2012 Feb./March/April

Birgit and friends doing the "Ski for Women" in February.

Tami and Cade and Birgit skiing Portage Lake toward the glacier.

 Steve and Cindy and Birgit 7 months pregnant hiking Peralta east of Mesa.

 Told Birgit she shouldn't have eaten the whole thing–Whatcha gonna do?

 Freezing at the Grand Canyon!

 This tree was mocking me, I showed it reallll good!

 "Chocolate hills" of Petrified National Monument.

 Anchorage had a record snow year, our driveway was twice as narrow as normal!

Philippines January 2012

Hiking to the underground river near Sabang.

 Underground river we hiked to.  Boat tours run into the cave.

Where the river meets the sea.

 At the entrance you must be wary of the monkeys who love to pickpocket tourists.

 Water fall we hiked to near Port Barton.

 Boy fetching us some coconuts just above our cabaña in Port Barton.

Playing with kids on the limestone just outside their shanty homes in El Nido.

 Kicking back at breakfast in El Nido.

Snorkeling tour in El Nido.

 Cool narrow strand of sand we visited on a boat tour.

These boys were playing restaurant with all the local wild flowers.

 Birgit is seated at the table on one of the fine sand chairs they custom made waiting for her meal!

  Palapa we rented for a week on the beach with the "restaurant boys".

 This is the view out the other way.

 This cat visited us every day and every night!

Waiting at the corner store to arrange a ride to remote beach.

 We rented one of the few places available on this pristine beach where the care-taking couple made our every meal–usually fish caught that day, and always fresh fruits.

Hawai'i & Thanksgiving November 2011

 Birgit and Cade at Kilauea Crater on the big island.

 Camping at the beach with Drena and Jim who live on the bid island.

Amazing clouds not done justice by this photo.  We later play an ultimate tournament on O'ahu and then flew home to do what's pictured below one week later!

 Ski 9 miles to a cabin on Juneau Lake for Thanksgiving!

Apparently we had such a good time, no one took pictures of people.

Canadian Thanksgiving

 Always the 2nd Monday of October, we had beautiful weather.  The lake is 8 miles long, then another 4 miles are required to get to a cabin with a view of several water falls.

 Here's our cabin!

 Tami and I gathering wood.

Hiking up to Eklutna glacier with Cillian and Tami.

 Beautiful area where the glacier had retreated from only recently.

The way out.  Happy Thanksgiving!

July 9-10

Birgit flys with friends across bay from Homer for Aunnie's 39th Birthday.

 Aunnie, Jenn, Tina and Joy.

 Joy, Jenn, Aunnie.

Train to Curry: Cade, Ryan, Joe, and Cathy pictured.

Day 1, lotsa tough bushwhacking, came across these juvenile grizzlies that were a little tough to scare off cause they were so curious.

 This spot is near our campsite, we need to get to the river down below.

 Almost there, a few hours later of thick bushwhacking.

 Took about 8 hours to float back to civilization, about half of it fun rapids like this!

Kayaking in Barry Arm

 July 4th weekend we kayaked 4 days.  Night one, we had a campfire under this tarp while watching whales play in the bay!

Beached for a break next to this huge iceberg–gorgeous weather on day 2.

 Heading towards Surprise glacier.

 Cute girl and i did some bushwhacking in this beautiful area near Surprise Inlet.

 Watching the glacier calve from what actually is more than a 1/2 mile from the face!

 Camped at Harriman Glacier making coffee and fresh hot biscuits in Grandma's Dutch oven you can see to the right of Birgit–that thing rocks on kayaking trips!

Too hard to take their pictures, but there were 100's of cute otters hanging out in this area.  We are always reluctant to get too close and scare them with their offspring hanging on tight.

Packrafting Spencer Glacier

 Took a train to Spencer Glacier, hiked 3 miles, and then got closer than you're supposed to.  This is our friend Dan exploring part of the glacier.

 Never ever ever stand on an iceberg.  Never.  It could flip.  Oh well, had to do it once, right!

 The glacial lake leads to the Placer river, a mild 13 mile float out.

 Birgit inside a lava tube-like part of the glacier.  It was awesome seeing the melting from the inside as sunlight penetrated from above!

 Paddling the lake toward the river.

Dan in front of the glacier.