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- Dec 11, 2015
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In June 2016, my wife and I and our kids, along with her brother, went to Seward AK to spend a few nights in one of the State Park cabins. These cabins are in high demand and my wife made the reservation back in February or so. The plan was for her and the kids to take a chartered skiff with the food, gear and firewood to the cabin and her brother Rick & I would hike with our 2 dogs. This all worked out perfectly. Rick & I had a great hike and the kids loved the boat ride.
This is the trail at the start.
Here is Rick, all smiles on the trail. He lives near Phoenix and loves his trips up here.
We crossed this bridge over Tonsina Creek a few minutes earlier.
Though not really a trail now, the best path took us past this Wild Iris-filled meadow.
Which then led to this ghost forest, a remnant of the 1964 Good Friday earthquake. On this side of the northern Pacific plate, the plate subsided which left many of the coastal forests submerged in salt water, killing the trees
Rick crosses the second bridge. Soon after this is a Forest Service campground.
Alice, our (then) 13 year old dog enjoys the plethora of scents along the way.
Upon arriving at the cabin, we helped haul the remaining supplies to the cabin and then the relaxing began. Here my wife takes in the view.
Almost immediately a Steller's jay showed up and spent the next few days hoping for handouts.
The next few photos show the scenery across Resurrection Bay from the cabin.
Seward is in the lower left corner.
Here's a photo of Alice with Mt Alice behind her. I just realized that coincidence while putting this together.
The view from the cabin.
The first full day, we hiked south to Caines Head State Recreation Site, where the remains of Fort McGilvray remain. This fort was installed in WWII to spy over Res Bay for Japanese subs. Beautiful place, boring duty.
Our kids and Willow enjoy a break along the trail.
A view south along the beach. The old pier was where the ships docked to unload gear for the fort.
From a high point along the trail looking north to Seward. Although coastal, Seward enjoys many beautiful sunny days in the summer. We were fortunate to have 3-4 days of this, though.
Rick & Aspen strolling along.
We went left.
Typical trail along the ridge.
Aspen with an old snag.
Shawna and Aspen entering one of the buildings.
Shawna and Riley checking out a building.
An interpretive sign.
A remaining turret for one of the big guns.
The view from one of the lookouts.
As typical for the coast, Devil's Club was everywhere. Here is the business side of that plant.
The view from the top to the south.
The pier from the beach.
Timing is everything.
The group stopping for a photo. We were returning to the cabin.
Aspen and a good find.
Eventually we hear the familiar rush of air of a whale exhalation and turn around to see this humpback whale. At least once a day, the cow and calf swam by the cabin.
Willow retrieves a stick from the pond in front of the cabin.
And dries off with Riley nearby.
Rick & Aspen take a dip. That water was cold!!!
Aspen flying a kite. Shawna always brings something cool to keep the kids entertained.
Riley and his kite.
Aspen photo bombing Riley and his moon jelly.
The quality time with the kids is truly priceless.
A couple of these used some local spruce for perching.
Harbor seals came by a few times a day.
Rocks and water, entertaining kids for ever.
The female surfacing in front of the cabin.
Enjoying a nice fire.
Time to head home. The start back.
Cruising along the beach.
Aspen and Alice taking a break.
A few remaining members of a ghost forest.
The Wild Irises again.
Through the coastal forest.
Near the start of the trail , she looks relieved to dump the pack soon.
Read this and weep, @Ben
This is the trail at the start.
Here is Rick, all smiles on the trail. He lives near Phoenix and loves his trips up here.
We crossed this bridge over Tonsina Creek a few minutes earlier.
Though not really a trail now, the best path took us past this Wild Iris-filled meadow.
Which then led to this ghost forest, a remnant of the 1964 Good Friday earthquake. On this side of the northern Pacific plate, the plate subsided which left many of the coastal forests submerged in salt water, killing the trees
Rick crosses the second bridge. Soon after this is a Forest Service campground.
Alice, our (then) 13 year old dog enjoys the plethora of scents along the way.
Upon arriving at the cabin, we helped haul the remaining supplies to the cabin and then the relaxing began. Here my wife takes in the view.
Almost immediately a Steller's jay showed up and spent the next few days hoping for handouts.
The next few photos show the scenery across Resurrection Bay from the cabin.
Seward is in the lower left corner.
Here's a photo of Alice with Mt Alice behind her. I just realized that coincidence while putting this together.
The view from the cabin.
The first full day, we hiked south to Caines Head State Recreation Site, where the remains of Fort McGilvray remain. This fort was installed in WWII to spy over Res Bay for Japanese subs. Beautiful place, boring duty.
Our kids and Willow enjoy a break along the trail.
A view south along the beach. The old pier was where the ships docked to unload gear for the fort.
From a high point along the trail looking north to Seward. Although coastal, Seward enjoys many beautiful sunny days in the summer. We were fortunate to have 3-4 days of this, though.
Rick & Aspen strolling along.
We went left.
Typical trail along the ridge.
Aspen with an old snag.
Shawna and Aspen entering one of the buildings.
Shawna and Riley checking out a building.
An interpretive sign.
A remaining turret for one of the big guns.
The view from one of the lookouts.
As typical for the coast, Devil's Club was everywhere. Here is the business side of that plant.
The view from the top to the south.
The pier from the beach.
Timing is everything.
The group stopping for a photo. We were returning to the cabin.
Aspen and a good find.
Eventually we hear the familiar rush of air of a whale exhalation and turn around to see this humpback whale. At least once a day, the cow and calf swam by the cabin.
Willow retrieves a stick from the pond in front of the cabin.
And dries off with Riley nearby.
Rick & Aspen take a dip. That water was cold!!!
Aspen flying a kite. Shawna always brings something cool to keep the kids entertained.
Riley and his kite.
Aspen photo bombing Riley and his moon jelly.
The quality time with the kids is truly priceless.
A couple of these used some local spruce for perching.
Harbor seals came by a few times a day.
Rocks and water, entertaining kids for ever.
The female surfacing in front of the cabin.
Enjoying a nice fire.
Time to head home. The start back.
Cruising along the beach.
Aspen and Alice taking a break.
A few remaining members of a ghost forest.
The Wild Irises again.
Through the coastal forest.
Near the start of the trail , she looks relieved to dump the pack soon.
Read this and weep, @Ben
Attachments
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Seward_trip_SAK&RC&AM_backpackers.jpg -
Seward_trip_hikers_trail2.jpg
