Into Alaska - Alaska and Points North: Tips and Tales from the Road - page 116

Anchorage is Alaska's largest city and with 250,000 residents, is home to 42% of the pop-
ulation. The city is situated on Turnagain Arm, the fjord that cuts into the Kenai Peninsula
from Cook Inlet. It's called “turnagain” because Captain Cook got lost in here and had to
turn his ship around again to get out.
Anchoragehasamassivemilitary basejustoutsidetownandthemilitary areevidentevery-
where, shopping, buying fast food, pumping gas into their vehicles. Everywhere you go,
uniforms.
The bubbas we couldn't get enough of though, were the moose. There are over 2,000 of
them living in the city limits. Driving down the main highway, there they were, loping
down the sidewalk. We took a drive around the airport and there they were, munching wil-
low leaves at the side of the road. I cannot get over the fact that such a large and powerful
animal gets enough nourishment out of leaves, bark and when the pantry is dead empty in
winter, twigs. Makes a good case for vegetarianism.
I've always loved these ungainly giants but on this trip I totally lost my heart. So much so
I paid big bucks (for frugal me) and bought wildlife biologist Victor Van Ballenberghe's
book , In the Company of Moose .What'smore,Ireadeveryword.Victorhasbeenstudying
the moose of Denali National Park for the past several decades, virtually living with them
at times. He's spent so much time out in the wild places with them that conditioned to
his presence they behave and interact naturally. His insights and photography are amazing.
And worth every penny if you too, fall in love with these loose-limbed creatures.