Back to Work

Today things returned to normal and Chris and I were back working in the front country.  He has been in the backcountry lately with the SAGA crew that was hired to build the new trail on Upper Troublesome Creek, let's just say they needed a little extra guidance.  During that time I spent a little of it hiking Crow Pass and then the rest of it just hanging out.  But today we brushed in front of trailhead signs and in the campground to get everything spruced up for July 4th.  I am covered in sap and scrapes because I chose to wear shortsleeves...  I also pinched my finger again.  Oh well, no pain, no gain!  The weather has been kind of dreary, but still warm so I can't complain much.  I am looking forward to seeing and hearing all the crazy things that are going to go down for the holiday.  They're anticipating it to be a busy week because the holiday falls on a Wednesday.  As for my holiday celebrations, I don't think there will be much.  I will still make the best of it though.  I cannot believe it is already July!!!!!!!

On another note my new hiking pack finally arrived!  A 60L overnight pack so I can do some longer excursions while I am here in the last Frontier.  It's purple just the way everything should be and I can't wait to break it in and put it to good use!

Hope all is well on the East Coast and that everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday!  I haven't taken many pictures lately because I haven't gone anywhere that exciting, but when I do and I will, I will be sure to post them!

Princess

Today was rather rainy and overcast, and the forecast doesn't have much sunshine insight...  A few of the kids on the trail crew returned today and we all decided to take a trip up to Princess Lodge to live like Lower 48 kids for a few hours.  We all ordered a box of french fries which were rather delicious and I also had a caramel macchiato.   After enjoying my two indulgences and some online shopping (don't worry Mom I didn't by anything!), we headed over to the hot tub.  There are two hot tubs out side that have mountain views on a clear day!  It was very relaxing and enjoyable and I might even go more often!  Time sure does fly when you're having fun because we were there for about 5 hours and it flew by, much like my entire summer here in Alaska.  I forgot to bring my camera this time, so there won't be any pictures of our adventures, but you can look up the lodge on-line, it is affiliated with Princess Cruise lines and they have lodges all over the state, this one just happens to be located in Denali State Park.

Headed back to work tomorrow, so hopefully I will have some more reporting for you all soon.  I am sort of dreading this upcoming week, because of 4th of July.  It has been the one thing on my mind since I left Maine.  I am so used to spending it on the Lake surrounded by the same great family and friends with boats, fireworks and maybe a few drinks.  But here in Alaska the sun never sets so there will be no fireworks and most likely no drinks either.  But who knows, maybe I will start a new tradition up here and just keep falling in love with this magical place.

Crow Pass Pictures

Pictures from my hike in Crow Pass... 

People surfing the tide in Portage

At the Trailhead

Wasn't exactly prepared for the warm weather

Looking back down the valley

Mountain Goats

again...

Double Waterfall

Golden Eagle!  We saw two, they're HUGE birds!

Goats crossing the waterfall.

This is when my camera died :(

Trip to West End of the Park

I visited the West End of the Park, which is reached by traveling down a long dirt road that was and still is used for mining!  Mode of transportation was ATV, although we did see some crazy people in vehicles.  The road is rough and pretty long.  At the end we hiked out to a ridge to look for bear but we didn't see any...

Denali

Panorama of the view at the end of Petersville Rd.

There isn't a sign in the state without a bullet hole in it...

mid-way through the hike onto the ridge

Hiking with mountains in the background

There is a glacier in the middle of the picture, but it is covered by dirt so you can't tell.

Ermine Hill Pictures!

The picture is a little messed up, but me by the waterfall!

Denali!

Loving my first difficult hike, preparing for some overnighters!

Almost to the top!

Snow in late June!

View of Denali

Ermine Lake

Finally Made it to the top, Ermine Lake in front of me looking out into the valley.

Here are some of the pictures from my Ermine Hill hike that I posted about earlier this week!  The dial-up is wicked slow, so this is just a few...

Impromptu hike!

So tonight I was riding around with Jason while he was patrolling the park and his phone went off. The camp hosts had left a vague message of an injured hiker up on the ridge. Needless to say we hurried back to the campground to try and find more details and he decided he should hike up and see what was going on. This was about 11:00pm. I decided to join and although I couldn't keep up the entire way I'm glad I went! The view of Denali was amazing! At about tree line you could see it clear as day with alpenglow to highlight it. I was alone for a good part of the hike, but I kept on trekking up the steep trail. I heard something rustle so I stopped to look and listen and then all of a sudden I saw...Jason. He said the look on my face was priceless, I can only imagine! As for the hiker, turns out he is just really sore from the hike, which is understandable because he is 70 years old and it's about a 27mi hike! He said he was fine and he was just going to take his time getting down so Jason and I headed back down and here I am at 1:15am posting this blog!

Goodnight all!

Crow Pass

Yesterday I went hiking in the Chugach National Forest on a trail called Crow Pass. It was about 3.5 mi one way and there was still a ton of snow! But the weather was gorgeous and I got some much needed sun! I was about 20ft from some mountain goats that were crossing a waterfall, it was amazing! There were mountains in all directions I was in complete awe! You can take the trail all the way to Eagle River and it's about 24 miles, maybe next time! There was a cabin at the top of the pass that you can rent out, it was brand new and wicked nice!

Ermine Hill

Today was another gorgeous sunny day and Jason and I decided we should spend it hiking! Today we went to Ermine Hill which is in the northern part of the park. It is one of the trails that puts you up on top of the ridge. The first half mile or so isn't much, mostly downhill and descending into the river valley. Then you get to the bottom of the ridge and it's pretty darn steep from there on up. It starts out with switchbacks for a half a mile and then the trail goes straight up before starting to flatten out next to Ermine lake. After the lake it's back on up again until you make it to the top. This is definitely the most intense hike I've done, but it was soooo worth it! Jason kept asking me if I wanted to turn around but there was no way my determined self wasn't making it to the top. At the top we took a nice long nap in the sunshine before having to quickly put on our rain gear. We hid out behind a rock for the storm and then descended back down the trail and made it to the truck before the entire valley was about to get rained on. When the storm passed over us the weather went from sunny and 70 about to rainy, 25mph winds and around 50... Thats why you have to dress for any and all weather in Alaska! The whole trip up and down which is about 7mi took us around 4hrs, but we did stay at the top for and hour or so. I've been lounging around since my return and plan on sleeping in tomorrow since its my day off! The hike was awesome and I am looking forward to doing a few overnights up on the ridge when my new pack arrives!

Pictures are of Ermine Lake and just the view of the surrounding hills above tree line where we were sitting! I have lots more on my camera that I will post later this week!

Pictures again!

Small bear print

Hiking the Ermine Hill Trail

Ermine Hill Trail (Giardia Creek) 

A little waterfall on the Ermine Trail

same as above

falls on Ermine Trail 

Bridge over Falls

Spring coming out of the ground

Sign about how the spring is safe

Ermine Hill

Bear Den

Swimming in Byers Lake

Swimming with Becca

Kesugi Ridge

Kayaks

More Boaters on Byers

Byers Lake

Denali from the other side of the Lake 

Denali

Never gets old

Plane

 Panoramic of Byers from the North Side of the Lake

Denali

Me at the Falls

Falls on Cascade Trail

Outlets of Byers Creek

Sitting on the Outlet Bridge