I began Saturday morning, leaving Anchorage at 830am and heading northeast for the tiny town of Chitina, a trip of about 250 miles. This road trip would prove to be the most amazing drive I've ever taken. Passing soaring peaks, endless glaciers, rivers, lakes, and vast expanses of flower laden tundra. I had to stop many times for pictures.
Along this drive, countless mountain tops rise, often higher than the cloud cover, hiding their peaks. Remnants of glacial ice streams down in deep crevasses. I had to concentrate very intently on driving and watching the road, so as not to crash into a moose as I was staring, mesmerized at nature's masterpieces.
Hundreds of twists and turns brought me to my final stretch of road...the Alaska's State Highway 10, the state's first highway. The seemingly 1,000 mile vistas were the most breathtaking.
Arriving very close to my destination, Chitina, I realized that I had drastically over estimated the time it would take me to get there. I arrived 3 hours earlier than I needed to. Perpetually looking to photo opportunities, which were never in short supply, I came upon Liberty Falls.
When I mentioned Chitina as my destination, what I really mean is that was my final road destination. My actual destination was far beyond my reach by car. I was to be staying at the Kennecott Glacier Lodge, in the old mining village of Kennecott, which sits perched at the edge of the Kennecott Glacier, deep in the wilds of the Wrangell/St. Elias state park. This is the largest State Park in the US, and covers an area more than three times the size of Yellowstone, exactly 8,323,148 acres. The park-preserve includes the continent's largest assemblage of glaciers and the greatest collection of peaks above 16,000 feet, including Mount Saint Elias. At 18,008 feet, it is the second highest peak in the United States. Upon arrival at the Chitina Airstrip, I met my pilot and was off.
The little white, yellow and red plane had 6 tightly fitted seats, including those for the pilot and the co-pilot seat. There were 3 passengers, including myself, and our pilot Martin, who let me sit next to him in the co-pilot chair. It was incredible. Unfortunately, as tightly packed as we were in the plane, I was unable to get out my camera and take the pictures that I wanted to take. Those images will just have to live on in my mind.
Upon landing at the McCarthy Airstrip, just a few miles from Kennecott, the largely overcast sky opened up and the sun peaked through, blanketing the land with a warm glow.
I arrived at Kennecott Glacier Lodge, just before 7pm. Dinner was served family style promptly at 7, so I tossed my bags in my small, but well appointed room and headed down to the dining room. I found my name beside my seat, sat down...and finally breathed. Dinner was spectacular, as well as the dinner company. But beyond the loveliness of the evening, the towering, creaking buildings left over from the copper mine that was once here, could bring chills down your spine. Long weathered by almost 100 years of crippling snow, devastating floods and fires, they are finally being restored so that their history can be seen for years to come.
The next morning, after a fantastic sleep, set to the sound of light rain and the crisp glacial breeze, I got myself ready and went down for an early breakfast. After sufficiently filling myself with eggs, bacon, potatoes and pastry, I decided to hike to the edge of the Glacier, about 2 miles from the lodge. Having had a brief lesson in Bear safety by the girl at the front desk, I was on my way with my camera and a can of Bear Spray. I made it about 1 1/2 miles, but stopped dead in my tracks when I saw fresh droppings, fresh bear tracks and heard rustling in the near brush. Needless to say, I turned around and headed swiftly back to the lodge.
I left Kennecott around 130pm and re-met my pilot for the journey back to my car. The flight, along with the first one, took me within a few hundred feet of sprawling light blue glaciers and snow covered, rocky peaks. In a word, I was speechless.
I got in my car...looking back on the amazement of the last 2 days, and reluctantly headed back to Anchorage. Let's see what tomorrow brings...
Before I went to Yosemite, I was absolutely amazed by the photos of it. When I actually went, I was blown away by the grandeur and sheer, breathtaking beauty. I can only imagine what you must have experienced: The photos are fantastic. The reality must have been out of this world.
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