Russian Float Adventure Day 1

Our family has been so blessed to know this wonderful family.  Picture stolen from her blog.  She is also an amazing photographer.  http://jessicacarneyphotography.blogspot.com/




From the moment we even had the possibility of moving to Alaska, we were planning this EPIC trip.  Ben had poured over maps of Alaska.  He being a fisherman like Dwayne meant that he had to find the PERFECT spot.  After many months of careful planning.  The trip had come.  I was thrilled to be with them.  They are some of the most amazing friends and people I know. 

The highlight was a float plane ride to the Upper Russian Lake and staying in the Forest Service Cabin for three nights.  We headed to Lake Hood.  The busiest seaplane base in the world.  We were very excited.  The weather was perfect! 

This was our pilot.  We flew in a Beaver.  It was a great flight.  At take off you pass right over Ted International Airport.  Boy do you feel small sometimes.  I felt like that this whole flight.  I don't think pictures can do justice for the magnificents of Alaska. 
 
The mud flats and tundra/ swamp of the Inlet and Turnagain.  Below is the beautiful view across the Cook Inlet.  You could see so far it was amazing.  We were all speechless as we just sat and took it in.
 

 A glacier named Skilak or Hidden Lake?  There are so many I can never remember them all.

 A view down the Russian River.  You can hike all the way in from the highway or from Cooper Landing.  We considered doing this, but then the trip would not be EPIC.

 The glassy lake before our landing.  The pilot did awesome.  These landing are actually the most dangerous.  You loose your sense of depth perception due to the reflection.

 After unloading we said goodbye to our pilot.  He would return to pick us up in three days.  We hoped.  But for now, we were ready to explore our new surroundings. 

 And this is our little cabin in the middle of the forest sitting on a lake in bear country and fishing heaven.  I was amazed at how lush and green it was.  This cabin was perfect!

 We took a little bit of time to enjoy our view and get settled in.  It did not take long for us to want to get to the more important business of FISHING and EXPLORING!

 We practically lived in our waders for three days.  We fished and explored and had a blast.  It was totally refeshing to be away from everything but the beauty of the earth.  It was a little piece of heaven.

This is a fun picture of the road less traveled.  Now you see Jess, Now you don't. 

            
Day one completed and two more to go.  I took many pictures and then just sat and enjoyed it.  There was so much to enjoy around us.  We carried around bear spray, bells, guns and our loud voices.  There was evidence of bears everywhere.  Did we see any?