Talkeetna

Last Saturday we drove up to Talkeetna for lunch. It was a great day and I took this picture late in the afternoon from the deck on the Princess Lodge, just outside of Talkeetna. It's a bit cloudy but it's a picture of Mt. McKinley (or Denali, which ever you prefer).

So, take a close look. This is almost an optical illusion picture. You see trees and then the mountains, then the clouds. But if you look closely, you'll see snow covered Mt. McKinley sticking up into the sky between the first and 2nd layers of clouds. It's just a little bit right of the center. of this picture.

When we were on the deck a group of tourits came in. It took their guide about 10 minutes to get them to see 'The Mountain'.

Polar Bear Plunge

There is this on going phenomenon that I've never understood. We call it the Polar Bear Jump or Polar Bear Plunge. It involves crazy people jumping into really cold water, for no reason other than bragging rights. I'll never understand it... However here are some pictures from the Polar Bear Plunge out on Northstar Island last night. Pam sent these out, I'm not sure who actually took them.

Note: ICE floating just off shore
Note: Rescue standing by in a DRY SUIT.
Note: Hovercraft crew watching from off shore, thinking these guys are nuts.

The crew once they were all good & wet!