It has been a very wet and rainy summer here on the Kenai. But it never fails: when we have a big day planned, the sunshine comes out to greet us. Today was no exception as the 3 of us, (the girls had other plans), headed back, (See July 10 post), to Seward for the Iditaride, owned and operated by our former neighbors, the Seaveys. We had fun touring the dog yard containing about 85 dogs, learning all about the annual Iditarod sled dog race and holding the adorable 7 week old puppies (center photo). At the end of the tour, Barry & Suzanne took an exciting 2 mile dogsled ride (1st photo) in the specially made "summer dogsleds." It was extremely fun! But the excitement did not end there! After the ride, we talked to the mother of the Seavy Clan, Janine, and she told us husband Mitch was picking up another dog team in Sterling to switch out. As we headed out down the road, lo and behold, we saw the dog truck, (2nd photo), pass us and we immediately turned around and headed back to the parking lot! The truck turned down a private road. We went back to talk to Janine and asked her if Mitch would be able to meet with us. She called him and said he would come over after he switched out the dog team! So, after about 20 minutes he came to visit with us. It was our pleasure to introduce Barry our friend, (top 3rd photo), former neighbor and 2004 Iditarod champion Mitch Seavy. He talked with us for quite awhile before heading back to his winter home in Sterling to bring back some dogs. Their wonderful family of 6 boys lived right on the corner of our road for many years before moving about a mile down the highway to a bigger area. Imagine waking up each morning to the sound of 80 howling dogs. We actually loved it! Mitch trains and runs his dogs on the many miles of back trails in Sterling all winter. In the summer, they return to their home in Seward. Their oldest son Dallas is the youngest musher ever to finish the Iditarod and has placed 6th!
Next stop was just a mile down the road from the Iditiride. We took the beautiful 2 mile round trip hike to the face of Exit Glacier (2nd row 1st pic). When we first came to the peninsula. we were able to actually touch the glacier. However, because it has receded so much, the current outflow goes too close to a rockface so we can't quite get to it. On the one mile uphill hike to the glacier, there are signs with years posted along the trail to show where the glacier had been during that time. When Barry & Suzanne were 4 years old, (2nd row last pic), the glacier face was at this location about a half mile from its present location. It was a bit chilly and windy by the glacier but what a magnificent view it was! When you come to visit here, you might enjoy taking the 9 mile round trip hike to the Harding Ice Fields. Dan & Suzanne are planning to do that this fall!
In the late afternoon, it was time to head towards home up the Seward Highway and then to the junction of the Sterling Highway but not without another stop to the best place for ice cream at Wildman's (2nd row, last pic), in Cooper Landing...mmmmm good! But before we got home, Gold Fever struck all 3 of us! It was time to do some serious gold panning at Prospector John's place (last row 1st pix) also in Cooper Landing, right along the highway. In the last row of photos, Barry is demonstrating the "how to's" of successful gold hunting that he had mastered after the 2 hours he spent there. First, he had to shovel his own "pay dirt" into the bucket which came directly from a nearby mining claim on Quartz Creek. Then it was time to put a scoopful at a time of the dirt in his sluice box and shake it down with the help of the running water; a very long and tedious process (about 1.5 hours) but very, very fun! Every once in awhile he saw a tiny speck of the "shiny stuff" and used tweezers to get pick it up and put it by the nearby tray. The final step was taking the last remains in the sluice box and running it through the gold pan where he saw a couple more gold pieces at the bottom! The gold was then placed in a vile which is now in his possession. He will be very happy to show you his gold put hands off... it's not worth THAT much. Suzanne actually found the most gold in her pay dirt. She will be happy to show you her goldpanning "secrets" when you come to visit.
Next stop was just a mile down the road from the Iditiride. We took the beautiful 2 mile round trip hike to the face of Exit Glacier (2nd row 1st pic). When we first came to the peninsula. we were able to actually touch the glacier. However, because it has receded so much, the current outflow goes too close to a rockface so we can't quite get to it. On the one mile uphill hike to the glacier, there are signs with years posted along the trail to show where the glacier had been during that time. When Barry & Suzanne were 4 years old, (2nd row last pic), the glacier face was at this location about a half mile from its present location. It was a bit chilly and windy by the glacier but what a magnificent view it was! When you come to visit here, you might enjoy taking the 9 mile round trip hike to the Harding Ice Fields. Dan & Suzanne are planning to do that this fall!
In the late afternoon, it was time to head towards home up the Seward Highway and then to the junction of the Sterling Highway but not without another stop to the best place for ice cream at Wildman's (2nd row, last pic), in Cooper Landing...mmmmm good! But before we got home, Gold Fever struck all 3 of us! It was time to do some serious gold panning at Prospector John's place (last row 1st pix) also in Cooper Landing, right along the highway. In the last row of photos, Barry is demonstrating the "how to's" of successful gold hunting that he had mastered after the 2 hours he spent there. First, he had to shovel his own "pay dirt" into the bucket which came directly from a nearby mining claim on Quartz Creek. Then it was time to put a scoopful at a time of the dirt in his sluice box and shake it down with the help of the running water; a very long and tedious process (about 1.5 hours) but very, very fun! Every once in awhile he saw a tiny speck of the "shiny stuff" and used tweezers to get pick it up and put it by the nearby tray. The final step was taking the last remains in the sluice box and running it through the gold pan where he saw a couple more gold pieces at the bottom! The gold was then placed in a vile which is now in his possession. He will be very happy to show you his gold put hands off... it's not worth THAT much. Suzanne actually found the most gold in her pay dirt. She will be happy to show you her goldpanning "secrets" when you come to visit.
That's so cool that you were able to go on a dogsled ride! I would love to see 80 dogs in one spot, I love dogs! hehe.
ReplyDeleteSuzanne, that 9-mile hike sounds crazy! Would you do it in one day, or do you camp overnight? Either way, have fun and enjoy when you do go!!! Oh, and take lots of pictures :-)
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