Derby Cove Cabin via Caines Head Trail (Seward, Alaska)

 “The best journeys in life are those that answer questions you never thought to ask.” 

~ Rich Ridgeway

This weekend was a last minute escape from Anchorage.  Andrea and I had been wavering on where to go and what to do.  I knew I wanted to get out of Anchorage, and she had yet to get further south than potters marsh.  Finally, late Friday night after some therapeutic dancing at the Taproot to one of the fav local bands, Denali Cooks, we decided to wake up early and head south to Seward.

My friend Tessa had invited us to come out to the Derby Cove Cabin via either a quick $50 water taxi or a 4.5 mile beach hike that must be done at low tide.  We're cheap and wanted some exercise so opted for the hike in.  Low tide was at 12:35 pm so we got up around 7 to get to the trail head by 10:30 to start hiking.  We actually left the car around 11 am but you have a few hours on each end of low tide to complete the hike, so we were confident everything would work out. 

The hike out was easy, and beautiful! We walked about a 1.5 miles through a forest across a few bridges and onto the beach. 

Andrea's first official backpack trip! (in AK and EVER!)
I feel so honored! 

Packrafts are fun. 

Beautiful hike :)

Day on the beach! Beautiful weather outside Seward

Crazy moss on the beach

The hike was about 3 miles on the beach to the Derby Cove cabin.  Overall, a very easy walk, minus a few slippery rocks we had to forge into the ocean around or slide up/down, in a less than graceful manner. 

We made it to the cabin around 1 pm.  No one was around so we set up camp and had some peaceful time on the beach before the crew returned from their day adventures. 

Derby Cove Cabin

Beach napping :)

There was a beautiful waterfall into a pool right by the cabin,
decided it was a good place to float around for a bit 

Packrafts also make great mattresses 

Reading/writing time by the stream. complete bliss.
if only i could freeze time... 

There were a bunch of people in our group staying at the cabin. Tessa, Andrea and I managed to steal away for some much needed girl time around the fire followed by a late night kayak/packraft adventure. 

Love this girl! So glad we got to hang out :) 

We didn't plan the pants thing... 

playing with some photo editing, overexposing color

Girl's late night ocean adventure

the boys got themselves into a pickle because the tide came in haha

Tessa to the rescue!  hahaha

Solo ocean midnight adventure, much needed LP time

Andrea and I both slept 10 hours (hells yes) on Saturday and awoke to a slight drizzle.  Not a bad camp spot!  Low tide was around 1:30 so we left around noon to make our way back to Seward for the afternoon. 

Home for the night :) 

Ocean forging! brrrrrrrrrr

two bald eagles

Overall, a wonderful weekend with great company! Most of the time I don't know how much I need these weekends away from Anchorage until they are over.  Reflecting back on the trip, the wonderful conversation, and the wildlife always leaves me a little more in love with Alaska and feeling so lucky to have such amazing people in my life.  This girl is feeling so, so grateful. 

Oh! and I'm pretty pumped about all the Spanish I'm learning on these long drives!  :) 

Adios!