Every summer, for most of my life, has included a backpacking trip. This summer it was done Alaska style. Here is James in the attic, looking for backpacks.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
McKinley Lake Trailhead - the official 'ready to hike' photo: Sharon, McKinley, Kathleen, James, Jessi and Dick. Notice all the rain gear and hooded sweatshirts? It 'dripped' a bit on the hike in. Not truly rain, but not a dry hike either.
Hiking up the trail
Kathleen at Trail Sign - on the way into the McKinley Lake Cabin, we took the shorter trail - 2.3 miles total. On the way out, we took the Pipeline Lakes Trail 2.8 miles total.
Dick and Sharon
Jessi and James
We spent the night at the McKinley Lake cabin. It is a forest service cabin with an outdoor grill, an indoor stove, wooden bunks, a big table and a big counter space. It was nice to have a place to sleep where I was certain of being dry! We roasted hot dogs for dinner on this little outdoor grill.
After dinner we hiked up to the Lucky Strike Mine. It was supposed to be a grand gold mine, but after decades of fund raising and a bit of work, no real gold came out of it. Now it is a historical ruin.
McKinley and a tree stump. The miners would cut down trees for the logs to help build cabins or mine supports or whatever else. But the way that trees grow around here (by sprouting out of a dead tree and spreading their roots through the old, dead tree and eventually into the ground. Then the old tree finally rots away and leaves the new tree with root systems that begin above ground)... means that the most useful part of the tree is 20 feet above the ground. So they'd notch the tree, stand on a plank or something in that notch and then fell the tree up above the crazy roots. Doesn't this old stump look like he's watching us?
James on tractor
Forest Service Marker
Mossy Log Bridge - in a few more years, you won't be able to tell this was a bridge at all!
Marten? This was the most interesting wildlife we saw on the trip. Kathleen spooked it up by the mine and he stopped part way up a tree to watch us take his picture.
As soon as we got back to the cabin, McKinley curled up on her sleeping bag for a nap. So I climbed up above her for a photo op.
Sunday,. June 19, 2011 - Father's Day
At the cabin. Before we left, Dick had prepared a devotional for our Sunday spiritual thought. It was a very nice way to start a Sunday adventure.
Ready to hike back out
James and Jessi and McKinley at one of the Pipeline Lakes
The whole family
Dick and Sharon at another
Dick Sharon and McKinley coming out of the Alaska woods - the moss hanging from every branch is incredible. And notice the boards - they're mostly lined with old fishing nets for traction. There are very few sections of trail - especially going through the mountain meadows - that are not lined by boards. If you step off the trail you're in squishy muskeg.
James tying his shoe - that's talent!
Kathleen, Sharon, Dick and James hiking
Pipeline Lakes Sign - so green with all that rain! Luckily it was just overcast where we were hiking and not rainy today.
Pretty scenery with dead trees on an island in one of the lakes
Jessi baby bump - 28 weeks pregnant. My pack had James' and my personal stuff, a water bladder, paper towels, toilet paper, and a little bit of food. Not heavy at all. James carried all of our sleeping gear and more food and more water and whatever else. Thanks Honey!
After we got back to the car, we ate lunch and then drove out the road.
The Million Dollar Bridge (because in the early 1900s it cost a million dollars to build it - in the 2000s, it cost much more than that to fix it!)
Childs Glacier - when the river is running high, the water undercuts the ice and ice 'calves' off the glacier and into the river. Sometimes causing huge waves to ripple across the river to the far bank. It wasn't very active today.
Family Photo
Most of us walked a one mile trail along the river to get to the glacier viewing point and Kathleen drove the truck to save us a walk back. But there isn't enough room in the truck for five adults and one tired dog. So Dick and Sharon got the "back, back seat".
A fantastic way to spend Father's Day - adventuring!
