Mt Baldy & Lazy Mountain

Mt Baldy in Eagle River

Beautiful day!

Enjoying the view at the top

Chasing butterflies

Looking for lemmings

We've been enjoying some gorgeous weather recently. We've already surpassed the number of sunny, 70+ degree days as we had last summer (Summer 2004 had forty-one 70+ degree days!), so perhaps we'll match that. Cody, on the other hand, has found himself completely swamped at the course. He's hoping for rain soon. 

Lazy Mountain Trail, Palmer

Finally made it to the real summit!

Typical summit picture

Attempt at a group shot

Mat Su Valley

On the way down

We did it! 3.5 hr, 5 miles and 3000+ ft

Feeling victorious!

Beautiful Zoo Day

Cody wonders if this was really a red tail hawk...

Loved having him around all day :)

Brotherly love

Active black bears

There were two swans from Iowa!

This snow leopard was either really happy, or really angry with the zoo staff

Love this picture

Red fox

We only caught a glimpse of her as she repositioned in sleep... probably too balmy for her!

Tis the Season

http://www.adn.com/2013/06/07/2931445/city-sees-seasonal-rise-in-bear.html

Ptarmigan Lake

Setting up camp in his slacks

View from our campsite

Loving the sunshine!

Happy to get to spend time together

Checking out the scenery

mmm, dinner

Here we go!

Lovely trail ran along the creek most of the way

Regrouping after Wilson tired to warn us of something up ahead: people

Means the snow's melting!

First glimpse of the beautiful Ptarmigan Lake, only 3.4 miles

Cody spotted a loon

Clear water (where there wasn't ice still)

Perhaps one of my favorite pictures ever

Of course he had to get in to ruin the reflection pictures

On our way around the lake

Just a boy and his dog

No wind as we traveled around the lake

While Cody fished, I played with the camera settings to capture the unique clouds

View of the receeding ice

Beauty!

Loon again, although I didn't catch his flapping his wings after diving

Stellar's Jay

Wet pooch who wouldn't calm down

Happy to make it back for a rest at 'our rock'

time for lunch

then time to soak up some rays... it was 70+

As if he was posing for me...

Cody brought a beverage to enjoy after he cooled it in the lake

pensive, much?

loving our Alaskan adventures

part of the trail on the way back

Enjoying the scenery on our way back

knew we were close once we hit the maintained trail

map of the trail back at the trailhead

Cody and I had a great time on our 24 hour getaway. I had the task of packing up the gear, as I picked Cody up from work and we headed straight there... we could have used a few more blankets. I believe I forgot it was only May in Alaska after all the 'hot' weather we've had. Being cold and grouchy forced me to make the 20 mile drive into Seward for breakfast and coffee (Cody didn't seem to mind, he slept the whole way). The trail was even more beautiful that we had anticipated (I took over 350 pictures!). Hopefully Cody will hang in there and continue to be enthusiastic about hiking on his days off.