The sky is clear and bluer than blue. We are excitedly driving to a popular Anchorage hike.

Today we conquered Flattop. The Milepost cites it as the “most popular hiking trail in the state.”  It also says that, “on a sunny summer day it seems that half of Anchorage is out hiking to the top of Flattop Mountain.”  We met about half of Anchorage either on the way up or on the way down. :-)

It was a 3.5 mile trail that ended at 3,510 feet.  That doesn’t seem that tall compared to Mt. McKinley’s 20,000 ft, but we are now back at sea level in Anchorage.  Scott was able to make it all the way.  My left hiking boot unfortunately did not.  I lost the entire sole just as the summit came into view.  I bought the boots shortly after I met Scott in ‘96 to take our first extended trip together out west.  We decided Scott should go all the way and the kids and I would eat lunch.  The boot was pretty destroyed by the time I arrived back to the car, but we made it!

“Experience is the name we give our mistakes.”  I saw that quote on a light store in Anchorage.

After our hike we headed to Valley of the Moon Park and let Cody and Brooke play away for a while.

Then we headed back to our campground where Scott made homemade pizza for us.

Brooke was doing a “gnarly” dance next to a very gnarly tree.

This was Scott at the top and then Scott taking a picture of us from the top.

We had our head in the clouds.  Literally! :-)

Valley of the Moon Park.