River Buggy

We went down to the braided Matanuska River on a "river buggy" which is actually a converted truck that used to be named the Death Star by the summer staff. We enjoyed looking for stones, smores, a campfire, coffee and great fellowship!

Alaska Day 5

Today Ryan and I had a meeting with Brian Headdings who is one of the executive staff here at Victory Ministries. It was a very informative time for us to hear about plans and dreams and future potential staff...etc. After the meeting we drove out to ranch camp for awhile and enjoyed talking with Joey, one of the girls who is a wrangler for the summer. She talked with us for quite awhile giving us all of the ins and outs of ranch camp, wits, counsellors, trail rides, the horses, life out at ranch camp, etc. Then we walked around there for awhile and took in the beauty of the area, enjoyed some time with each other and then headed back to the main camp. Oh yeah, we also had a little sleuthing adventure. There was a trail of oil or transmission fluid or something on the road so Nate asked if we'd follow it and find out who was leaking...we never did find the vehicle but it was eventually discovered! Here are some pictures from today.

Alaska Day 3

We would have been delighted to jump right in and help out here with activities or jobs at the camp but the director, Rick Cornfield, told us that we are to observe, attend, ask as many questions as we would like to of any staff or summer staff, enjoy and experience Alaska and savor our time together without the kids. So, that is what we are doing...

This morning we took a van with a group people that are on a work team, out to King Ministries Air Ventures. This is a ministry started by a man named Duane King. He teaches young pilots how to fly in the mountains and in the bush. He gives flight tours to select groups for an eight of the price you would generally pay elsewhere.
Someone anonymously treated us to this tour and we are so grateful! We got to see King Mountain and many others and multiple glaciers, including the Matanuska Glacier. We also got to see a family of mountain sheep although I wasn't able to get a picture of them. These are some of the pictures. The views were breathtakingly beautiful and the turbulance at one point was quite bad. After we passed through it, the pilot decided that he wouldn't take the other group over the high ridge at the beginning of the glacier. Even though it was a little scary I'm so glad we got to see it!
When we landed we learned that the only road leading back to Victory was blocked by a semi roll-over and we were stranded. Duane's group graciously fed us lunch and then he flew us back to Victory and landed on the grass strip at the end of the camp property so that we wouldn't be stuck for what likely would end up being overnight.

The hangar where donated airplanes are rebuilt by volunteers

Ryan getting ready for take-off (he only wished HE was flying :))

The pilot and another passenger in the front seat

The ridges of the glacier

More glacier...I have many more pictures of this if
anyone is interested...let me know!

Some of the group that we flew with

Our flight consisted of the six people to the left (including us)

The Garage (and a few other miscellaneous pics)

View from the deck at Miracle Lodge

Wild blueberries along the trail

Victory Peak through the trees

Reflection of Victory Peak on Index Lake

Fireweed

Many pictures of the garage (where Ryan would be working)

The Flight

We enjoyed an uneventful journey to Anchorage. The flights were full of senior citizens heading for cruises or fishing trips! On the long leg of the flight Ryan and I didn't get to sit next to each other for some reason. But we made it in one piece. I've posted some of the pictures I took from the airplane windows. We arrived around 6p.m. Alaska Time which is one hour behind Pacific time. There was a bit of a mix up with our ride so we spent a little time looking for each other. We finally left for camp around 8p.m. in the rain and cold. I think the temperature was in the low 50's. We finally made it to the camp around 11p.m. One of the pictures I've posted was along the road at a scenic turnoff. It was at about 10:30p.m. It is still bright like early afternoon...that's been a little strange. Today we had breakfast in the Miracle Lodge, attended church at Glacierview Bible Church (it really does have a glacier view from the pew. A little distracting for me :)) We had lunch at a little seasonal cafe and then had a great tour of the camp with the director, Rick Cornfield. Tonight after dinner we will sit in on "Connections" which is the summer staff debrief time. Here are some pictures for now...enjoy!

Views from the airplane window

Mountains over British Columbia, Canada

More mountains over B.C.

Airport in Anchorage

Scenic lookout off of the Glenn Highway overlooking the Matanuska River

Matanuska Glacier as seen from Glacierview Bible Church

Fireweed...I guess the locals cook it up into a beautifully colored jelly

One of the "unnamed or at least unknown name" peaks

Victory Peak

I had to include this one...the strangest combination I've ever seen
Fridge/freezer, stove, sink