Friday after school we went up to Anchorage so that Jon could take his Middle School Science Praxis test early Saturday morning. We stayed at a Bed and Breakfast in Anchorage for $42 using our NEA membership. If you are a teacher, you really need to starting using your NEA card…great deals! After Jon’s test on Saturday morning we decided to take our time back to Kenai. We stopped in at Sack’s Restaurant in Anchorage for a late brunch (you are right Donna, it was delicious), where we both had a Reindeer Sausage Sandwich.
Our second stop was just south of Anchorage at a place called Potters Marsh, a fresh and saltwater marsh. It’s considered both because when the tide is exceptionally high on new moon and full moons, some of the salt water from the Cook Inlet mixes in with the fresh water coming into the marsh from three different rivers. There were various ducks, a couple bald eagles, and even some red salmon, which are at the tail end of their run. We were actually surprised to still see them. Although we didn’t see any, trumpeter swans are very common at Potters Marsh. In fact, 80% of the trumpeter swan population summer in Alaska.
After Potters Marsh we made an unplanned stopped to take in three Dall sheep laying up on one of the cliffs along the roadside. Then we stopped in at Bird Creek to see the bore tide. Unfortunately, we did not see it. We were there 5 days before the new moon. The closer you are to the new or full moon the better. Supposedly the bore tide in Turnagain Arm, where we were at, can reach up to 10 feet when it comes in. It is suppose to be one of the largest in the world. However, while there we did spot a pod of beluga whales! From our observations we figure there were at least 50. We’d be looking at one group that would appear to have 12 or so whales and another group would come into view. We were able to see their long, white backs emerge above the water for a few seconds before going back under.
As we continued to drive south we stopped in at the town of Girdwood, a small town with the big downhill skiing hill for the area. Many skiers from the peninsula drive up to Girdwood frequently in the winter months. Sometimes even into July skiing is possible. After Girdwood we headed towards Portage where we hike to Byron Glacier. It was a smaller glacier, which we were able to walk on. We were in search of ice worms but were unsuccessful due to the bright sun. Ice worms tend to burrow deep into the ice when the sun is out. They can best be seen on cloudy days or at night. However, we stopped in at the visitor center where they had collected a few for visitors to look at. They are a skinny black worm about 2.5 centimeters long. They live off of red algae found on glaciers and pollen that blows onto glaciers. Interesting little creatures.
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