The Cabin-Fever Crew.

Time to get out of the house! Let’s enjoy a beautiful day and try not to spend a ton of money while we do it.

We’ll, that was the plan for our family and I’d say we managed to pull it off with spare time and energy in just enough quantity, that we could drive back to the house and take a late nap. I loved this hike in particular because it’s so approachable. We saw other young families out on the trail, and my kids were able to make it without too much complaining, so overall as a fantastic day. The icing on the cake? The total cost of this day-long adventure was about $50 a person, plus a packed lunch. So here’s how the day went.

Hollywood Sunrise Escape

We started out the day with an easy breakfast before headed over to the dock at Homer Spit. Ramp #2 and a 9am rendezvous with our water taxi pick up. We promptly departed and as the boat pulled around the water breaks, the light began to burst through the clouds and edges of the southern mountains to create beams of sunlight. Here, I really can’t get used to the scenery. Of all the places I’ve been and explored, Kachemak Bay consistently has the best lighting for photos. It’s always different, highly dynamic, and commonly resembles more of a water color painting …sometimes more colorful than any other sunrise or sunset I’m witnessed.

It takes about 45min to traverse Kachemak Bay by water taxi and the whole time we were escorted by sea life. Migratory birds and otters mostly. I suspect at the right time of year and with lots of luck there are encounters with belugas or orcas. That daydream aside, the crossing was smooth and the boat captain beached us at the trail head for Glacier Lake Trail. We climbed the ladder down to the beach and with her parting words all agreed to meet again on the other side of the ridge at the Trailhead for Saddle Trail.

Glacier Lake Trail

Glacier Lake Trail side is very flat. It takes one or 2 miles before you see any real elevation gain, and while the trail itself is very narrow in some places and uneven in some places, it’s well-maintained and I was glad I brought hiking shoes instead of mud boots. It’s early September here in Southern Alaska and fall is just now coming in. Aspens are turning golden and fireweed stalks are bright pink and red with surrounding vegetation just hinting at their potential colors. This place in full fall color must be absolutely insane.  We soaked in every view and moment this trail had to offer. We took several breaks. The lighting was just too good to pass up and the photos here, yet before we realized it, the two-ish miles were completed and the trail opened up and we for the first time witnessed the full view of the glacier and surrounding mountains. Spectacular!

Lunch Was Served

Every good hike should include a packed lunch. Ours today was a large sandwich with homemade French bread. Some fruit, granola bar, and gummy bears. The only thing missing? A thermos of hot tea. Man, I thought about it the night before, and dammit, woke up this morning with it completely absent from my mind. -It’s sitting in the pantry, but might as well be on the moon at this point. Oh well, it is what it is, I guess.

At any rate, lunch was welcomed, needed, and very filling. Went spent about 30min at the glacier enjoying the view and dipping our toes in the lake. Others brought towels and swim gear for a more invigorating experience. That’ll be in our day pack for next time, probably.

Saddle Trail

We were full and it’s about 12:30, which at our standard hiking speed of 1 mph, means we have about two and a half hours to travel two miles, and it’s very much time to start hiking again. Saddle Trail had a different cadence though, it was entirely up hill and steep in some spots. The view were very commanding and we stopped at everyone vista to regroup and take in the sight. I think these could be considered Fjords, but I could be wrong. Kenai Fjords National park is on the other side of the adjoining ice field so I feel like the two landscapes could share the title Fjord. Semantics aside, gorgeous and not to be missed! Saddle trail climbs high and higher, only to drop back to sea level in the last quarter mile. Essentially a giant and steep staircase.

The Expected Car Nap

We made it back with time to spare (thankfully), and spent time on the rocky beach resting and watching the light beams highlight different parts of the mountainside. I’ll never get used to these views…

Our friends at Bay Excursions Water Taxi picked us up again and ferried us home. We found port around half past three, and the truck about fifteen minutes later. The kids lasted another ten seconds before passing out, and thankfully Kerrie and I managed to make it to the couch before doing the same. -A well deserved nap after a fantastic day out in the wilds.