Southcentral Alaska

Eagle River Nature Center - Chugach State Park

We made it to Anchorage last Saturday!

After an early morning flight from Sitka, we made it to the Ted Stevens International Airport on Saturday morning. Ben and his brother Chad picked us up, took us our apartment, the grocery, and then north to the Matanuska Valley (Wasilla/Palmer area). We met up with a few more friends from college - Zach, Katie, and Andrew and did a short hike in Hatcher Pass. That evening Ann and Phil Meyer (Ben and Chad's parents) made our whole crew a delicious salmon and potato dinner at their house. It was a long, eventful day, but very much worth it to catch up with friends.

On Sunday, Adam and I slept in and got our bearings around Anchorage. That evening a group of us went back to the Palmer/Fishook area for dinner and a bonfire at Andrew and Becky's cabin. We had some amazing moose stew, along with salad, freshly pressed apple juice (courtesy of the Meyers) and wonderful pumpkin cake (a la Zach and Katie). I really do love food!

Andrew and Becky's awesome cabin.

Bonfire, wine, and tea for me!

Canned Moose - yum!

Do you see Finn in this picture???

This week, Adam started his Family Medicine rotation at Providence Hospital here in Anchorage. We are staying in a little efficiency apartment about a mile from campus and the hospital. There are some nice trails on campus that are perfect for walking (Emily) or running (Adam) Bandit.

UAA campus trails

View from trails

I've been getting to know the city of Anchorage a bit better. I had a prenatal appointment with a midwife here at One Family Birth Center. (I'm 31 weeks pregnant!!!!) I also went to a great prenatal yoga class at Laughing Lotus Yoga - a nice yoga studio that our friend Becky's sister owns.

Today, Bandit and I headed a few miles north to the Eagle River Nature Center. It is in a beautiful location in the Chugach mountains north of Anchorage in the community of Eagle River. Bandit and I went on a short hike and saw red and deep purple colored salmon in the stream, along with a GRIZZLY + CUB! Luckily, we were at a healthy distance from the bears and there were other people around. I didn't get any pictures of them because I wanted to be prepared to move quickly if necessary.

Bandit had to stay on leash at the nature center.

The end of fall colors.

Chugach Mountains

This weekend we are going to head a bit further north with Ben to Jan and Chad's cabin in Denali. Next weekend Kevin, Melanie, and June are coming to visit us in Anchorage. I'm afraid that we won't be able to make the drive up to Fairbanks since Adam only has 2 days off each weekend. Time is flying. I hope all is well with friends and family down south!