When we woke up this morning the sun was shinning, so I figured it would be a Hatcher day.  We found out that Sheryl & family were arriving around noon so we decided to make it a morning hike.  We traveled up from Hatcher Pass toward Summit Lake and hiked an unnamed mountain.  Annika kept asking for some hand over hand bouldering style of hiking rather than walking up a trail.  This mountain gave her some of that.  The problem was it also provided lots of gravel for sliding and the girls ended up sliding down a good portion of the hike.  We found snow at the top and there was some attempt at skidding on the surface but it wasn't too successful. The wind was quite strong and the fleece shirts we wore did nothing to break the wind.  We were cold and about halfway  through the sun quit shinning.  The temperature was in the high 50's. Sheryl, Michael and the kids were at the house by the time we returned and the kids immediately began talking computers, Minecraft and Roblox.  The adult were able to visit for several hours before any of the kids ventured downstairs.

Today we went hiking at Hatcher Pass.  The drive was about 45 minutes but the whole time you see these mountains in the distance and they keep getting closer as you drive.  The view was amazing and probably the coolest thing I've ever seen and the whole landscape looked like something from a painting.  The entire hike is all uphill and there were boulders that you could climb up on to and jump from one to the other.  The trail led to a lake that you can't see from the bottom of the mountain, only when you have climbed up to the top.  There was still snow that hadn't melted even though it was July.  The snow was in between the boulders so you couldn't tell if it was safe to walk on and sometimes you would step on it and your foot would fall into the freezing water.  It was perfect packing snow so my sisters and I built snowmen.  Walking back down the mountain was better than walking up.  The whole trip was fun and the landscape is so beautiful and I'm still having trouble believing I'm actually here.   -SH

 Today we went hiking at hatchers pass and we went up to a lake in the and we had a snow ball fight. and we built snowmen and climbed on rocks near the water. but I stepped on some snow that was on top of the water and my foot fell through and fell in to the freezing water! but it was still fun and the view was amazing.
                      -Bri

                Yesterday we went hiking at Hatcher Pass. I built a snowman !!! today it is rainy :(  -Anni

Two and a half weeks to go.  No one has started packing, the van is in the shop for repairs and we still have the cat.  Am I the only one who can read the calendar? We have to kick this thing into gear or we will be sorry. JMWH

It has been five years since the Halls ventured North to Alaska.  This summer we have gathered up the funds, donned our political blinders and carved out of our busy calendar a chunk of time sufficient enough for the Cordova Boy to soak up the sights, sounds and family time of his homeland.  So in a few weeks we will be off, look out AK, the Halls are coming back! ~JMWH