Ice, Ice Baby

Day 18 September 1, 2026

Thought about paddling for about one chilly minute when we got up this morning. Temperature hovering around 39 degrees Fahrenheit and the water had white caps visible. Sipped on my tea and quickly voted to go for a hike. Kenai Fjords National Park was about an hour drive from where we’d camped to fish so it made for an easy day of driving. Drove to Seward to see the small town at the base of the Kenai Glaciers and then over to the Exit Glacier road.

As you drive along there are signs with years on them which indicate where the Exit Glacier was in that year. Started around 1815 and we drove for around 2 miles before getting to the base of the glacier. The glacier is currently retreating at the rate of 128 ft/year, leaving behind a valley of barren rock.

The hike is just about 4 miles but the climb is over 3000’! Thankfully, we are at sea level and our home elevation in Bend helped condition us. Beautiful hike meandering through glacier streams, boulder strewn fields and the tail end of wildflowers – that last ditch effort to reproduce!

Also enjoyed watching different approaches to photography in such a beautiful area. We watched as multiple shots were taken along with the numerous poses of a woman sitting in her bra over looking the glacier, the superman pose that almost knocked the guy off the trail edge by the glacier and my favorite, the kid eating an entire four pack of croissants as hiking fuel! From Safeway no less!

Heading back to Cooper Landing to do some fun laundry and get organized for our next trek – off to Homer!

Today’s paper had the perfect cartoon. I think Ron might have selective hearing when I want him to stop to take a photo! Seems to be getting worse – or maybe because the photographic opportunities are overwhelming us!

Our Homer Odyssey

Day 19, September 2

Rather spur of the moment or maybe it was that third glass of wine, we decided we should really get out to Homer. It’s a bit of drive and well out of our way but the idea of seeing bears competing for the FAT Bear Contest in Katmai National Park was a siren’s call and so we headed to Homer. On a whim, we swung into a nice camping spot to see if there were any vacancies and we were rewarded with a site literally on the edge of the Kachemak Bay. Guess you score when you don’t need any services. Can I say how much we LOVE our van “The Merry Prankster”.

Took a nice afternoon stroll along the “Spit” in Homer and decided to sign up for a Bear hike….our first organized tour of the trip. Finger’s crossed we actually get to see bear.