BJ's Big Adventure #1

What trip to Alaska would be complete without a trip to see the worlds largest chocolate waterfall. Constructed in June of 1994, and modified by Sampson Steel Company
in 1996, this 20 foot Chocolate "Waterfall" is believed to be
the largest of its kind in the world. Using an idea conceived by Alaska Wild Berry Products' owner Peter Eden,
Homer artist Mike swirl designed and built this Chocolate "Waterfall." It contains 3,400 pounds of real liquid
chocolate donated by Peter's Chocolate Division of Nestle Foods and Guittard Chocolate Company.
This Chocolate "Waterfall" is for your visual entertainment only! Please Do Not Eat the Chocolate.

BJ's first day in Alaska looked to be a typical June in Alaska day...60+ degrees and not a cloud in the sky, actually there might have been a couple of clouds. The rest of his trip as far as the weather was concerned was not very typical, lots of rain and over cast skies, we still had a great time.
BJ, Nancy, Larri, and myself journeyed to the Matanuska Glacier. A 2.5 hour ride north of Anchorage.
The Matanuska Glacier is a large ice flow, 24 miles long and 4 miles wide at the terminus, averaging approximately 2 miles in width. This glacier is a valley glacier; it exists on a valley floor. The majority of glaciers in Alaska today are smaller alpine glaciers which hang off mountain slopes. The Matanuska is an active glacier which advances at one foot per day. It takes approximately 250 years for the ice to form up glacier and advance to the terminus. The ice of an active glacier always moves forward due to gravity; like water in a river, the ice will flow downvalley. When ice melts at a higher rate than snow accumulates, the glacier margin 'recedes'. (The term 'receding' does not refer to the ice actually traveling back up the valley

Next on the list was Winner Creek Gorge in Alyeska. About a 40 minute ride south of Anchorage. Larri, BJ, and myself hiked up to the hand tram. Myself not being such a great fan of heights was more then happy to let BJ have the tram all to himself.
So if you would like a break from the hill climbs and high tundra typical of Chugach State Park, head to the Winner Creek Trail. In the perpetual twilight of the boreal rain forest, a gentle trail winds through hulking, moss-coated spruce trees on the way to Winner Creek Gorge, a dramatic, churning cauldron of glacial meltwater. Though at times muddy and slippery, the trail is suitable for hikers of all abilities. Hummm, that sounds like I just copied it off of the "Winner Creek Trail" webpage.
This pictures was taken just before BJ boarded the hand tram. I wished him luck and we embraced, I thought that a tear may be welling up in his I, he says it just itched from all the pollen in the air that day.
After completing our leisurely stroll through the muddy trails we headed back to Anchorage for what I believe to be some of the best pizza and beer that can be eaten and drunk anywhere. The Moose's Tooth, if any of you happen to make it up and we forget to take out for pizza and beer at the M.T., you might want to remind us, truly an event you don't want to miss.