Hiking and Swimming all in one day

Well, these little guys sure are growing fast!  They are already down to only 3 bottles a day!  They are getting about 32oz. in each bottle, along with daily willow, and grain. 

Walter was giving me some lovin after his bottle was gone...ok so maybe he was actually just seeing if I had any more formula but I like to think he was just nuzzling me. 

Wednesday night we had a Just Dance Party.  I became addicted to this Wii game over the winter.  It sure is cold in February so games like this helped get us through those cold and windy days. 

Friday, I had a day off and did a few adventures.  There were about 7 of us that wanted to do a hike called Crow Pass.  It is in Girdwood.  It was a total of 6 miles.  I would say it was a moderate hike. 










Here is a picture of the fun crew that I went hiking with. 

Then we ran into some other hikers that took a picture of our whole group.

On the way up we passed a few waterfalls created by the glacier above.











Later, that night, we went for a swim.  Yes, you heard correct, It was such a warm day that we needed to cool off.  Let me tell ya.....one way to cool off is by taking a quick jump into a pond in ALASKA!

Sarah and Nicole jumping in....

I had to get motivated, but eventually I built up the courage to take the jump.  I have always wanted to say I swam outside in Alaska...well I guess I checked that one off my list....

The fun crew after the swim.....

Well, I just blogged after a nice rainy day....I guess we have to have a few drizzly days in between the gorgeous sunny days.  It makes the sunny days that much sweeter when we feel we have earned them.

Goodnight Lower 48,
ErIn

My first Mountain Race

My first train ride ever!!!!  As a field trip we were able to hop on the Alaska Railroad and head over to Spencer Glacier.

 Marcie, a gift store employee, was posing for me in her rain boots.  They gave us all rain boots to wear since we were going rafting up to the glacier. 

 Christina is a new intern from Texas.  This year the Texans are over populating the center here.  We have 5 Texans that are working at the center. 
I believe we have all 5 big cities covered to represent Texas: Houston, Dallas, Austin, Corpus Christi, and San Antonio.

 Spencer Glacier is behind us in this picture.













This is the lovely group of people that I went on this field trip with.  You can see a huge chunk of ice behind us.  An iceberg like this takes thousands of years to reach the front of the glacier where it then breaks off.  Also, the part that is above the water is only 10% of the actual size of the ice. 

We finished our trip with a 4 mile float down the river.  It was a beautiful sunny.  We even saw a black bear on the train ride! 

Well today, Sunday, I ran my first mountain race ever!  It was intense!  It was called Bird Ridge.  The trail is 3 miles long at a 3,400 ft distance over the course of the 3 miles.  I couldn't have asked for a better day to run this race.  I am going to be feeling pretty soar tomorrow morning.  Which, should be interesting since I am riding 6 miles to work.  I have started working at the Portage Glacier Lodge on Mondays running the register.  I want to try to go to Hawaii this December on my way home to Texas for the holidays. 

Well, the pain is starting to set in and I should get to bed and rest a bit. 

Goodnight Lower 48,
ErIn

I'm on a boat!

 It's time for another intern field trip!  Last week, yes I know I am that far behind in blogging, we loaded up the yukon and drove down to Seward, AK for a day cruise.  We could not have picked a better day!  The sun was out and the temperature was warming up.  As soon as we stepped out onto the dock I knew it was going to be a nice peaceful day at sea. 

 The weather this past week seemed to be about 50/50 between rain and sun.  The one day of sun we get sure dos make up for the four previous day of rain. 










Our day cruise was not only filled with sea life; but a few land mammals as well.  We spotted a nanny and her kid about 100 yards up a mountain from the shore line. 

 One of the most exciting things about this cruise was the orcas that we spotted.  This particular pod happend to be feeding as we were watching them close by.  This was my fourth time to do the sea life cruise in Seward and never have I been able to see them as up close and for as long as we did on this day. 

 I changed my camera setting to get a few black and white shots....

 I even managed to snap just in time to see one surface!












There were lots of glaciers along the way.....

A few days later at work Doug Lindstrand jumped in with Sarah and I to take a few snapshots of the bottle feedings. 

                                                  photo courtesy of Doug Lindstrand

Sarah had a fan club hanging around her.














Photo Courtesy of Doug Lindstrand

While Sarah was distracting the others I thought I would try to feed Sully.  Sully was attacked by dogs at just a few days old.  We are still keeping a close eye on him since he needs to gain a bit more weight.  His wounds are healing up very nicely. 

                                                 photo courtesy of Doug Lindstrand
 Before I headed out I had to say goodbye to the man who holds my heart.  Walter is getting so big!  He must about 60 pounds now!  He was only a 20 pound, day old, little guy when we started raising him.  How fast they grow!  Well I am very sleep deprived and probably have a 4AM Feeding of some type of critter.....Goodnight lower 48, ErIn

                                                Photo Courtesy of Doug Lindstrand

 Day off!  First field trip of the year!  Thursday, the 31rst, a group of us went on the 26 Glacier Cruise out of Whittier,AK.  It was a rainy day.  However, once the ship left the docks the weather seemed to really clear up.  These two gals on the right are some really great interns at the center.  Sarah Howard, on the left is a third year returner.  Nicki Pinnell, on the right, is returner for her second summer at the center.  These 2 girls are going to be really fun to hang out with this summer!

 Kate and Nikki were also on the cruise.  Kate, next to me, is from Michigan; and Nikki has done work in Antarctica....which I think is really cool!

 Here is a pic of our whole group.  MT at the end of the table on the right is a cook at the center.  This is his third summer at the center.  He has also worked in Antarctica in the past. 









Some of the popular sea life that we usually see in this cruise are sea otters.  Sea otters can reach up to 5 feet long and weigh up to one hundred pounds!
 

 This little guy on the right was just jumping into the water as I snapped this pic. 

 Earlier in the week when I did that private boat cruise presentation I met the captain.  He was also the captain of this cruise as well.  He even invited us to stop by the Wheel house if we were interested.  Of course we had to stop by! 









Just some scenic shots along the way....

Our group stepped outside to get a group shot.  

 We also saw three mountain goats way up on a mountain.












This rookery is one of the last stops along the cruise route.  It is common to see a bald eagle hanging around to try and snatch a gull or two. 

Yesterday I also had the day off.  Kate, Claire, and I rode our bikes to portage lodge for some delicious grilled cheese sandwiches with criss cross fries.  This part of the 6 mile trail is my favorite spot.  It is called the enchanted forest.  The way the moss grows everywhere makes it seem like another planet almost.  This picture definitely does not do this spot justice. 

Well it's almost midnight and Sarah and I have a moose feeding coming up.  Now that there are 3 of these little guys it definitely makes it easier to have 2 people available for the feedings. 

Well it's almost midnight and Sarah and I have a moose feeding coming up.  Now that there are 3 of these little guys it definitely makes it easier to have 2 people available for the feedings. 
 Thought I would leave the readers with a few pictures from today's daily feedings...

On my way to give these hooligans another bottle :)

                                       Nicki giving Hammond one of his bottles today....

Goodnight Lower 48,
ErIn