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Published: September 18th 2008
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Seward - Ididaride!
To support sled dog training all year 'round, Mitch Seavey [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitch_Seavey has set up a camp that offers the public access to eductaion about the Iditarod & interact with his dogs.
There's a 15 minute info talk in the beginning, then the tour is broken up into smaller (aprox. 8 - 9 persons) groups that take a ride on the metal dog sleds -- the sleds weigh aprox. 1 thousand pounds fully loaded. They run the dogs around a short (3 - 5 miles??) track pulling the sled behind them, taking quite a few breaks since it's so much warmer than in the actually race run in February. Simply amazing how strong the team is!
After the ride, it's time for "Puppy Interaction"! Everyone gets to hold the cute cuddly puppies... Mamma dog is very patient with this whole activity... Then we coral up for a short film & more education on how the dogs get ready for the race, and a demo with an audience volunteer.
Big River Lake - Bear Viewing Trip!
Ah, what we all were really waiting for. Nerve racking as it was, we managed to dress weather
accordingly (rainy & cold...), pile up into the bi-plane, and fly into bear viewing country.
We had the coolest pilot & guide -- ironically both named Gary! The pilot flew us over the tundra on the way out to spot bear following the river running into the bay. Even tho w were at least 200 ft above the ground, the bears were HUGE! The only pix I managed to get were all blurry... but it gives you an idea of what I'm talking about.
Once out near Big River Lake, we were dropped off with guide Gary on the muscag. Gary got the boa ready for us - even including lawn chairs for Irene & Kathy, while Nicole & I got to sit on cushions that he covered in a plastic bag.
As we were loading up, there was a black bear way off in the distance checking us out. The boats were within 100 ft of a fish prep station, so maybe he thought we were going over ther with goodies for him
;-)
Once boarded on the boat, it was a matter of 10 minutes before we saw another black bear skirting the shore of the river. Thru the camera lens, all was well, but the closer we got, it was a little nerve racking! (This would soon change at our next stop....) For the time, he was more scared of us & being seen then we were of him; so quickly off to the next stop... Wolverine Creek!
Wow! Kamikaze fishermen in a row right next to the primo fishing spot -- and Grizzlies on-looking! It was like we were in an episode of 'Twilight Zone"... boats lined up with fishermen standing up in them, fishing for the best catches... all the while Grizzlies pacing on shore & jumping into the water after fish. Some were even snorkeling for food/fish! The crazy part was that the fishermen were oblivious to the bears being so stinking close to them!! We stuck around quite a while - long enough to take lots of pictures and even have a snack on board.
Then Gary took us along the shore - following a giant Sow & her 3 cubs. We eventually left
her for what he called Jurasic Park - a gorgeous, green, still lake area about a mile or 2 of Wolverine Creek. Not much going on in there, but it sure was pretty. Before heading back to meet the plane, we took a side-trip to a waterfall area. The beauty out there, despite the stormy weather over-head, was absolutely GORGEOUS> We were tremendously blessed to not get the down-pour that was going on earlier in the day. There were a few sprinkles off & on, but nothing that didn't end within moments ;-)
On the way back to Nikiski, pilot Gary asked us if we were on a time-crunch to get back> With a "no" being spoken, we loaded up & took off heading toward the opposite direction of Nikiski. Were we in for a TREAT! He flew us right on up & over the Alaska Mtn Range. There in front of us was the brightest sun spot! The glacier was covered with red dust - pollen, I'm told. And he flew us really CLOSE to a glacier canyon.... crazy blue color!! Found out later that this was the first time Gary had taken anyone out like this -
he just felt led to do so! Glad for that little God-gift ;-)
A big THANKS to pilot & guide Gary for a great first time Bear viewing experience!!
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