Day 54: Monday, July 26th Heading to Seward Day II

We spent the night at our newest favorite camp spot at Hidden Lake. The spot we had before was taken, but we camped across the road. Thankfully there was a pavilion close to our campsite for Scott to cook breakfast in. He had to take the tent down in the rain though. Quite humorously we listened to the country song “Rain is a Good Thing” as we cruised out towards some partial sun and back to Highway Number One or the Sterling Highway.

Scott asked Brooke if she wanted to go hiking before we left. He was teasing because the last time we were here the hike didn’t go so well. Brooke noted that she didn’t have her galoshes with her. Next time we go camping we need to remember her galoshes. We stopped and picked her up some extra shoes back in Fairbanks because the Princess shoes were falling apart. However, they have come in handy because almost every day a pair of shoes is soaked and it is difficult for things to dry out when the clouds never seem to.

Brooke has been excitedly anticipating touching a glacier. Due to rapidly running water all of the glaciers have restricted access a few hundred yards from the edge. Brooke was a great junior ranger today and led our hike up Exit Glacier. She would even tell us interesting tid bits along the way, and was great at noticing things others might not like the fresh moose scat on a nearby riverbed. No crying on our hike today. (Yahooo!!!!!!!) It is amazing how much more enjoyable hikes are without crying. She didn’t even cry (although it was close) when she discovered she couldn’t touch the glacier (AGAIN!!!!).

“Momma this is irritating!”

Luckily a ranger had hiked up and taken some ice off of the glacier for people to touch. That seemed to make her happy.

It rained most of our hike, but it wasn’t anywhere near the downpour we arrived in. We were all dressed for the weather including Cody sporting the latest in raingear. (Yes, it is a garbage bag.) His youth sized poncho was sized for a youth sized gorilla and REI didn’t even seem to have anything for the wee hiker. Scott improvised and Cody stayed toasty and dry.

Brooke is standing next to striations made on the rocks when the glacier dragged silt over them many years ago.