Ed organized a bachelor hiking party for David and a crew of guys. We hiked nine miles into a cabin for an overnighter. Six of the seven hikers met in Soldotna and headed to the Sunrise Inn at Cooper Landing for lunch and to meet Forest, the seventh hiker who came down from Anchorage for the event. 
After a filling lunch, we donned our packs and headed out.
The weather was perfect for hiking...not too hot, and not too cold. The clear skies for most of the hike offered some amazing vistas.
The weather was also perfect for bears, but we didn't see anything besides this one frolicking in the river on the way to Cooper Landing and this footprint on the trail.
All the guys were prepared for such a meeting though. I think guns out numbered people by at least one.
For the last two miles, some clouds moved in and the sky broke loose with some liquid sunshine. These vistas were equally amazing.
The cabin had beds for 6, but the addition of hammocks by Dave and Joel increased the capacity quickly and comfortably.
We made foil wraps for dinner. It's a great way to make a hearty meal. We combined mixed vegetables, sausage and other meat, some seasoning and maple syrup, rolled our foil around the concoction and shoved them into the fire. And some say men can't cook.
We hung around the camp fire and shared stories from all, with a few focused on the man of month -- David. And we waited for our last hiker, Jon, who couldn't leave til later in the day. He and his dog found us after walking the last 1/3 of the trail in the dark.
As temperature dropped, we took our stories and jokes inside the cabin and listened to Joel and Ed stories (and Patrick's snoring) as we tried to sleep.
The fire kept us warm most of the night, but it was plenty chilly in the morning. We knew we only had time for a quick breakfast of instant oatmeal and Forest's camping cappuccino.
The fire kept us warm most of the night, but it was plenty chilly in the morning. We knew we only had time for a quick breakfast of instant oatmeal and Forest's camping cappuccino.
After a few more pictures, all eight of us started the hike out, with Jon's dog in the lead. The dog led so far out in front, that he followed some mountain bikers down the wrong trail. The hiking party split here, and Jon and I went left while the others went right. We found the dog on our trail, close to the trail head. The others went to the parking lot, and Patrick drove Jon's truck and picked us up in Cooper Landing. One benefit of splitting up was this view that we would not have seen if we were all on the same route.
Mountains, hiking, food, guns and hammocks. I'm not sure there is a better way for Alaskans to party.
