- from Alaska tourism bureau.....

Flat Top Mountain, Chugach State Park, Anchorage, AK

Was in Alaska tending to some family business. (Not nearly as dramatic or Mafia-like as it sounds. Just helping a relative out.) But even though it was a quick trip, it was my first chance to see Alaska in the winter. I had been once in the fall when it was pretty mild and entirely un-snowy. It was a winter wonderland. After spending the last dozen years in the Deep South, I haven’t seen much snow in awhile. And I’m a native New Englander, so I do actually like the stuff. A lot. Had a free morning so headed up to a local state park and started hiking. Nothing severe since I was on my own, had no idea where I was headed, and had other things to do later in the day. But turned out to be a good little hike – probably a few miles total. Saw no other people – and saw no moose or bears. Like a true tourist, I was wearing a hat with a bell on it to scare off the bears. It must have worked.