Today was probably one of the best all-around days I've had in Juneau between this summer and last. Work wasn't too bad -- still just entering the mountain of numbers I have into excel -- but after work was great. I wanted to do some more exploring around the Mendenhall glacier, so I first headed up the West Glacier Trail via mountain bike. It was full of all sorts of rocks and tree roots and such, and made for a great time. However, I couldn't find the trail head I was looking for, so I turned around and headed to the other entrance to the glacier. Along the way, I remembered that there is a big trail system that I hadn't explored yet that leads up to the glacier, so off I went to get lost in the woods. First off, it was an awesome trail, but one to be done on bike as the mosquitoes are out in full force!
Okay, maybe not quite that bad. But anyways, off I went getting as many bug bites as possible. In exchange for all the bites, Alaska decided to give me a wildlife show. First up (after the bugs of course), was the beaver! I didn't get to see one all the way unfortunately, but I did hear him splash into the water, and he left behind all sorts of obstacles to bike around:
I then rode and rode and rode, taking several wrong trails and going into all sorts of funky places, until I finally found the trail that leads to the visitors center. Then, to my delight, just as I got off my bike to walk on the platforms for all the tourists, just 15 feet to my right and 6 feet down was a young black bear! I've been this close to them before, but not with a camera, so I was very pumped and took farrrrr too many pictures...but some good ones none the less!! Roooaaarrrr!
I watched the bear looking around for food for about 15 minutes or so, and after he (or she) headed off into the woods, I progressed along to the sandy glacial beaches to get an up-close shot of the waterfall and glacier:
I had also caught wind of there being a mountain goat family living up right next to the waterfall, and right on cue, there they were!
So, my animal checklist for the summer is pretty well filled already (as I saw whales last week off Lena Point), and the remaining creatures include salmon (alive haha), Orca's, a Grizzly, and maybe if I'm lucky, a wolf! Keeping my fingers crossed.
3 comments:
You should add Momma Black Bear to your list! :)
Cool pictures.
Awesome pictures!!! The glacier looks a lot smoother than the ones that we saw in Iceland. OURS WERE BETTER. No, I kid -- all glaciers are pretty cool. Once again, I am quite jealous of you -- sitting in an office in Deike all day only to return to my dark apartment with two other guys does not compare to the amazing wilderness (although sometimes it is kind of wild). Be sure to write more blog entries, it gives me something to do while I "work"!!!!!!
Call me soon like you said you would, loser. (<3)
Kevin - those bear pictures are AWESOME! I can't believe that thing didn't a. run away or b. eat you with being that close. Crazy Juneau bears... keep up the great blogging!
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