Got Me Again

One of these days I'll learn never to underestimate the weather in Alaska. After all, its not simply a matter of getting wet when the weather changes. It literally can have a 'life or death" impact on your plans. My trip to Mint Glacier this past weekend is a good example.

Its a two day trip of 16 miles with the first 7 a gradual uphill alongside the Little Susitna River. Then, you climb a faint trail 1400 feet in the next mile to a cabin overlooking the valley. Supposedly, scenic meadows and a nice tarn and stream are located near the cabin officially known as the Mint Hut.

In light of all the great weather we've had the

past month, I forgot the intensity that these mountains can throw at you in a moment. I packed in anticipation of a summer hike and was greeted with the snowfall so often encountered in late spring outings. The last mile wound up taking over 3 hours as we navigated a boulder field covered in knee deep snow. Once we topped out at 4400 feet the cabin was hard to find and another hour of postholing was needed to secure our lodgings for the night. Snowshoes would have made this a pleasant stroll in the newly fallen late season snow. Without them, it was an ordeal to move through the waist deep drifts and navigate the snow covered boulder fields.





We spent the night in the Mint Hut a really cool place maintained by the Mountaineering Club of Alaska ( we are new members). The following day we found a new route down which enabled us to avoid most of the boulder field and slide down the mountain.