Showing posts with label Autumn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Autumn. Show all posts

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Hiking - Cottonwood Trail

View From the Cottonwood Trail



Stats

Distance:  0.25 miles                        Difficulty: Easy                                 Time:  20 minutes

Summary

The Cottonwood Trail is a short hike to a fabulous view of the Grewingk Glacier, Homer Spit and the Kachemak Bay.

Sunday, May 25, 2014

(Closed due to massive undercutting of trail) Hiking - Diamond Creek Trail to Kachemak Bay Beach

Young Eagle on the Beach
Closed due massive undercutting of the trail
-- We'll update this post when it gets opened again.
-----------------------------------
Stats

Distance:  0.5 miles +           Difficulty: Easy / Moderate           Time:  30 min +


Summary

This hike is in Homer, AK.  The first time we walked this trail was 16 Jun 2013.  It was a beautiful day, so we decided to go for a walk on the beach.  We hiked the trail again a couple of weeks later.  It is close and easy, so we'll be doing this hike often.

The link to the official web site is http://www.cityofhomer-ak.gov/recreation/diamond-creek-trail.  This is limited site that lists a few of the hikes in the Homer area.



Opinion

We love this hike for an easy day hike.  We prefer this hike and beach access to the better-known Bishop Beach.  The beach here is more interesting

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Experience - View from Skyline Overlook

If you’re in Homer and have 20 minutes to spare or can afford a short detour on the way out of town, the scenic overlook on Skyline is a great choice.

A quick five-minute drive from town and three steps out of the car will bring you to one the best views in Homer.  Head up either East Hill or West Hill road until they merge with Skyline.  If you chose West Hill Rd, turn right; if you chose East Hill Rd turn left.  About a quarter mile from the intersection of Skyline Dr and East Hill Rd you'll find a pull off on the south side of the road (next a small antenna farm).  That pullout gives the best high-altitude view in Homer.  From this spot you have a fabulous 180-degree view of Kachemak Bay, the Homer Spit, and the Chugach Range.

We especially like the days where Homer is socked in with low clouds and the pullout is clear.  The entire valley and bay are covered in white cotton balls--often with peekaboo views of the spit, the coast, or the ocean--and the mountains across the bay stick up pass the clouds.  They have the feel of untouched wildness.


If you’re leaving town, you can follow Skyline Dr west along several miles until it intersects with Diamond Ridge Rd.  Diamond Ridge Rd intersects with Sterling Highway and it's a right turn to Soldotna, Seward, and Anchorage.  This route bypasses Homer proper and follows the ridgeline for several miles.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Adventure - Fishing with Dan Donich Charter – Full-Day Halibut Trip


Chris' 35 lb halibut ready to break the surface.


Stats

Difficulty: Easy - Moderate                                                                      Time:  Full-Day

Summary

I love halibut, but we don’t own a boat.   We decided to go on a fishing charter on 11 Sep on the hope of filling the freezer.  This time we chose Dan Donich (Daniel's Personalized Guide Service).  He was recommended by an acquaintance.  This was our second charter in 2013.  We went out on the Irish in late Aug (see Halibut Fishing with North Country Charters) and came home with 15.8 lbs of halibut filets, but we wanted more.

Opinion

Great trip!  My husband and I caught our limit (so did everyone else on the boat) and came home with 54.1 lbs of halibut filets

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Adventure - Blueberry Picking at the Peterson Research Station


Sunset at Peterson Research Station

Stats

When: Early – Mid August                         Where: Peterson Research Station

Summary

Alaska seems to be the US capitol for berries.  More berries grow in this state than I’ve ever heard of anywhere else.  We’ve got blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, salmon berries, watermelon berries, elderberries, currant, marionberries, cranberries, lingonberries (low bush cranberry), nagoonberries, crow berries, serviceberries, and strawberries.  Most of these grow wild, but several cultivars are grown in home yards and farms as well.  Truly, I didn’t know half these berries existed until I moved here.

On 11 Aug 2013 our neighbors asked if we wanted to take a boat ride across Kachemak Bay to go blueberry picking at the Peterson Research Station.  The Peterson Research Station belongs to the Center for Alaska Coastal Studies based out of Homer.  The station is situated on 5 acres of wild land and coastline and their lower trails go through extensive blueberry fields, with a mix of currant and salmonberry randomly distributed throughout.  The berries are fair game to visitors, although they ask that you leave a few for the bears.

Opinion

This was a blast.  We picked berries for about 2 hours and came home with 7.5 lbs (22.5 cups)

Hiking - Eveline State Recreation Site outside Homer

Portlock and Dixon Glaciers from the Bottom of Alpine Meadows Loop

Stats 
Distance:  1.4 miles                   Difficulty: Easy                                 Time:  50 min

Summary
On 15 Aug 2013 we got a break in the much overdue rain and headed to the Eveline State Recreation Site.  Eveline has trails that are used in both summer and winter.  The summer trails are two loops: Glacier View Loop and Alpine Meadows Loop.  Both trails are inland meadows with excellent views of the Portlock and Dixon Glaciers.  In the winter the trails are tagged for cross-country skiing and snow shoeing; the views might be even better then as the air tends to be more clear in the winter.  The Alaska Department of Resources web site for the recreation area is Eveline State Recreation Site.  Other blogs have trip reports on this site that can be found with an internet search on Eveline State Recreation Site.


