-10 Below Walk on the Kenai River

I took a four hour walk today on the Kenai River.  

It was a pretty warm day.  Only minus 10 below zero, not the 20 below

temperatures that we have been enduring for the last few weeks.

It's still cold at night, but tonight we should be in non negative

numbers because the clouds have come back.  I 

just glanced at our thermometer and we are already at 6 degrees...that's the tropics compared to

the 32 below zero temperature in Portage last night!!

The Kenai River  is really a spectacular river.  It is home

to many different species of salmon.  

I think it's one of the most beautiful rivers on the Peninsula!

It has amazing aqua colored water, and believe me when I say it's a

very cold river!!!  This is not a river you want to go swimming in,

 even in the summer!

This river is non forgiving and can give you hypothermia 

within a couple of minutes.  Vests are mandatory!!!

The hoar frost from the ice fall has turned everything

 into a magical wonderland!!

The twig and ice photo below reminded me of a oriental

water coloring...

Trees hung heavy with frost.

Everywhere I looked had another perfect postcard view.

And every bend lured me on...

To more magical scenes...

It was truly a perfect day.

Ice was flowing down the river and I could hear it

clinking away like glasses on New Years Eve.   Steam was rising from the 

water,  creating beautiful misty scenes.

A few times during my walk, I caught quick glimpses of sunlight 

on some of the surrounding mountains.

While down on the river there were icy rapids, 

dipper birds, ducks and some bald eagles!

Some of the river banks

were piled high with broken ice.

My walk was pretty tiresome today, every step put me almost waste deep into

snow.  Because it was pretty tough walking I never noticed the cold.

Next time I will have to strap on my snowshoes!!!

Stay warm everyone and enjoy the blessings of winter.