Fall Glory at Lake George.

When the leaves start to turn in Alaska I always breathe a sigh of relief. As much as I love summer it’s a manic season, always rushing from one trip to the next.  As September shows up on the calendar and fall colors appear, our calendars seem to clear and finally we have time to (and don’t feel guilty) sitting inside and enjoying a cup of hot coffee with friends we haven’t seen most the summer.

But of course, it doesn’t take long till we are looking for another little adventure… 🙂

This Summer we have had many friends, and friends of friends, who have wanted to get up in the cub to see Alaska. Woodsen’s go to place for day trips is Inner Lake George, a short 30 min flight from Anchorage. I’ve been to Lake George many times during the winter and I’ve always said it was my happy place, but I had never experienced it in the summer. As I heard more and more friends rave about it this summer I began to pester Woodsen to take me there so I could see it for myself.

When the weather and our schedules finally cooperated we headed out from Anchorage, flying over the Chugach mountains and down the Whiteout Glacier.

Flying low and slow, zigzagging down the glacier.

As we neared the end of the glacier the fall colors erupted from the landscape.

Glassy water greeted us at the Lake.

Here the Colony Glacier pours into Lake George.

After flying around the lake we flew to a landing strip not to far away.

A happy couple on a beautiful fall date.

A short trail leads from the strip over a hill and down to the lake.

I think my favorite part of exploring Alaska is the intense colors that we find. The crisp glacial blues contrasted by the reds, oranges, and yellows of fall are hard to beat.

Plenty of time to goof around and relax lakeside.

Although it seems you are deep in Alaska’s wilderness, if you fly high enough you can spot many small landing strips scattered around the lake. I think its safe to say that Lake George is to pilots what Glen Alps and Flat Top is to tourists. Its a popular spot and its rare to go very long without hearing the hum of an engine. This doesn’t bother me much, in fact when we have seen other people at the lake most times we have known them or at least had mutual friends.

flying down the river that pours out of Lake George and runs by the Knik Glacier

Hello Knik glacier

Can’t get enough of this intense blue!

Heading back to Anchorage.

Flying over beautiful Eklutha Lake.

As usual, we end most adventures with a meal at our favorite spot to eat… Moose’s Tooth! We always end up feasting on whatever the special of the month is. You can’t go wrong there!