North! To Alaska!

What a great Trip! Pat and I went on an Alaska cruise of the inside passage. These pictures will give you a little of the flavor of what we experienced. I came to realize that Alaska is: Big, Beautiful, Wet, and Cold.

Saturday, September 6, 2008
Leaving Seattle. I am still amazed how the cruise ship crew can manuever a 100,000+ ton piece of steel around like they do.


Sunday, September 7
Just chilled out at sea with the other 16 Cargill employees and spouses. Here is Shane and Jennifer Holt enjoying a little sushi.




Monday, September 8
Our first stop, Juneau (we did see Governor Palin's mansion). We had a great excursion of the Mendenhall Glacier (would you believe this icefield is 1500 square miles!), went to the state museum, nature trails, and a large salmon hatchery (see me kissing one below).






Tuesday, September 9
Up to Skagway. This is very much a gold rush town (research 1898-1900). We had a great time riding the train to the top of Pass (3000 ft). We rode a Motor Coach (aka bus) back down taken pictures along the way. The young lady with Pat was our bus driver and tour guide. We went to a cool place that was converted into a late 19th century gold mine where we panned for gold. We panned out about $13 in gold and then subsequently had it made into a $25 necklace. Ah, capitalism. The population of Skagway is around 800. Back during the gold rush there were over 80 brothels in town. Our tour ended by taken a tour of the Skagway Inn and also eating lunch there. It was also known for its infamous activity.

Wednesday, September 10
A day on the Golden Princess. We were really looking forward to this day. This big cruise ship took us up the Tracy Arm Fjord. You can tell from our pictures that this was a cold, wet day. The upside was numerous waterfalls created as well as the subdued light making the icebergs appear a brilliant blue color. You can see the icebergs floating around and pictures of the glaciers. An incredible place.













Thursday, September 11
A great day in Ketchikan. We went with one of my consultants and his wife (Jed and Jaimee Southwick from Richfield) on a adventurous Backcountry Four Wheel safari and then canoed a cross a beautiful lake for lunch. We had an absolute blast. We thought it was going to be tame, but we had water and mud flying completely over the top of our jeep. (see the vegetation on top of the jeep). The five twenty something guides cooked us a great chowder and salmon meal, took us on a nature lecture. Of course we were the fastest canoe. The last picture in this section was also our last formal night. As you may know, you eat way too much on these cruises.










Friday, September 12
We concluded our trip in Victory, B.C. As you will remember, we went here last year for the sales contest trip so many of us were quite familiar with the area. Victoria is definitely a beautiful city. Flowers like none other.

Grandbaby # 17

On July 17, 2008 we welcomed our 17th grandchild into the world.
The parents Doug and Laura Klarman and sister Kiara are doing well.



Jaycee Ellen Klarman
6 lb. 11 oz. 19" long



Grandma and Jaycee



Mom and her 2 daughters



Proud Papa

Middle Teton!

On Saturday, August 9, 2008, Jeremy, step-son Robert Klarman, son-in-law Thomas Shupe and myself decided to take a little stroll up to the top of the Middle Teton in the Grand Teton National Park. We hit the trail at 5:30 AM and arrived back at the parking lot at 7:00 PM (and drove back to the Ogden area after getting something to eat in Jackson). Just for the record, it was an incredible experience, but very physically taxing to say the least.

The night before we did a little sightseeing. This picture was taken at Jackson Lake Lodge.



A pretty great view from Oxbow Bend on the Snake River at dusk.



The morning light as we began our ascent up the trail. The night before had a lot of rain thus causing the valley to be full of fog. The day itself had glorious weather providing us with outstanding views all day long.



Our first look at the Middle Teton early in the morning.

The first of numerous boulder fields that we had to cross on the way to the top.




We had some spectacular views of the Grand Teton. We were enthralled over the clouds forming when they would hit the peak and then dissipate a short time later.



The group takes a rest after a strenuous hike up a boulder field and over a snowfield just past the Meadows area. (I think we all decided that we really took the wrong route for this part of the hike. It did provide some great scenery, though)



We were amazed that delicate flowers could grow in this harsh environment.

This picture was taken from the saddle area prior to our final ascent. There was still a lot of snow and ice in the lakes for August.



Pictures of the team: Jay, Jeremy, Robert, Tom








Video from the Top!