The Root Glacier Trail is a fantastic trail on the outskirts of Kennecott. As close, and easy, as it is to access the trail, it’s an adventure in of itself to actually get to Kennecott, Alaska!
Cut-off from the outside world for part of the year, Kennecott is one of those places where you can risk taking a wild ride by road to get to it, or take the quicker route and go by bush plane.
We took the plane route, as it was the end of the season for Kennecott, being the last visitors in town for the year (we timed our trip with the infamous Last Man Standing party).
Flying over the Root Glacier on our arrival, and seeing the amazing beauty of staring down at the Wrangell Mountains and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park was worth the trip on its own.
Hiking the Root Glacier Trail was tons of fun.
Starting off with a walk through town, there are numerous trails in the area, some exploring deep into the wilderness, others heading off towards the nearby glacier.
With our super spikey crampons packed and great guides from St. Elias Alpine Guiding, we set out for a day of exploring. It wasn’t long before we were actually standing on top of a glacier. How cool is that? (ha, literally!)
Putting on our crampons, we ambled along the icy surface with ease. There were some deep crevices, crazy coloured ice, waterfalls, and even a swimming spot that we encountered. Yes, some of people did choose to go swimming on a glacier in Alaska!
It was a beautiful blue sky day, so the brightness of the sun reflecting off the white ice was intense. Everyone was careful to make sure we put on enough sunscreen to keep ourselves from burning in the cold, but bright landscape.
Those contrasting bright colours provided for some great photography. I’d been to glaciers in other parts of the world like New Zealand, Greenland and Antarctica, but this was the most exciting glacier experience of them all. The hike was exciting, but not overly challenging. Being right on top of this enormous glacier helped put things into perspective, after seeing it from high above in a plane.
Nature is pretty awesome, and this was a big highlight from my travels in Alaska. Maybe even better than the wildlife spotting and hiking in Denali National Park!
Have you been to Kennecott, or glacier hiking anywhere?
I’ve always found it worthwhile to head to remote locations, whether in Canada or beyond our borders. When it comes to Ontario Parks, some of my best hiking and wildlife experiences have been in the most northern parks I’ve visited.
Sign for the Teck Lake Trail
Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park
A little off the radar for many campers, Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park is up near Foleyet, Ontario. That’s over an hour east of Chapleau or an hour west of Timmins. Still not sure? How about 8-9 hours of riving north from Toronto!
It’s a beautiful lake, with spacious campsites and plenty of privacy. The nosiest neighbour we had was a mamma duck who kept waddling around our campsite with her babies in tow.
There are actually quite a few decent hiking trails at Ivanhoe Lake. The first one we did was the Teck Lake trail.
Teck Lake at Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park
Hiking the Teck Lake Trail
At only about 1km long, this is a short trail. Even so, this trail offers a nice range of scenery, as it meanders through mature forests and takes you to a pretty kettle lake (Teck Lake).
While the trailhead for Teck Lake isn’t very far from the campgrounds, we didn’t see, or hear, any other hikers our entire time on this trail!
The only sounds were our own steps, and the birds and squirrels chirping and chattering away at us.
Hungry Red Squirrel at Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park
It was a pretty hot mid-summer day when we hiked this trail, so upon reaching the little lake, it definitely looked refreshing to swim in! No beaches or anything here though, so we headed back to our waterfront campsite, where we had lots of space on Ivanhoe Lake to enjoy the water.
The trail itself is quite easy overall. It does have some decent inclines and declines to get your heart pumping a bit, but there are no real challenging areas.
Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park – Teck Lake Trail
Most people should be able to do this trail in decent running/hiking shoes. I still tend to hike in my hiking boots on such trails to avoid possible ankle injuries, but they weren’t really needed on this hike.
Expect to see some forest dwelling creatures along the way too, mostly red squirrels. Maybe chipmunks too.
Berries by the trail at Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park
In terms of vegetation, it was a lot of big pine trees, as well as some smaller berry bushes, and mixed forest in areas. A good variety! Some decent sized, colourful mushrooms were spotted too.
Teck Lake, a kettle lake, at Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park
The pathway was narrow in many places, and slightly overgrown at times, as can be expected at the lesser-visited parks further north.
Overall a fun trek in the woods that only takes about half an hour of hiking.
Walking around town in Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Islands it doesn’t take long to understand how the people who live here often take pride in being “more British than Britain”.
It only takes about 30 minutes to walk the town in this proud British outpost, and if you have a keen eye you may spot one house with a Falkland Beerworks sign emblazoned on the front of it.
Chances are nobody will be home, as the vast majority of visitors to the Falklands come here on expeditions ships bound for Antarctica. The stop in Stanley occurs during the day, and lasts for 3-6 hours. But, Falkland Beerworks is really just a hobby brewery, as the founder Jeff Halliday has a full-time job during the day.
