OTTO LAKE DISCOVERY CENTER, OXBOW TRAIL MOOSE HUNT AND DOGGONEIT SLED DOG KENNEL TOUR!

 We received a text from our fearless leader, Zam, last night with some alternatives to the Denali Park History Tour that was cancelled due to the horrible forest fire in the park.  First on the list…

Motor Coach to the town of Healy to the Otto Lake Discovery Center: We took a nice stroll through the area and around a lake looking for moose then came back to the Center and watched an amazing film called “Heartbeats of Denali.”

DARN!  No moose were spotted, but we did see several piles of this…known in Alaska as Moose Nuggets! 

This was the Otto Lake Discovery Center—brand spanking new and a beautiful facility!

We might not have seen any moose on our walk, however, we did see a Snowshoe Hare!  (Looked like a bunny rabbit to me!)

OxbowTrail Moose Hunt:  Down the road from our resort was a three-ish mile hike through the woods and along a river.  We were bound and determined to spot a moose!

It was brisk outside and the walk was beautiful BUT NOT ONE MOOSE!  Literally, EVERYONE we passed on the path, when asked, said they had spotted a Mama moose and her baby.  They even showed us photos and videos to prove it. (I had become a tad skeptical about the reality of moose being in the area, so I asked for proof!)  Since there were no moose for us to take pictures of….we took pictures (many, many pictures) of ourselves!

And a few of the gorgeous scenery!!!  (You’re welcome!)

DogGoneIt Sled Dog Kennel Tour:  Oh my goodness!  This tour was absolutely fabulous!  Caitlyn, her husband, Mike and their 11-year-old son, Max own and operate DogGoneIt kennels where Alaskan Huskies and their puppies call home!  When we arrived, we were greeted by people holding puppies that brought them to us to hold!  Needless to say, we were all in HEAVEN!

Caitlyn and Mike did an amazing job demonstrating and explaining all aspects of breeding and training puppies and dogs to run the Iditarod!  Our entire group of about 60 visitors were spellbound!

The pups are happy, well cared for, loved, and just want to run and run!

It was an AMAZING tour, to be sure!  We all got home after 10:00PM, and, of course, it was still broad daylight outside!  Tomorrow bright and early, we head to Girdwood, Alaska!