Day 13 - This was our last day in the Seward area. We had a rafting trip on the Kenai River scheduled. It was about a 1 hr drive out of Seward to the rafting outfitters, Alaska Wildland Adventures, at Cooper's Landing.

We signed up for their 7 hour raft trip on the Kenai River. It was supposed to be a spectacular float trip thru pristine Alaskan wilderness. The first 4 hours of the trip followed the main highway. There were fishermen lining the banks of the river, one about every 5 feet. It wasn't very wildernessy! The last 3 hrs was a little better but the last hour of the 3 we motored across Skilak Lake. The lunch they served on the banks of the river though was pretty good. In retrospect, I probably wouldn't recommend the 7 hr trip, or for that matter, any trip on the Kenai River.

After the raft trip, we hopped into the car and took off for Hope located on the southern shore of Turnagain Arm. We stayed in a cute cabin at Bear Creek Lodge. They have a nice cafe there on site. We really liked the place.

Bear Creek Lodge is a set of cabins nestled around a small pond. They even have a paddle boat.

Day 14 - Our activity for today was a day hike up to Hope Point. The trail is about 3 miles, very steep in sections with no switchbacks! The views along the way are fantastic. We got panoramic views of Turnagain Arm. Off in the distance to the west we could see Anchorage on the opposite shore of Turnagain Arm.

Marking the peak of Hope Point was a small rock pile with a cross. I went to the peak to take a series of panoramic photos and was instantly assaulted by some type of flying bugs. They were erupting out of the earth from the rock pile like a biblical plague! I put on my bug headnet, rolled down my sleeves and took my photos despite the onslaught. I could feel and hear the bugs flying into my headnet and jacket while I stood there.

We enjoyed a slow return hike back down to the trailhead. Then it was back into the car and a long drive back to Anchorage and our friend Karen's house for sleeping.

Here's Diane descending the trail on the backside of the peak. In the bay in the center of the photo is the town of Hope.

Here's a panoramic shot of the view from Hope Point. Click on the image for an enlarged view (81k)

Day 15 & Day 16 - Our last two days in Alaska we spent in a "kick-back" mode. Karen took us on an easy flat hike along the Gold Mint Trail which followed the Susitna Creek up a long valley. At the end of the valley was a glacier. We never made it far enough to see the glacier, but we had a nice scenic walk and a nice lunch along the creek. After leaving the Gold Mint Trail we drove up to the Independence Mine State Historical Park. The park consists of the ghost town ruins of an old gold mine that started in the early 1900's and which was closed in January 1951. We hiked around the ruins playing tourist, reading all the interpretive signs, and taking photos. When we left the mine, Karen took us on up to nearby Hatcher Pass.

At HAtcher Pass we must have spent an hour or two watching the para-sailers gliding on the air currents coming up from the valley below. They were gliding back and forth, to and fro. They were so quiet and graceful. The "pilots" made it all seem so easy. They'd spread their "kite" across the ground and then with a quick tug on the strings, the kite would billow out in the air currents. Then after a few short steps down the hill into the wind and they'd be aloft.

Our last day in Alaska was spent relaxing around Karen's house and kayaking on nearby Eklutna Lake.

Here's a panoramic view of the Independence Mine ghost town. We walked all around the site.