Anchorage Away

We didn't have much on the schedule for today, so that gave us the opportunity to explore the area around Anchorage at a more leisurely pace. From Wasilla, it took less than 30 minutes to drive to Chugach State Park. We paid the $5 day use fee at the kiosk in the parking lot of the trailhead and started the hike (~1 mile, one way) to Thunder Bird Falls.

100-foot elevation gain in the first 0.1-mile

Thankfully it was fairly level after that

Devil's club (Oplopanax horridus)

On the viewing platform, I set up my new tripod and played around with the DSLR settings to get a long exposure of the falls, as well as to take some photos of the fam with the infrared remote.

Thunder Bird Creek

We did not take the trail down to the base of the falls because, to be honest, the old people (namely, me) didn't want to have to hike back up. So we just headed back to the car. An hour well spent!

On our way back to the highway, we saw a sign for Eklutna Lake and decided to go check it out. 10 miles later, this is what we saw...

Wow!

J skipping rocks

📸: J

By now, it was close to noon, so we drove straight to Biscuitclub in downtown Anchorage for lunch. They are located in what looks to be a former shopping mall, with tables out in the corridor. We made it with an hour to spare before they closed at 2:00PM (unlike our last attempt). They hadn't sold out yet, so we were able to enjoy their outstanding biscuits and gravy! All of the menu items are named according to a rock 'n roll music theme. Highly recommend!

"Straight Up" - mic drop biscuit and sausage gravy
"Benny & the Jets" - mic drop biscuit, 2 over easy eggs, sausage patty (left) or bacon crumble (right)

Since it was too early to check into our hotel room, we drove over to Point Woronzof Park after we finished lunch. From the overlook, we walked down to the rocky beach and around the point to get a scenic view of downtown Anchorage from across the Cook Inlet. It's also directly under the approach to the airport, so we watched several passenger and cargo planes pass overhead.

 

We took a slight detour on our way to the hotel to stop by Moose's Tooth to buy a few cans of their excellent root beer. Since we're flying out tomorrow and can't bring any liquids on board, the guys had to polish them all off tonight. Life's rough.

After dropping off our stuff in the room, we drove back downtown to actually go inside the Alaska Public Lands Information Center this time. Lots of great exhibits here about the national parks in Alaska and so much more! 

Map of the region we covered today

Today's driving route for comparison

Only J decided to earn another junior ranger badge

Next we checked out a few souvenir shops along 4th Avenue, as well as the Anchorage Visitor Information Center, before heading to F Street Station for dinner. My friend who recommended Moose's Tooth also said that this place had amazing fish 'n chips. And she was spot on!

Beer battered halibut and shrimp

After dinner we met up with R's cousins' kids for ice cream at Wild Scoops. Both K and J live in Anchorage - we enjoyed hanging out with them!

Then it was back to the hotel to do laundry and re-pack for the next three nights in Katmai National Park. Since there is a weight limit on our Katmai Air float plane from King Salmon to Brooks Camp, we'll leave a suitcase behind with stuff that we don't need. 

So excited to see fat bears tomorrow!