The Great Adventure: Camping

Back out into the wild...

We survived. Burke lived. Our first camping trip was successful.

Justin, Burke and I set out from a dark and dismal Anchorage and headed north west to Lake Louise. Nope, not the well known Lake Louise in Banff, Canada, but Lake Louise right here in Alaska. As Justin drove through the summer snow (EVIL Cottonwood) we found the sun. Oh, glorious sun. The drive was beautiful. So much to look at...glaciers and mountains everywhere.

We found the sun!

Burke took a 2 hour nap making the drive easy

Mountains and glaciers

The road to Lake Louise - looks like an earthquake hit but it's just frost heaves

We joined Tim (Justin's coworker) and Michelle Clapp, some of their friends and Michelle's family. Tim and Michelle took great care of us. They set up a tent for us, had a huge tarp to cover us, as well as sleeping bags and an air mattress. They fed us well (steaks, pork chops, s'mores, fish and chips, alligator, pancakes, cheese sticks, hamburgers, and more s'mores) and entertained us with beer, boat rides, and beaches.

Burke in his play tent

Our set up

Burke will teethe on anything (Blue Moon anyone?)

Thursday night's sunset

Thursday night and Friday were gorgeous. We hung out on a sandy beach. I was in heaven. Then the rain set in. It wasn't miserable, but it was a little draining. The three of us packed up and headed home on Sunday the 4th in order to get out of the rain and let Burke crawl around at home. Somewhere where he could stretch his legs just a bit more.

Safety First

A very late night boat ride (yes, we're bad parents, the vest came off to make an unhappy Burke happy)

Burke's taking his job seriously

He finally fell asleep

The Beach

Who wouldn't want a float plane to take you where you wanted to go?

Soaking up the sun

Enjoying a refreshing beer by a very refreshing lake

A sandy beach in Alaska!

Justin captured another beautiful sunset

Okay, so we didn't go completely off the grid. We were invited by one of Justin's co-workers (his civilian boss) to go to their cabin with them. It's about 100 miles north of Anchorage, near Talkeetna. From the trail head it's a 12 mile trek on ATV, ARGO or mountain bike; in the winter a snow machine. Burke and I rode with Chris and Ali on the ARGO. Burke was in the Ergo and every time we got moving he fell asleep. Lots of rocking and noise to help him pass out. Justin got to drive an ATV. The ride in was beautiful and very bumpy. Everything was so lush. Trees and wild flowers everywhere.

Justin's ride

The ARGO, Lynn Ann and Ali, Chris and lots of fresh mud

Definitely not a dry year in Alaska

Chris, Lynn Ann, and Alison along with family and friends have been hard at work for the last few years building their cabinstead. They have a main cabin, an outhouse, an outdoor shower, a shed (FKA as the main cabin) and the beginnings of a generator house. And lots and lots of mosquitoes and black flies.

The weather wasn't perfect but it was still enjoyable. While all the guys were outside building stuff, Burke and I took some wonderful naps. Our friends were so thoughtful and gave us their room upstairs where Burke could safely crawl around. They fed us well. They also watched Burke while Justin and I took a ride down to the Talkeetna River. We hope to go back again and maybe next time the sun will come out.