Rondy Festival

We went downtown to shop and they had the Rondy Festival going on, complete with carnival rides and such. We were walking to get to the shop and they have the streets blocked off and we come upon reindeer. We are like what is going on? They have a two block race where people dress up and reindeer run after them, I guess like running of the bulls. No one got hurt and I think it is mostly for fun. I did not realize reindeer where so small. I thought they might be "baby" ones, but no they are full grown. Ruth and I had a reindeer sausage from a street vendor. It takes just like polish sausage and not chicken if you were wondering.

Earthquake Park

Frank recommended that we go here. It was quite interesting. They had a 9.something earthquake in Anchorage at some point and they showed how the earth had changed. I can't imagine what it was like. I have been thru some myself and they were not that big, but it gets your heart pumping. I thought it was kind of ironic that there was a massive earthquake the day before in Chile.

Above is me and below is Ruth. Angel, my old standby coat worked well with the boost of a hoodie. I was not cold and Franks old gloves from his mission kept my fingers nice and toasty. Ruth went out the night before to get our lovely hats, they were the only option.

Trip to Portage Glacier

I was trying to get the clouds and how they were lower than the tops of the mountains. I thought it was pretty cool.

I think this was call beluga point, as in the whales We did not see any whales. :(

As we kept going, it kept snowing and the roads became more and more like this. It was kind of scary. I am glad I was not driving-Thanks Ruth.

I was trying to get a picture of either the Moose crossing sign, or the one that said avalanche zone do not stop for the next 5 miles.

More examples of the road conditions.

We think the glacier was beyond this tunnel, but it was snowing too much with a lot of fog and you could not see a thing. This is where we decided to turn around. Sniff Sniff, but it gives me a reason to want to go back. It will be summer and on a cruise when I do.

Alaskan Trees

This is what the trees look like. They are everywhere and the snow looks pretty on them. This is a small one outside the hotel. Notice the road in the background, it is not all the way cleared. There were very few all the way cleared roads. According to Frank, "It is a loosing battle".

Anchorage Temple

This temple seemed extra small, it was smaller than the chapel next door, but still beautiful. It was the first place where the sidewalks were totally clear. I know that the saints in Alaska must be very thankful for their temple. I wonder where they had to travel to before, Seattle, maybe even Canada.

Church in Alaska

We got off the plane and I heard this girl say to her Mom, "Is stake conference tomorrow?" and her reply was yes. I thought, great we don't know where the stake center is. We got up and went to the church around the corner and great-people were there. I don't know if alot of people were out of town, or if they have a small ward, but the chapel was not even half full. It was one of the largest chapels I have seen though. The had good speakers, it was your typical meeting. I was surprised but the number of short sleeves I saw but if I lived there that is probably what I would be wearing also.