Fielding Lake and Gulkana Glacier

Mike and I went to Fielding Lake for 4th of July. On our way down, we stopped in Delta Junction to eat at Buffalo Center Drive-in, where we had buffalo burgers! We also hiked up to Gulkana Glacier. The biggest adventure was crossing a scary bridge to actually get to the glacier.

You can check out the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ricin78h2tQ.

Where else would you get a buffalo burger than Buffalo Center?

According to the sign, bison migrate through the Delta River Basin between April and August.
If they're there, Mike will surely spot them
with his high powered binoculars!

Wow, there they are!

In total, Mike counted 36 adults and 6 babies.

This was our humble, little cabin at Fielding Lake.

This was the view from the cabin at 11:00 p.m.

Mike looks very happy about sleeping on a hard piece of plywood!

Kristie looks optimistically at the kitchen.

We spent Monday afternoon hiking up to this glacier.

The mountains surrounding the glacier were awesome.

Every view was breath-taking!

To get to Gulkana Glacier, we had to cross this bridge.

Kristie says, "Are you kidding me?!?!"

She gives it a try, but comes back to the beginning with tears.

No way is Kristie going to give up. She will conquer this bridge!

Mike crosses with a smile, but admitted he was a little scared. (Not really.)

Once we got across, Mike pulled out the binoculars for a look.

Kristie is just happy to be across the bridge,

until she realizes that she has to cross it to get back to the car!

Mike looks forward to actually making it to the glacier.

Finally, we made it! Kristie climbs up on the melting ice.

Sounds smart, doesn't it?

Mike touches the ice and glacial silt was left on his fingers.

Mike and Kristie take a quick happy snap before the

glacier completely melts away and sweeps them into the river.

Hello, can we get off this melting ice, now?

This is the very end of the glacier.

The Gulkana Glacier extends up and around this hill

and covers almost the entire mountain side.

Fireweed

Wild Iris

Pretty white flower.....

Pretty yellow flower......

Mike photographed this arctic ground squirrel

while I was crossing the bridge. I'm sure it was laughing at me.

Just look at that smile!

This yearling moose is a little too close to the road!

Oh, does he look tasty!