July 31, 2012

More Than a Mountain

Denali is much much more than a mountain...





















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Photo of the Week

A quote that's stuck with me since our visit to Denali National Park a few weeks back... I'm kind of in love with it.



Have a good week friends!



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July 29, 2012

26 Glaciers

We've been fortunate to go on many adventures during our time in Alaska.  Of all the places we've seen, the number one place on my list so far is Prince William Sound.  But to be expected, I have such an affinity to water. It doesn't matter if it's cold and rainy, being out on the Sound is so peaceful and gorgeous. 

From Whittier we jumped on the Phillip's 26 Glaciers Cruise, a 5-hour cruise around the Sound where you see, as the name states, 26 glaciers.  Complete with a fish and chips lunch (delish) and margaritas with glacial ice (they had us at margarita). Oh and let's not forget the wildlife, even on a cold and rainy day. Stellar sea lions, harbor seals, sea otters and birds galore! Pretty sure I threw some elbows to get pictures of the raft of otters.




Have you gone on a wildlife cruise? I'd love to hear!



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July 28, 2012

Our Newest Ambassador

When I set a goal and say I'm going to do something, I'm going to get the job done.  When I am doubted or underestimated, you better believe I'm going to go above and beyond what it takes to reach my goal.  Doubt just adds fuel to the fire.  So when I set the goal to harness train the Zoo's dall sheep lamb Lauren and take her to an outreach downtown Anchorage, there was no way in hell I was going to fail.  I set the same goal for myself last summer with the musk ox girls and was successful, so why wouldn't I be able to do it again? Perfectly normal goal, right?! Normal or not, at least I can now check that off the list!  Goal complete, with flying freakin' colors.  

Click on the link below for pictures from Lauren "the rock star" dall sheep lamb's very first outreach at the Alaska Public Lands Information Centre downtown Anchorage.  What an adventure! And this was just the beginning...


Lauren's Big Adventure (Photos by the Alaska Zoo Photographer, John Gomes)


And here's a behind-the-scenes look at what it looks like to take a dall sheep on an outreach.  Copilot Lauren was as happy as pie.  She even took a quick beauty nap before her big debut.

What a wonderful addition to our Alaska Zoo Animal Ambassador family.






A day later, the smile is still on my face.




Photos  ©Marla Wales 2012



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July 25, 2012

I've Got a Fever

Steve's been out of town the past two weeks, something I'm fairly used to during the hockey season.  Normally, I sit on the couch and catch up on my girly shows or have conservations with Mo the mouse.  But since he left, I have actually been super busy.  Super busy because I started a little something new...

This past weekend two girlfriends and I had a booth at the weekend Anchorage Market and Festival, downtown Anchorage.  We sold our photographs, and did really well. That means people really like our photographs! Because of this, I've kind of got the fever.  The fever to do it again. And so we are.  We'll be at it again this Saturday...

So, if you happen to be downtown Anchorage this Saturday, stop by our little booth to check out our photos or just say hi. It would be great to see you. And for those that visited us last weekend, we definitely appreciate the support!




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July 24, 2012

Paradise on Earth

I read somewhere that the Napali Coast "nourishes the soul".  Agreed. It also makes you feel about the size of an ant. Kauai's famous coastline is truly majestic, with emerald green pinnacles rising out of the ocean and cascading waterfalls towering high above the water for 17 gorgeous miles. 

Like all Hawaiian islands, Kauai was born over a plume of magma, called a hot spot.  As tectonic forces moved the island, it cooled and the water took over.  Rain carved out the deep valleys and giant waves from the Pacific crashed against the cliffs as sea level rose and fell, gouging steep and unstable slopes.  The result?  A series of plunging valleys, extensive walls and sharp ridges rising thousands of feet above the Pacific Ocean.  Simply put, paradise on Earth.  With that, the Napali Coast was born.

A Napali Coast catamaran tour was on the very top of our "To Do" list while in Kauai. In fact, it may have been the only thing on our list.  There were no excuses (including my fear of sea sickness), we were doing it!  And so we, and my sea legs, did! And it was AMAZING! Worth every penny.  

The Holo Holo Charters catamaran, the "Leila", left out of Port Allen, along the west coast, and sailed for five hours along the Napali Coast.  If we had a dollar for every time the word "wow" or "amazing" or "beautiful" or even "incredible" came out of our mouths, we'd be rich.  We saw bottlenose dolphins, were surrounded by a pod of 200 spinner dolphins, sea turtles, monk seals, swam with the fish and even got to see the dorsal fin of a shark on the cruise back in.  


I was in HEAVEN! Like a little kid on Christmas. Being in the ocean is like being in a whole new world.  I was very quickly reminded of my love for the ocean. I think in my second life I would like to be a mermaid.  If that's not possible, a dolphin will do.


Words can't describe how amazing the Napali Coast is, so here are many more pictures...




For more on our trip Hawaii, check this out:
A Trip to the Garden Island
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