Blue Is My Favorite Color

It's back on the train and heading out for today's adventure. Up to this point, whenever we boarded the train, we were in Gold Star class with those big, beautiful windows and the open bar. For today, we are in Adventure Class, more of the budget variety. The reason is that we were on a different set of trains that were taking us off in a different direction than the Gold Star trains go. We are going out into the wild to animals (caged) and the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop.

First, though, we head to Girdwood to meet our guide for the day, Liza, one of the most energetic, enthusiastic people I've met. She even brought extra clothes for us wimpy non-Alaskans so we would be comfortable in today's cold, blustery weather. She takes us to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation area where we could see native Alaskan wildlife. Most of the animals were all rescue animals who could no longer survive out in the wild. The star of the Center was Mr. Kobuk, a black bear whose mother had been chased off by dogs, leaving Kobuk to become dependent on human trash for food. 

 

Look! A baby musk ox!

Awwwww

After lunch, we board the train again and head for the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop. We are outfitted with big rubber boots, head to Spencer Glacier Lake and we get in our rafts. Liza rows us around the lake so we can look at the icebergs and then we head down Placer River. Placer River is a Class Two river which means that every now and then there are a few baby rapids which add a moment of giggles.

Spencer Glacier is on the left

Liza rowing us into the lake

Yes, this is crooked but look at that blue.

Rapids!

Since so many people live in Alaska with no roads, they use the train to go into town.  They will stand by the tracks and wave the train down.  This is the train coming to pick us up from rafting.  

While the whole trip was fascinating and great fun, I do believe that this particular excursion was my favorite. There was something about the icebergs that seemed so timeless. Floating down the river, with the mountains coming right down to the river's edge and looking at how untouched they were by humans was very soul satisfying.