Whales and Blue Ice
We had a wonderful day outdoors.
Not far from Anchorage is Beluga Point, a pull-off of the highway from where belugas can sometimes be seen playing and/or looking for salmon. We got there and took about 20 minutes before we ventured out of the car; it was so windy, we worried that the car would blow away once we got out! We could see people outside fighting not to get knocked down by the wind. But eventually we heard a woman telling someone else how she'd seen belugas coming our way. We immediately put on jackets and hats and went to talk to her.
This woman is a local and had been trying for three years to see the belugas. Her friends kept seeing them, but she never could get a glimpse. It just happened that on this day, coming back from an unsuccessful fishing trip, she and her family happened to spot a big pod of belugas heading towards Beluga Point. This family followed the whales, stopping at various points along the highway, for an hour until they wound up at the Point. From where our cars were parked, we walked with her down closer to the water to have a good look. It was freezing cold and so windy I had to keep bracing myself not to fall over, but we were determined to see those whales!
We waited for a while but couldn't see them. The woman thought they might have been swept along by the strong current too far out for us to see them, but she kept hoping we'd get to see them like she had earlier. We all got so cold and it had been a while since she'd last seem then, so we gave up and headed back towards the cars. Before we got there, Chris felt inspired to go back one more time. We didn't manage to see any that time either.
On our way back to the cars once again, we saw a group of people in the distance, looking into the water. We realised that the woman we'd been talking to was among them, and as we were asking each other whether we should head over there, the woman spotted us and gestured for us to join them. We ran over there, so worried that the whales would leave before we got there. Luckily they hadn't. We joined the others to see dozens of belugas arching out of the water, usually only showing their backs but sometimes giving us a flash of head or tail. We couldn't believe how many there were and how long they stuck around in this place perfect for viewing them. We saw some that were bright white and others that were still grey. At least one had a tiny baby swimming alongside, arching out of the water in unison with its parent. We watched them for quite some time, leaving only after it seemed like they'd moved on. We were thrilled.
From there, we went to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Centre, a place for rehabilitation, the breeding of certain animals for release into the wild, and also a permanent home for some animals unable to go back into the wild. We got to see moose, elk, musk oxen, brown bears, black bears, reindeer, a porcupine, a bald eagle, sitka deer, and bison. It was so cold and wet there, but the animals didn't seem to mind. We were happy to see that such a nice home is available for them.
Our next stop was Byron Glacier. We got completely soaked walking a mile to get to it, but it was worth it. The glacier has the most gorgeous blue bits in it.
We've been really pleased with our time in Anchorage and surrounds. Tomorrow we're headed north to Denali. We hope to get as far as North Pole!
Not far from Anchorage is Beluga Point, a pull-off of the highway from where belugas can sometimes be seen playing and/or looking for salmon. We got there and took about 20 minutes before we ventured out of the car; it was so windy, we worried that the car would blow away once we got out! We could see people outside fighting not to get knocked down by the wind. But eventually we heard a woman telling someone else how she'd seen belugas coming our way. We immediately put on jackets and hats and went to talk to her.
This woman is a local and had been trying for three years to see the belugas. Her friends kept seeing them, but she never could get a glimpse. It just happened that on this day, coming back from an unsuccessful fishing trip, she and her family happened to spot a big pod of belugas heading towards Beluga Point. This family followed the whales, stopping at various points along the highway, for an hour until they wound up at the Point. From where our cars were parked, we walked with her down closer to the water to have a good look. It was freezing cold and so windy I had to keep bracing myself not to fall over, but we were determined to see those whales!
We waited for a while but couldn't see them. The woman thought they might have been swept along by the strong current too far out for us to see them, but she kept hoping we'd get to see them like she had earlier. We all got so cold and it had been a while since she'd last seem then, so we gave up and headed back towards the cars. Before we got there, Chris felt inspired to go back one more time. We didn't manage to see any that time either.
On our way back to the cars once again, we saw a group of people in the distance, looking into the water. We realised that the woman we'd been talking to was among them, and as we were asking each other whether we should head over there, the woman spotted us and gestured for us to join them. We ran over there, so worried that the whales would leave before we got there. Luckily they hadn't. We joined the others to see dozens of belugas arching out of the water, usually only showing their backs but sometimes giving us a flash of head or tail. We couldn't believe how many there were and how long they stuck around in this place perfect for viewing them. We saw some that were bright white and others that were still grey. At least one had a tiny baby swimming alongside, arching out of the water in unison with its parent. We watched them for quite some time, leaving only after it seemed like they'd moved on. We were thrilled.
From there, we went to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Centre, a place for rehabilitation, the breeding of certain animals for release into the wild, and also a permanent home for some animals unable to go back into the wild. We got to see moose, elk, musk oxen, brown bears, black bears, reindeer, a porcupine, a bald eagle, sitka deer, and bison. It was so cold and wet there, but the animals didn't seem to mind. We were happy to see that such a nice home is available for them.
Our next stop was Byron Glacier. We got completely soaked walking a mile to get to it, but it was worth it. The glacier has the most gorgeous blue bits in it.
We've been really pleased with our time in Anchorage and surrounds. Tomorrow we're headed north to Denali. We hope to get as far as North Pole!
posted by Trace at
12:38 am
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