Falkland Beerworks, Brewery in Falkland Islands
As such, you’ll have to do some digging around town to come up with your beer swag and find bottles of the mostly English-inspired (and mostly 1982 Falkalnds War inspired names) beers.
At any one time you may be able to find up to six different beers around town from Falkland Beerworks. The local supermarket (The West Store) has a decent selection of craft beer, but nothing from Falkland Beerworks, so the beers are not as easy to track down as you might think.
Iron Lady Beer, Falkland Islands
To help you optimize your beer travel time in the Falkland Islands, here is a good plan of attack to find as many local beers as possible. Sadly, I was not able to sample the Cape Pembroke Pale Ale yet, so perhaps I’ll have to return to the Falklands?
Stop 1: Falkland Beerworks. Walk up Philomel from the waterfront, turn right on John.
A home that is set back from the road slightly. They don’t really post hours or anything, but if you catch Jeff home or working in the brewery then consider yourself lucky, and take advantage of getting beer straight from the source. Consider sending him a message ahead of time via Facebook or his website to let him know you’re planning to stop by.
Black Tarn Beer, Falkland Islands
Stop 2: Studio 52. On Ross Road along the Waterfront.
Since the actual brewery will likely be closed, this is one place to start your beer hunting adventure. From the outside it may appear similar to many other souvenir shops around town in Stanley, but this one sometimes has a beer advantage. They (usually) have a stock of Falkland Beerworks pint glasses, coasters and possible other Falkland Beerworks souvenirs for sale.
I was told that it is Jeff’s wife who runs this shop, which helps to explain why they seem to be the only shop in town with these specific souvenirs.
Make this one of your first stops, and be sure to ask the shop owner about any current information on best spots to grab a bottle or pint of the actual Beerworks brews, as they may have the most up to date information.
Other fine Falkland Islands souvenirs can be found here as well, so the shop really is worth checking out. Plus, they accept most major credit cards too, if you don’t happen to have any US dollars, British pounds, Falkland pounds or Euros handy.
The Falkland Islands does not accept any Argentine currency, as both the UK and Argentina lay claim to the islands. The Falklands war between these two nations in 1982 didn’t really resolve anything and there remains a large British military presence in the Falkland Islands, because if they leave it is expected Argentina will invade again.
Continuing your beer day in Stanley, the next best spots to visit for a pint or bottle of local brew are below.
Stop 3: Bittersweet Café. At the corner of Philomel and John.
This café is just a minute away from the brewery. It is a small café, which can fill up quite fast if there are some cruise or expedition ships in town, so try to get here ahead of the lunch-seeking crowd.
Bittersweet Cafe, Falkland Islands
While the food is good, they also have a wide selection of beer, including a solid lineup of bottles of Falkland Beerworks brews. On my visit they had five options in stock at a price of £ 3.90 (Falkland pounds). Yes, they will sell them for you to take away and bring home.
However, this shop does not accept debit or credit. So if you do not have cash you’ll need to hit the bank on Ross Road, or make a purchase at the West Store supermarket and get cash back. Unless you need a large sum of money, it is cheaper to get cash through the supermarket as their service charge may be lower.
Stop 4: Victory Pub. Located at Philomel and Fitzroy.
Just up the street from Bittersweet is the Victory Pub. This is the watering hole of choice for many visitors and locals alike. You’re bound to encounter some friendly people and have some fun conversation here. It is decked out wonderfully in kitschy memorabilia, Falkland history, pub games and flags.
Bullshit Corner, Victory Pub, Falkland Islands
If you didn’t grab food at Bittersweet Café and are hungry, the fish and chips is good here as well, but again – try and get in before the lunch rush as service can get slow as the place gets crowded.
If Bittersweet didn’t have all the bottles you wanted, you may find them here. There is always some selection of Falkland Beerworks beer here. One thing you will most certainly want to do is grab a pint of Falkland Beerworks here. Jeff is a real fan of real ale, and finding his beer on cask really showcases how he intended it to be enjoyed. On my visit they were serving the Rockhopper blonde ale on cask, in true British fashion.
It is quite possible you’ll have accomplished your Falkland Islands beer travels by the time you finish up here. After all, there really is only one decent town and one brewery! So sit back and enjoy another pint if you have time.
If you want to wander around town further and see what else is available, then the following pub may also be worth a stop as well.
Stop 5: The Globe Tavern. Located at Philomel and Crozier.
A minute walk from Victory Pub, this is another local watering hole worth visiting if you have the time. They also serve Falkland Beerworks on tap so it is possible you may score more than one local type of beer on tap in Stanley. I didn’t have enough time to stop in for a pint here, as I got busy chatting with people at Victory Pub and had to get going sooner than planned.
Globe Tavern, Falkland Islands
Bonus: Hotel stops, if you have more time in Stanley.
