Flatop
Leila and I visited Alaska July 28th - August 6th, 2011 to see my parents who moved to Anchorage this past year as well as my sister and her family who have lived in Anchorage for several years now. My brother and his family flew up from California and my sister from Washington DC flew in as well. It was almost a full Mendonca reunion.While there, we saw beautiful sights that we'll never forget - snow topped mountains, bald eagles, moose, bear, herd of caibou, sea otters, blue whales, orcas, porpoises, glaciers, puffins (sea bird), sea lions, dall sheep rams, rivers, streams and sunshine 'till 11 at night!
Friday August 29th, 2011
Hiking Flattop north of Anchorage
This was a good hike and took about an hour to reach the top. If you're wondering, we left the young ones at home with Granny & Papa during our trek. There were a few steep rocky areas near the top which didn't seem very kid friendly.
Madeline and Leila playing in Bill's plane that he's building in his garage on Friday morning.
Beginning our journey to the top of Flattop.
Doug looking out over Anchorage.
Taking a break.
Taking in the scenery looking back down the mountain and over Anchorage. L to R Mary, me, Kriszti, Doug, Maya.
Doug looking for bears and moose.
Me 01.
Me 02.
Hiking up to the clouds. Man is this beautiful or what!
Up top, in the clouds and eating oranges Mary had peeled, thanks Mary! The view from the top was what you see here, bummer. It was shrouded in clouds on all sides. We had better views half way down!
Next to summit stick, I made it. Where's the view! :-( It was chilly up here in the clouds and I was glad I brought my green pullover.
Heading back down.
Ahh, a break in the clouds and pretty views again. Made me feel like yodeling and sucking on a Ricola.
Down some more.
Bill in corner and Kriszti looking back.
Everybody say cheese!
Down down down.
Railroad tie stairway was MUCH easier going down.
I pictured Julie Andrews singing "The Sound of Music" frolicking across these beautiful hills and valleys.
Village rooftops way down in the valley below.
Purple flower
Pretty hillside.
White flowers.
Purple flowers.
White flowers covered with flies.
Yellow flower.
These looked like mini white dogwood blooms but were growing out of the ground.
More pretty hillsides covered in flowers.
Another purple flower.
White flowers on the hill. Anchorage in the distance
White flowers on the hill. Anchorage in the distance
Greens & a flower.
Hillside covered in little flowers.
White flower that resembles a broken egg shell on a green stick.
Green valley. My peeps waiting for me down the trail. I had stopped along the way down taking the flower shots above and they stopped to wait for me to catch up.
Trail markers.
Chain fence.
2 leaning posts.
1 leaning post.
Looking up. Notice cloud covering the top of Flattop.
Scenic valley.
Beautifulness.
Fireweed?
Maya pointing out a cool fort in a clump of evergreens.
Look at the bugs on this thing!
Purdy.
Almost to the end.
Back at the beginning.
Later that day driving near downtown. Chugach Mountain range with Flattop pointed out.
Downtown Anchorage from a distant vista point.
Me and downtown Anchorage from a distant vista point.
Doug, Mary and Mom at a park at the end of the Anchorage airport runway waiting for some big planes to take off and fly over the water.
Mom and Dad on Mary's front porch.