Opinion

This is a very nice hike.  We like it a bit better than the lower Homestead Trail; it’s better maintained (less boggy) and has slightly better views although both trails have masses of wonderful wildflower

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Hiking - Walking The Spit Starting at Mariner’s Park



Stats

Distance:  Up to you                       Difficulty: Easy                              Time:  Up to you

Summary

The Spit is a Homer landmark.  It is exactly what its name says, a spit of land reaching into Kachemak Bay.  The spit is best know for the fishing charters, shopping, and fish packing, but is also a popular place for beach strolls and clamming.  We took a hike on the west side of the Spit starting at Mariner’s Park on 9 Jul 2013.

Opinion

This is one of our favorite hikes when we are in the mood for an easy stroll on the beach.  The common sites include Bald Eagles, gulls of several varieties,

Monday, July 22, 2013

Hiking - Homestead Trail: Lower Trail (Roger's Loop to Rucksack Rd)



Stats 

Distance:  5.9 miles                   Difficulty: Moderate                                 Time:  3.5 hrs

Summary


On 14 Jul 2013 we decided to return to the Homestead Trail.  Homestead Trail isn’t really just one trail: it has several branches and paths.  In the winter some of the branches are used for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.  This time we picked the main Homestead Trail, then branched off to Rucksack Rd.  The Homestead trail hikes are inland trails.  The main Homestead Trail starts in the Homer swampland and climbs steadily into mountain meadows.  The link to the official web site is http://www.cityofhomer-ak.gov/recreation/homestead.  This is limited site that lists a few of the hikes in the Homer area.  


Opinion

This is a nice hike, but not the best hike in the Homer area.  However, the trail should be amazing when the Fireweed blooms.  Large parts of the trail wander

Hiking - Homestead Trail: Self-Guided Nature Trail




Stats

Distance:  1.0 miles                                  Difficulty: Easy                                        Time:  30 min


Summary

On 3 Jul 2013 we decided to check out the Homestead Trail.  Since we had no specific goal in mind, we picked the closest and shortest of the hikes that start at Homestead Trail trailhead.  The Homestead trail hikes are inland trails and the Self-Guided Nature trail goes through the Homer wild- and swamp-land.  The link to the official web site is http://www.cityofhomer-ak.gov/recreation/homestead.  This is limited site that lists a few of the hikes in the Homer area.


Opinion

This is a nice hike, but not the best in the Homer area.  This trail is not one for sweeping vistas, but is best enjoyed by

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Hiking - Grewingk Glacier Lake and Saddle Trail (Summer)




Grewingk Glacier and Lake



Stats

Distance:  4.5 miles                   Difficulty: Easy / Moderate                                 Time:  5 hrs

Summary

On 8 Jun 2013, the Kachemak Bay State Park had its annual “Trails Day”.  The purpose of trails day is to clean and repair the many managed trails in the park.  In addition to the maintenance hike, the state park also sponsors a guided family hike to Grewingk Glacier.  The hike started with a boat ride to the beach to take the Glacier Lake Trail to the glacier, the returned to the bay via the Saddle Trail.  

Since the start and end points are not the same, this particular route requires someone with a boat to drop you off and pick you up; if you don’t have a convenient friend with a boat, you can take one of the Water Taxis operated out of Homer.  This particular hike, as part of Trails Day, was sponsored and supported by Mako Water Taxi.

We did this hike before we started this blog, so we don’t have GPS maps of the route we took.  You can find good trail maps at the web site above.  We will upload a GPS track of the route the next time we take this hike.


Opinion

This is one of our favorite full day hikes; it is well worth the water taxi fee.  We also recommend planning a nice picnic lunch at the glacier.  The Glacier Lake Trail

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Hiking - Byron Glacier Trail




Stats

Distance:  1.0 miles                                    Difficulty: Easy                                          Time:  1 hr

Summary

On 24 Jun 2013 we decided to go to the Portage Glacier and take the boat to the glacier front.  Our timing was off due to road construction on Sterling Hwy and we missed the boat.  However the trip wasn't a total loss; on the way to the cruise loading area, we passed Byron Glacier.  From the road, it looked beautiful so we decided to check out the Byron Glacier Trail.

The trail is part of the Chugach National Forest.  The official web site is http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/chugach/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=6606&actid=50.  The trail is a 2-mile round trip and a very easy hike.  It brings you quite close to the face of the glacier and provides a very pleasant hike with a beautiful glacier at the end.


Opinion




This is the best easy glacier hike we’ve found so far.  The highlight of this trail are

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Hiking - Exit Glacier

Stats

Distance:  3.0 miles                                  Difficulty: Easy                                          Time:  1.5 hrs

                                                                         Summary 
Exit Glacier

It was 12 Jun 2013 when we decided to try the Exit Glacier hike near Seward, AK. This hike is in the Kenai Fjords National Park Alaska. The link to the official web site is http://www.nps.gov/kefj/planyourvisit/exit-glacier.htm. This is a useful site that provides directions to the site, a description of the hiking options, and park alerts.

There are four hikes from only a mile to over eight miles that can be taken from the trailhead: Glacier View, the Toe of the Glacier, the Edge of the Glacier, and the Harding Ice Field. The trails are clearly marked and the distances for each are shown on each trail sign.  We hiked to Glacier View through the Cottonwood forest and from there to the Edge of the Glacier. 

Opinion



This is an easy, short, and very pleasant hike. It has good views of