Hatcher Pass (among other things)

Saturday morning I went with Luke to voter training.  (I had already been...I was there for moral support.)  After that we went to lunch at Middle Way Cafe in Anchorage.  (The food there is very good...if you were wondering.)

When we got home, we decided to go on a half day road trip to Hatcher Pass.  And we are soooooo glad we did!  That place is beautiful!  And it's not very far away.

A view of the road from Mint Glacier trailhead parking lot.

We went as far as Independence Mine.  I needed to do some recon for this week's hiking group there.

First we went to Gold Cord Lake.  (It's fairly easy but not stroller friendly...but it's very beautiful so make your kids walk! haha!)

Luke on the trail

Gold Cord Lake 

We love Alaska!  And this is one of our new favorite places!

The lake is the coolest color!

Lynch cabin (the view on the way back down the trail)

After that we explored around Independence mine.  It's on a hill, but most of the paths are paved.  This is where we will be having the hike this week.  (Meaning: you will hear about it again later.)

View of the parking lot and Independence Mine from the Gold Cord Lake Trail. 

This was the mine power plant and where they had the rock crusher and stuff.  Now it's a huge pile of rubble.

View of the buildings from the Hard Rock Trail.

Look at all that wood...that I would love to reclaim!

We saw a marmot!

Heading back towards the parking lot.

On our way home we cut some fireweed so we could make (or attempt to make) fireweed jelly when we got home.

Fireweed

Along Hatcher Pass Road

We picked off the blossoms while we watched the olympics.

And then it was time to make the jelly.  It was the first time for both of us.

All the jars sealed!  Hooray!

The jelly is the coolest fluorescent purple color.

We can't wait to try it!

Oh.  Just in case today wasn't action packed enough.  There's one more thing!

We have a new nephew!  He was born this morning.  His name is Chase.

Congratulations to Zane and Nany!

And with that Luke and I propose a "no more excitement added to August" law.  And here is why.

Our family birthday/anniversary schedule for the month of August goes as follows:  

August 4th Chase's Birthday (nephew)

August 5th Kamerie's Birthday (niece)

August 6th Cassie's Birthday (sister in law)

August 8th Kenleigh's Birthday (niece)

August 10th Cody's Birthday (nephew) (and that's also the day we got engaged in 2010...random fact)

August 17th Avery's Birthday (niece)

August 21st My parent's anniversary

August 24th Reece's Birthday (brother)

August 25th Grandpa White's birthday

Phew!  No more!  :)