Mt Marathon Bowl

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Photos, Travel 5 Comments

The Bowl, Mt Marathon, Seward, Alaska.

The Bowl, Mt Marathon, Seward, Alaska.

The trail locally know as the “Mt Marathon trail to the bowl” has really become popular in recent years and for good reason – it rocks!

The trail begins in Seward at 1st avenue and Monroe, just keep following Monroe up the mountain.  After leaving town, the first section winds through a stretch of beautiful tall tress that help make up the temperate rain forest.  Once you climb up out of the rain forest, you are rewarded with some wonderful views of the City of Seward and Resurrection Bay.  After a bit more climbing, you eventually reach a cool little alpine valley where a clear stream twists, turns and waterfalls through fields of wildflowers and colorful boulders – some of which you can see in yesterday’s Mt Marathon post.  Then, after climbing the final stretch which is made up mostly of a long snow field, you reach the Mt. Marathon bowl you see pictured here.  This was captured at sunrise Monday morning.

Fireweed amazes me!  That stuff can grow where few, if any other plants can survive.

See more of our Alaska photos and pictures.

Mount Marathon

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Chugach, Photos, Travel 9 Comments

Backside of the race portion of Mt. Maraton, Seward, Alaska.

Below the bowl on the backside of the race portion of Mt. Marathon, Seward, Alaska.

The plan was to continue posting photos on the blog from our recent trip to British Columbia, as I worked hard in the office.  Well, the weather turned so nice, we couldn’t stay inside!  So yesterday afternoon we grabbed the backpacks, tent and camera gear and headed for the hills!  This was captured just before sunset last night – unfortunately the sky didn’t light up, but it was a great place to hang out!

After photographing sunrise, we were still back home by 9:30, so we had a nice night in the field, and can still get some office work done!

Here are more Alaska photos.

Butchart Gardens

Ron NiebruggeCanada, Photos, Travel 22 Comments

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, Canada.

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, Canada.

Well, saying how much I loved a flower garden isn’t going to do anything to improve the macho, tough guy image I have worked so hard to create (joking), but this place was gorgeous!  I think you could be blind folded, and  still could come away with beautiful images, because literally every inch of extensive grounds at Butchart Gardens is perfectly manicured with wonderful, colorful flowers.  Here are more Victoria photos.

The Sunken Garden, Butchart-Gardens, Victoria.

The Sunken Garden, Butchart Gardens, Victoria.

Whistler Sunset

Ron NiebruggeCanada, Photos, Travel 6 Comments

Sunset over Whistler, Canada.

Sunset over Whistler, British Columbia, Canada.

These beautiful clouds and thunderstorm pretty much appeared out of nowhere at the end of a hot day in Whistler.  This is at the base of Whistler Mountain – you can see some of the Bike Park.  The top of the mountain you see here is the 1/3 point on the ride to the top!  Blackcomb is equally as tall, and rises to the left of this view.

Usually the blog is pretty close to real time – but I have fallen behind a bit.  We actually returned to Alaska yesterday, but I will keep sharing more photos from this trip.

Having only one full day (two nights) in both Whistler and Victoria was not near enough time.  Unfortunately, it would have cost us a bunch more of our valuable  free miles to return after Tuesday – so we did our best to cram it all in.

I’m hoping these summer images will be a good compliment to our winter Whistler photos.

Peak to Peak Gondola

Ron NiebruggeCanada, Photos, Travel 8 Comments

The Peak to Peak (acutally called Peak 2 Peak) trams runs between the tops of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains.

The Peak to Peak (actually called Peak 2 Peak) trams runs between the tops of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains.

This was an amazing ride!  We had to do it, although Janine had to take a big step given her fear of heights!

So check out these stats – all world records by the way:

  • Largest unsupported free span in the world – 1.88 miles.
  • Highest lift in the world of its kind –  1,361 feet.
  • It is also the longest continuous lift in the world – total distance traveled is 2.73 miles.

And in case that wasn’t enough excitement, they even put a glass floor in a few of the cars!

Here are some more interesting facts.  The total ride lasts 11 minutes.  There are 28 cars, each can carry up to 28 passengers, that means the thing can move 4,100 passengers per hour.

Here are more Whistler, Canada pictures.

Mountain Biking Whistler

Ron NiebruggeCanada, Photos, Travel 8 Comments

Mountain biker on the Bike Park, Whistler, Canada.

Mountain biker launches of a ledge on one of the intermediate trails in the Bike Park, Whistler, Canada.

We were surprised to see that Whistler is just as busy in the summer as it is in the winter.  You can still ski and snowboard high up on the glacier.  In addition, you can raft, kayak, golf, zip-line, bungee jump, ride alpine slides…

But the big activity is downhill mountain biking.  They have an elaborate set of trails on the mountain complete with ramps, jumps and a whole bunch of other challenges.  Riders wear “body armor” and full face helmets and ride mountain bikes that appear to have suspensions similar to motorcycles!

We only had one day and two nights – it was tough not having the time to “play”!

Here are more biking photos

Raccoon

Ron NiebruggeCanada, Photos, Travel 4 Comments

A baby raccoon, Stanley Park, Vancouver, Canada.

A baby raccoon, Stanley Park, Vancouver, Canada.

Found this young guy along with its sibling and parents – they were sure fun to watch!

Took the bus to Whistler yesterday, and have a full day in the cool ski resort town today.