Alaska!

brianzurek
Aug 18, 2023
4 min read

Updated: Aug 18, 2023

In celebration of Dad's 80th birthday a small family trip was planned where we would all meet up in Alaska for a week of adventure! The trip would include me/Eva, Mel/Andrew/Ella, Lauren/Jeff and of course my father - John. Sadly his partner Anne couldn't make it due to a last minute injury.

At the airport excited to be on our way!

View from airplane - College Fjord, eventually we travel by boat all the way up the fjord to the glaciers (Harvard and Yale) at the very end.... see first picture

Eva enjoying the view from the ground

Siblings reunited (Lauren, Brian, Melanie)

(photo credit: Jeff)

We spent the first couple days in Girdwood - first day we went for a hike up the ski hill

(photo credit: Jeff)

while my dad took the tram to meet us at the top - some of us are looking a little more sweaty compared to the rest...

That afternoon we went to a wildlife conservation center - there was a bear in its den

(photo credit: Jeff)

and one that tried to sneak up on Brian

(photo credit: Eva)

The next day we traveled to Whittier for our 4 day boat adventure in Prince William Sound. Entering the tunnel that connects Whittier to the rest of the world.

The Babkin is out there somewhere

Sailing out of port

Morning clouds and fog obscure the view

Waterfalls and if you look closely - birds - lots and lots of birds!

as I said - birds!

Brian admiring the view

(photo credit: Eva)

Hey there is an otter!

John, Lauren and Eva looking for more otters

overwhelmed with so much to see Brian retreats to his book little does he know the roles have been reversed as an otter watches him!

(photo credit: Eva)

with no one looking Eva takes control of the ship

While we are mostly alone out on the sea we do see the occasional fishing boats

fishing

the catch

In the meantime we do some of our own fishing

(photo credit: Eva)

Brian gets the honor of throwing the buoy overboard

(photo credit: Eva)

the next day we picked it up, full of shrimp

Maybe we save one to take home as a pet

(photo credit: Eva)

In the meantime the sky's begin to clear and glaciers come into view! Remember Harvard and Yale from the plane? Here they are from the water!

The gang takes in the view from the upper deck

Captain Alex steers us in closer from the helm

Getting closer

Eva getting a closer view

The view

Everyone is all smiles

(photo credit: Eva)

When no one is looking this time Brian attempts to highjack the boat

Now that Brian has brought us closer, we all enjoy a close up view

(photo credit: Eva)

wanting an even closer view Eva highjacks a sea kayak

paddles off for a closer look

and finds something interesting

Not to be left out Brian heads out too

(photo credit: Jeff)

off they go!

(photo credit: Jeff)

Soon others join in the fun

A swarm of Kayaks at sea

and off they go

eventually its time to return to the mothership

Back on board we review the days adventures

(photo credit: Mel)

relax

(photo credit: Jeff)

and play some cards

(photo credit: Mel)

Before you know it another peaceful day arrives

a few morning clouds

Breakfast

(photo credit: Jeff)

Is it time to hop in the kayaks?

The Babkin'

Kayaks

Eva Kayaking

Where does this passage lead us?

Melanie checks out an iceberg

and finds a smaller one

much to her liking

While everyone is out playing Kate is busy making sure we are all fed while Alex the Captain supervises

(photo credit: Eva)

Is it selfie time???

No its time to head to shore

Land

and time for a little walk about'

Just have to cross this arctic jungle

(photo credit: Mel)

off we go

(photo credit: Jeff)

to get to the other side where the Babkin waits for us

Having made it Bob the dingy comes to pick us up

Back on shore we prepare to load up on Bob

(photo credit: Eva)

Back to the Babkin we go

Back on board the gang relaxes

While first mate Kate prepares those yummy shrimp!

Yum!

(photo credit: Eva)

High on shrimp the gang thinks they are otters while John thinks they are just crazy

(photo credit: Eva)

The next morning we kayak some more

(photo credit: Eva)

Eva heading back to the Babkin

Go for a swim

(photo credit: Eva)

all before eating breakfast

(photo credit: Eva)

All fed we head to shore - Captain Alex drives the dingy

(photo credit: Eva)

All plumped up back into the arctic jungle we go hopefully the bears aren't looking for a tasty snack

(photo credit: Eva)

Alex and John head back to the boat

(photo credit: Eva)

while the rest of us venture on

(photo credit: Eva)

Eva and Kate at our destination for the day - a nice swimming lake!

Happy gang at the lake

On the way out Brian tweaks his knee, hobbles out and gets some much needed R&R on the Babkin

(photo credit: Jeff)

That night we motored over to a waterfall in a peaceful bay

(photo credit: Jeff)

And of course the next day we did some more Kayaking - Eva going to check out the waterfall

John and Andrew join

Andrew gets up close and personal

Lauren and Ella bored of the kayaking SUP instead

The bay is invaded by an alien hoard of jelly fish

Later in the day Eva checks out some sea lions

What Eva sees

(photo credit: Eva)

One last trip out in the kayaks

(photo credit: Eva)

While John and Andrew take bob out for one last adventure

With that its time to motor back to port in Whittier - looking back

looking forward

Pulling into port

Capt. Alex unloads some of the bags

(photo credit: Eva)

And with that our boat journey was complete!

After dropping off Eva in Anchorage to spend a few days visiting her good friend Bergit, the rest of the gang head up to Talkeetna to hopefully get a glimpse of Denali. What a better way than by plane. This one looks airworthy!

Clouds kept us from seeing Denali - its out there somewhere!

Big rock covered glacier

Wild river patterns at the terminus of a glacier

Time to land

and with that it was time for us all to go our own separate ways - Dad, Lauren and Jeff head home (Minneapolis) while Mel, Andrew and Ella hop in an RV