hike I: The Dome

Today I hiked my first Alaskan hike: The Dome. It was beautiful. It had been really rainy here the past week, so it really made if feel like I was in a Hawaiian rainforest (except for the glances of Indian Snow and chilly breezes). There are a lot of pictures, so continue at your own expense of free time. The Dome is pictured above. Below is when we started out (after we found the correct trail, which took about walking a mile in the wrong direction): 
While walking in the wrong direction, I spotted this and everyone thought I should take a picture, and I complied: A bear's track!! It's a black bear's paw. Notice the short, sharp claw? That is the signature paw mark of a black bear (it helps them climb trees). Later we actually found fresh bear scat, but I didn't take a picture of that because that's just gross. I am glad I saw some though so I know what it looks like: it looks like an icky tar spill (in case you're ever in bear country).
There were a lot of weird looking trees that have been broken by strong canyon winds, or that fell because they were just old. I don't know what happened to this one, but here's a picture:
This was further back in the canyon while we were on the incline:
Growing up in Vegas, I didn't have a lot of these: 
That had to be crossed by a bridge made from stapled-in pallets: 
This tree had amazing curly-cue bark, I'd never seen anything like it! 
This plant was very tropical looking, I thought. What say ye?
Here's a neat little dried-up seeder:
Huge green leaves, another thing I cherished in the desert:
This is a plant called "FiddleHeads" and they're actually edible! Julie said at girls' camp a couple of weeks ago, she had the girls pick them on their hike and they went back and fried them in butter. She said they were really good! I'm sure the butter helped:
Cute microscopic (almost) seed cones. They were so small, and almost everywhere:
We saw a huge bush with these little flowery things that looked like the had the potential to become berries. So, being the genius I am, suggested someone try one to see if it tasted like any known berry! Bonnie The Brave Blonde tried one, (just nibbled and tasted) and said it didn't taste like anything edible she'd ever had. Later, she also drank river water after she had us girls encourage and cheer for. She said it was the best water she's ever had! I believed it. 
Once we reached the top, our views included: Mark's huge C-17 hangers on base (this is zoomed in to the max, sorry about the noise - I tried messing with it, trying to make it a little better):
Here is the view of Anchorage. You can barely see Mt. McKinley to the left:
This is the valley-view behind us: 
A cute, yellow sea-plane: 
This white antler moss:
and these really small flowers. Mauri, these are for you! :
The Dome Stats: 

5.5 miles roundtrip hike

~2,500 foot gained elevation

One down, 49 more hikes to go!