Walking Along Potter Marsh

Are you annoyed yet? I know this is a lot of photo dumps lately. I should have done this throughout the summer, but I was too busy adventuring to blog, so I apologize. Today's featured adventure was the visit to Potter Marsh just outside of Anchorage Alaska along the Seward Highway. This is a "free" spot for tourists and locals alike to view the local wildlife and landscape. I say "free" because they do ask for a donation, you can place check or cash in a box at the head of the boardwalk. 

There is a boardwalk that takes out out over the Marsh. There are several different "paths" that bring you over waterways where spawning salmon make their way to the spawn beds. Water fowl of every type can be seen all throughout the marsh. Big game like moose and bear frequent the area (moose more than bruin, and normally early morning or late night visits). Several "step outs" have a type of public binocular you can use to see some of the further away wildlife (or look into the homes on the hillside... I joke... kinda.) This is a popular attraction for everyone so be prepared to see a lot of bird watchers, tourists, etc.

On our visit we spotted spawning pink salmon, ducks and other water fowl, and a curious little ermine (also known as a stoat). You can view photos of our visit below.

Year of the Bear

As stated in my other road trip blog posts, 2020 has offered a unique ability to do a little bit of tourism within my home state. Just about all of my summer adventures happened with my best friend and her daughter (who was 10 at the beginning of summer but turned 11 on the first day of the new school year, poor kid). Many of those trips included a quick trip down Skilak Lake Road just about an hour north of where we live. Adds quite a bit of time because we go slow hoping to see some wildlife, and this year has not disappointed. We've seen birds (including a horrible collision between a pick up and a Spruce Hen), squirrels, rabbits... and BEARS. There is a lot of bear activity in that area, both brown and black. We've seen both over the years, but not as often as we've seen them this year (to be fair we don't normally drive that road as much as we have this year). 

One night we were able to catch some photos of a black bear cub (no mommy in sight!) and then a few weeks later we spotted a sow brown bear and her three cubs close by floating on the Russian River. I've included both here just because.

Bear Sighting

A few weekends ago my bestie Kassy and I went on a short road trip to Anchorage. Just an overnighter so I could get my car fixed and she signed us up to help with an Operation Christmas Child information booth at a Christian Women's Conference. It was fun, but it was a quick up and back and I was tired (I dealt with migraines all weekend). On our way home (much later than I'd originally planned but we were at the mercy of the mechanics) we were stopped just outside of Sterling. I originally thought it was due to an accident until we looked to the side of the road and saw a sow brown bear and her two yearling cubs! We spent over a half hour taking pictures and watching idiot drivers/people. This is only the 3rd time I've seen a Brownie in the wild (and so close to the road!) and the very first time I've seen cubs in the wild! So awesome!