Day 25: Bob & Lisa Take Flight

A Helicopter & Reindeer (only one of which could really fly)

Helicopter on the Knik Glacier

Today was another dichotomy day-- we began with the very best tour of the Great Alaska Adventure so far-- a helicopter flight with glacier landing.  And we ended with one of the saddest disappointments, a major tourist trap of a Reindeer Farm Petting Zoo.

We began the day bright and early for a drive over to Knik River Lodge in Palmer to pick-up our helicopter flight on Tanalian Aviation.  I hear that those of you in the lower-48 had great views of the eclipse.  Up here, it was just your basic overcast Monday morning.  So, I guess that is one view that Alaska didn't win.

I called last minute last Friday to see if there was any space available, and luckily there was an open spot for today.  It was one of the best last-minute things we've done-- which just goes to show that you don't always need to plan for everything in advance.

We took a 15 minute flight over to the Knik Glacier, landed on it, walked around for about a half hour, and then flew 15 minutes back to M-- who was waiting patiently for us in the parking lot (and probably wishing she could fly too).

The views were so spectacular, that I don't really know where to start.  We had so many great pictures and videos that it was hard to narrow it down.  So, I'll break this down into in-flight and on the glacier.

In Flight

This first video gives a feel of the ride, the landing on the glacier, and the take-off from the glacier.




Bob took this next short video of the glacier from the copter. (Note that the iPhone video zooms, while I have yet to figure out zoom on the GoPro.)




And, here is a selfie of us in the helicopter:

Selfie in the Helicopter

On the Glacier

We donned crampons (cleats) to walk around on the glacier-- and had fun crunching about on the ice. (I think this was the only time all my foot stomping practice came in useful.)  It was truly amazing to see the dirty ice, crystal blue water, and deep crevasses on a seemingly endless sea of ice.

This video provides a feel for it-- you can hear me crunching into the ice as I turn around to provide this 360 degree view.



Here are some stills that don't quite do it justice, but provide a feel for the glacier:

Knik Glacier-- look for the tiny speck of our helicopter in the center-back

Bob with our friendly expert pilot on the Glacier
(Turns out they both went to the same helicopter flight school in Broomfield, CO
-- guess which one graduated and which one quit after one gift lesson.)

Lisa on the Glacier (with a tight grip on GoPro)

Helicopter on the Glacier

Deep Crevasse in the Glacier

Bob & Lisa on Knik Glacier

And, don't think for a moment I forgot the most important picture of all-- Bob touching water on the glacier:

Bob touches water on the Knik Glacier (That's Bob Touching Water #7, if you're counting)

Reindeer

From the actual flight to the mythical flyers, after the helicopter flight we headed over to the Reindeer Farm.  Trip Advisor rated this farm as the #1 thing to do in Palmer-- so we learned that you really can't always trust Trip Advisor.

After a couple of minutes there we quickly determined that this was not a Reindeer Farm, but rather a Reindeer Petting Zoo.  A "guide" who was more of a bad Catskills comedian than a reindeer expert, told a bunch of painful jokes then lead us into the pen where we were given cups of pellets to feed to the reindeer.

Lisa was having none of that-- so here are a few pictures of Bob feeding the reindeer.

Bob with a little reindeer-- food in hand

Bob Scolds the Reindeer

Reindeer Lock Antlers Fighting Over Bob

This one is special for my family:

Reindeer Eats Own Foot

After the reindeer had eater their fill, we were taken to the pen where a rescue Bison supposedly lived-- but we couldn't see him, so no pictures.

After that, we were taken to the pen of a baby rescued Moose.

Baby Moose at Reindeer Farm

He was standoffish until a guide cajoled a few foolish souls into feeding it bananas from their own mouths. (Yuck!)

When the guide announced that we were proceeding to the next pen to feed the elk-- we bailed. (All you Colorado folks will understand immediately.)

After such a great experience at the Musk Ox farm the other day, we were expecting an equally professional "Reindeer Farm."  Not so much.

So today we won really big with the helicopter and lost really big with the reindeer.  I guess it all evens out in the end.

Tomorrow we'll spend the day in Anchorage.

--Lisa