Alaska – Day 10

Anchorage to Talkeetna

July 2010

We said goodbye to Anchorage and headed to the train depot to climb aboard Royal Celebrity’s Wilderness Express glass domed train car on the Alaska Railroad. During the very scenic ride through the Alaskan wilderness, we ate breakfast aboard the train. When we arrived in Talkeetna, we had lunch and explored the small town. We then went to the airport, booted up and boarded a plane to go to Ruth Glacier. As we were taxiing to the runway, the flight was aborted due to weather. So we had a dinner at the lodge instead and begged Julie to get us booked on another flight before the trip was over.

10-05 Wilderness Express Car Interior
Our train car had a glass domed roof.
10-08 Elmendorf Air Force Base
Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage
10-15 Bald Eagle
This was the last bald eagle we saw.
10-17 Three Sisters & Pioneer Peak
These mountains are Pioneer Peak and Three Sisters
10-20 Three Sisters & Pioneer Peak
These mountains are Pioneer Peak and Three Sisters
10-22 Valley
The smokiness is from wildfires to the north
10-26 Trumpeter Swans
Trumpeter swans
10-27 Homestead
A typical Alaska homestead
10-31 Alaska Railroad Train
We arrived by train in Talkeetna
10-33 Downtown Talkeetna Sign
Welcome to beautiful downtown Talkeetna
10-34 Smoked Salmon Sign
Mmm, smoked salmon.
10-35 Talkeetna
Talkeetna is a town with only a few streets
10-36 Shop
The shops in Talkeetna are all very colorful.
10-38 Shop
The shops in Talkeetna are all very colorful.
10-41 Talkeetna Ranger Station
The Talkeetna Ranger Station is where you must check in before climbing Denali (aka Mt. McKinley)
10-42 Fishing Speedboat
This craft looked more like something you'd see in Alabama than Alaska
10-48 Nagley's Store
We had a delicious lunch at the West Rib Deli & Pub. It was apparently featured on Man vs. Food.
10-50 Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge East Lobby
This is the smaller East Lobby near our room at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge.
10-51 Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge Trails
The Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge has miles of hiking trails
10-52 Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge Fireplace
This immense fireplace is in the main lobby of the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge.
10-53 Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge Fireplace
This immense fireplace is in the main lobby of the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge.
10-57 K2 Glacier Plane
A flightseeing plane passes our lodge
10-59 Mom
This immense fireplace is in the main lobby of the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge.
10-61 Mom
This immense fireplace is in the main lobby of the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge.
10-62 Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge Fireplace
Main lobby of the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge.
10-63 K2 Glacier Plane
We boarded this plane and taxied to the runway before our flight was scrubbed due to weather.
10-64 Mom
We looked really happy before we found out our flight was scrubbed.
10-65 Michael
We looked really happy before we found out our flight was scrubbed.
10-66 Pilot
We almost left the ground.
10-67 Pacific Rim Poke
My appetizer at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge. Pacific Rim Poke consisted of raw tuna, raw salmon and avocado.
10-68 Frenched Elk Loin
My dinner at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, frenched elk loins.
10-69 Wild Alaskan Salmon & Fingerling Potatoes
My mother's dinner at the Talkeetna Alaska Lodge, grilled salmon with fingerling potatoes.