Anchorage, Alaska

It seems like its nigh on impossible to escape the mountains here in Alaska, even here in the state’s largest city of Anchorage. But that’s OK because I love mountains, especially when they are covered in snow. So maybe that’s why I’ve loved my time in Alaska so much.

You’re never far from mountains in Alaska, not even here in its largest city. Anchorage (), Alaska, USA. March 18, 2013.

I’ve just looked back at the pictures I’ve uploaded to my recent blog entries recounting the last seven days here in Alaska. Six entries (including this one) with 34 pictures (including this one), 31 of which feature in some form mountains. Sorry for the repetition, but in my defence I couldn’t help it. Honest.

Alaska || The Last Few Hours
I’m into my last few hours here in Alaska & I’m happy to spend them holed up in the Guesthouse Inn & Suites Anchorage. It’s no cosy Alaskan cabin by a bay but it’ll do for a night, tonight. It’s late and I have a very early morning flight to Vancouver, British Columbia (BC), Canada (via Seattle). Suffice to say Alaska has left a massive impression on me and at times like these I wish I had both the time & the wherewithal to give these last 7 days a proper sign off. But I don’t, on both counts.

Millers Landing at Lowell Point on Resurrection Bay, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, USA. March 15, 2013.

Anchorage
OK, so I drove out of Anchorage (very) early one morning when it was dark and 7 days later I drove back into the city, again when it was dark. I saw nothing, & know nothing, of what the city has to offer so here’s some information courtesy of Travbuddy.com

Anchorage Overview
Backed by the striking, frosty hills of Alaska and fronted by some of the iciest stretches of water you’ll ever want to pointedly avoid stepping in, Anchorage is perhaps the ultimate stop off on route to the ultimate adventure. Alaska’s largest city has acted as the stepping off point for many of the world’s most impressive expeditions, and has more than enough credentials to be the launch pad for yours, too.

The city itself is a diffuse area spread across thousands of square miles and home to sporadic, predictably wildlife-focused sites. The Alaskan Native Heritage Centre is a great place to start, exploring the roots of the state in an interactive assortment that takes in everything from old-world knives to skin-bound kayaks, as well as exploring the language and culture of the region in both film and cultural performances. The Art and History Museum expands on the history, while the Wildlife Conservation Centre is more of an oversized zoo, housing huge fields of bear, elk and moose that you can drive through in your car. Most of the animals are recovering from human-related accidents.

Unsurprisingly, walking and skiing have become the dominant local outdoor activities. Explore the incredible views and scenic beauty of the many trailheads (buy a trail guidebook locally to avoid missing the highlights), while feeling like your walking miles from anywhere. If you’re looking for seasonal work, the chance to take on dangerous fishing jobs offshore (or safer ones onshore) might give you the means to hang around, while only two highways take you out of the city and into the rest of Alaska. The city can feel isolated and gloomy, especially during the darker moments of the winter months, but you’d struggle to find a more naturally striking destination, and for many people it’s one of the world’s must see spots. If you are heading off on an adventure, come prepared and aware, and you’ll be in for the trip of a lifetime.