What a Week!!

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This was a pretty fantastic week and I couldn't have asked for anything better.

Monday night after dinner, I went for a hike with a couple of my coworkers. We hiked up the Fuller Lakes Trail. It was a beautiful hike as they all are. We reached the first lake where we were able to watch a beaver swim around for a while and then we continued on to hike up to the second lake. On this hike we saw a ptarmagin but we were unable to make it to the second lake due to water. The trail we were on turned into a creek and we tried going around it but it was pretty much just a big marsh so we decided to turn around and head back. On the hike back we saw a fresh bear print in the trail but no sight of the bear.

Tuesday I also had a very exciting day. I was able to take a trip into Seward and go to the sea life center. Here I saw a HUGE stellar sea lion. He was 2100 lbs and his name was woody. I couldn't believe how big he was and he was very graceful in the water. There were also sea otters and different bird species. It was great to see these animals, but I really hope I eventually get to see them in the wild. The rest of the time in Seward we spent walking around by the docks. It was a very pretty town to be in and the view was incredible even though it was an overcast day.

My weekend was also very exciting. Friday I went on a hike with my roommate and we went on a trail called Slaughter Ridge. It definitly lived up to its name. This was the most difficult hike I have done...I know that doesn't say a whole lot since I haven't done many hikes, but it was very difficult. It was a constant uphill hike and there were some points where I actually had to climb. I made it to the top of a mountain and it was such an amazing view to be up there overlooking everything. The total elevation of the mountain is 3200 ft and I where I started the hike I climbed about 2600 ft. I think the worst thing about the hike was that we had to walk to and from the trail head which is about 2.5 miles from our camp. That was tiring at the end of the hike to have to walk another 2.5 miles. But I made it and am still alive...but very sore.

Yesterday (Saturday) I went for a less strenuous hike to the Russian River Falls. Again I had to walk about 2.5 miles to get to the trail and then on the trail it was about 2.5 miles to make it to the falls. I was really tired but it was worth it because I was able to see salmon jumping up the falls. I was hoping to get better pictures than what I did but those salmon are so unpredictable. You can never tell where they will be jumping next. This was such an amazing sight to see because the power of the falls is so intense and to think that these fish are strong enough to swim against the rapids is crazy.

Last night was a very exciting night in Cooper Landing. At the one bar in the town there was a live band. Pretty much everyone I work with was there and our group of people filled up half of the bar. We had a great time hanging out and dancing. Live music doesn't happen very often in Cooper Landing so the whole town has to take advantage of it when it does happen. It was a very good night, the only bad thing is how expensive the drinks are. A pitcher of beer was $19! The cheapest beer they had was PBR cans for $3...not how much I enjoy to spend at the bar but of course I did my part to help out the economy.

Anyways, things are still going great, but I can't believe I have already been here 1 month and I only have 2 months left. I am sure it will go by very fast, but I will enjoy every minute of it.

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Photos

Fuller Lakes
This is me once we reached the first lake on our hike

Beaver
Here is the wildlife we observed on our trip to fuller lakes

Big Bear
The fresh bear paw print we spotted on the trail on our hike

Woody
2100 lbs stellar sea lion

Photo 8
This is the view from part-way up Slaughter Ridge

Finley
My favorite hiking companion

View from the top
This is the view from the top of Slaughter Ridge. The really little buildings by the lake is where we started the hike.

Victory
Trina (my roommate) and I at the top of Slaughter Ridge

Slaughter Ridge
This mountain is where I was just a little while earlier

Salmon Jumping
That black thing is a salmon jumping up the raging falls. It was hard to get a good picture because they always jumped when I wasn't ready.

The Office Gals
These are the girls I work with in the office. A very special bunch!

Comments

[Nicki]

Julie! The pictures and stories are absolutely amazing. It looks so beautiful there. The $3 PBR cans are a little depressing though.. haha. We miss you so much here but I am so happy for you that you are able to experience all of this! Love you!

[Diane Kanter]

I once again have to say the pictures are great! I hope you continue to take many more and keep up the great blog. My window view of the lake is nothing compared to the scenery you are experiencing and the great physical workout you get daily!