to Chitina

My drive today wasn't very long, but it was a bit slow, as it went through the mountains. 

When I drove past the hatchery, the tide was too low for the sea lions to swim up the stream, but one of them was in the water as close as he could get to the stream to be first in line when the water rose. Pretty cute.

This fella was greeting folks at the gas station. 


Approaching the village of Chitina, the mountains of Wrangell-St Elias National Park came into view. 


The scattered buildings that make up the village are on the shore of this lovely little lake. 

*   *   *   *   *

Wildlife sightings (not counting those in the conservation preserve or the aquarium)

--> --> today:       sea lions - 1                trumpeter swans  - 2 adult, 2 youngsters 

--> --> trip total so far: 

    black bears - 4          deer - 2                grizzlies - 1            moose - 7

    stone sheep - 8        elk - 1                   caribou - 15            bison - 42    

    Dall sheep - 11        porcupines -1         mountain goats - 1

    trumpeter swans - 31+        many bald eagles    black oyster catcher - 1 (rare)

    sea otters - 27             harbor seals - many     

    many sea stars & jelly fish        Dall's porpoise - ~ 20

    North Pacific Humpback whales - 2 pods of ~ 12 each + 1

    Stellar's sea lions - many, 100+ incl 60 pups in 1 spot (counted by scientists)

    puffins, horned & tufted - many  

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