Eklutna Lake is a 7-mile long lake that provides drinking water to Anchorage. It's also a great playground within a quick drive of town.Our visitors from New York couldn't have dialed up a better week to spend in Alaska. And they took advantage of it:

* Train ride to Seward.

* Glacier cruise from Whittier.

* Bike ride on the Hillside.

* Walking around downtown.

* Camping trip to Eklutna Lake.

We set up camp alongside Eklutna Lake. It was a perfect location for a late-summer camping trip.
* Afternoon hiking and exploring Hatcher Pass and Independence Mine.

Throw in a few good meals, some nice hospitality from other friends and some late nights shooting the breeze and it was an awesome trip. At least it seemed that way from our Alaskan perspective.

Tim and Veronica ... here's hoping Alaska was all you wanted it to be.

-- Steve

The birch and cottonwood trees were a brilliant yellow alongside Eklutna Lake last weekend.

Our visiting friends from New York, Tim and Veronica, along the Eklutna Lakeside Trail. While Tim was still nursing a fractured leg, the mostly level trail made for nice hiking.

A beautiful sunset over Eklutna Lake from our campsite in Chugach State Park.

The Eklutna Lakeside Trail was bursting with color last weekend.

A tree alongside Eklutna Lake turns a brilliant orange as summer changes to fall in Alaska.