Stop 6: The Malvina House Hotel, located on Ross Road, across from the Falkland Islands Museum
The Malvina Hotel’s restaurant and lounge bar opening hours don’t always line up perfectly with the arrivals of ships, so it may be a hit or miss chance of stopping in for food or drink here, unless you’ve got a room booked and will be spending more than a few hours in town.
Stop 7: The Waterfront Boutique Hotel, located on Ross Road, at the base of Philomel
This is as close as you can get to the the start of town. Just a hop across the road from the Falkland islands Tourist Board, and where you’ll likely begin your journey of exploration in Stanley.
Stanley, Falkland Islands
The Kitchen Cafe serves up delicious baked goods, steaks, seafood and much more, plus Falkland Beerworks brews. For £4.95, grab yourself a pint right on the waterfront!
After this, any beer stops are going to be a bonus. Falkland Beerworks is considered to be the world’s most remote commercial brewery. While their beers range from average to very good, it is the people who call the Falkland Islands home that will add a bit of extra flavour to the drinking experience on a craft beer day in Stanley.
How to get to Stanley, Falkland Islands
Most visitors arrive by expedition ship on tours continuing to Antarctica, such as those run by Polar Latitudes. It is also possible to fly to Stanley. There are flights from Oxfordshire, UK and from Punta Arenas, Chile.
I never get bored of kayaking, it is my favourite water-based activity.
Even when you’re smack in the middle of a city, when I’m gliding along the surface of the water it is a peaceful, calming experience. plus, you’d be surprised how much urban wildlife lurks around the edges of rivers that snake their way through cities like Milwaukee!
Kayaking in Downtown Milwaukee
I was able to explore the Milwaukee River with the good people at MKC (Milwaukee Kayak Company). We got a different perspective of some of the buildings along the waterfront of the Historic Third Ward and had a fun time exploring this cool city. I did spot a good amount of wildlife too! Mostly birds, like ducks and herons.
The kayak gear shack at MKCGetting our paddling plan at MKC
Paddling along, we went along the Milwaukee River to the confluence with the Menomonee River. There are quite a few rivers in Milwaukee, which I didn’t know before. Going in the other direction, the Milwaukee River joins the Kinnickinnic River, which outlets into Milwaukee Bay in Lake Michigan. There are a ton of paddling options around the city, which made me a bit jealous. In Toronto, we can’t paddle some of our downtown rivers.
Let the Kayaking Begin!
With some interesting restaurants and even breweries along the river, I kind of wanted to turn the kayaking trip into a bit of a bar-hopping adventure. How fun would that be to pull up to a brewery in your kayak and order a pint at the Milwaukee Ale House? Dockside delivery, anyone? I’ve seen more than my fair share of kayaks with cup / beer holders on them!
Contemplating stopping for beers at MKE Ale House on the Milwaukee River
As fun as that may sound, being responsible, we paddled up and down the river and waited to enjoy our drinks after the kayaking adventure. Even without any crazy white water rapids, or jungle scenery, this was a great way to spend part of an afternoon discovering Milwaukee.
Scenery along the Milwaukee River
On the walk back to my hotel after this fun adventure in the midst of Milwaukee, I strolled along the walkway beside the river. There is an impressive riverfront area here for walking too. Our kayaking actually went along what is part of the Milwaukee Urban Water trail.
Boats and Bridges in Milwaukee
Of course I stumbled upon a famous Milwaukee landmark too – the Fonz statue! A classic cool character from the 80s show Happy Days. Love finding random things like this while travelling!
From cute to creepy, here are some Elephant Seal photos I took while exploring South Georgia (on the way to Antarctica) with the great company, Polar Latitudes.
these pictures are from visiting Salisbury Plain, Fortuna Bay and Stromness, three equally amazing wildlife destinations for anyone who is a fan of crazy landscapes, and impressive wildlife.
Smiling Elephant Seal, Salisbury Plain, Bay of Isles, South Georgia
I probably have about 1000 of the “cute” photos of little Elephant Seal pups, as there were quite a few of them on the beaches we landed on. I’ve seen Elephant Seals before, in California. These are of course a different species. The ones in California are Northern Elephant Seals, and these ones down near Antarctica are Southern Elephant Seals.
Barking Elephant Seal, Stromness, South Georgia
For the big males, with their elongated upper lips, they are quite funny looking. But don’t tell them that! They seemed to have a bad temper as I saw many of them fighting and being quite aggressive. Probably just because some of them thought it was still mating season. Take a look at the last picture, would you want to come across that guy on a beach? Nope!
Cute Elephant Seal, Fortuna Bay, South Georgia
Definitely some of the coolest seals I’ve come across on my travels. Now if I could just find a way to see a ribbon seal in the wild…
Creepy Elephant Seal, Salisbury Plain, Bay of Isles, South Georgia
