Phantom Ranch.  We shared it with 12 others!