Mentasta Mountains

Just back from a weeklong trek along the Nabesna Road in north Wrangell St Elias.  When I left last Sunday, forecast was rain rain rain.  Guess what?  It rained rained rained.  One really sunny day on Wednesday but rain on all others.  Sigh.............Alaska.

HEALY OVERLOOK

Tuesday's weather was just the ticket to get us moving outside once again.  Our destination - Healy Overlook.  This hike is one of the few in Denali National Park where there actually is an established trail.  From the railroad tracks where we parked, its about 6 miles roundtrip with an ascent of 1700 feet to the overlook.  The trail starts pretty easy, but quickly jets upward and gets steeper and steeper as you near the summit. The trail is well maintained, but loose rocks cover the upper portion. The hike is moderately difficult, but would likely be ranked easy by most Alaskan hikers. Once at the summit you realize that all the hard work was well worth it.

We've been here many times but Tuesday was the first time the wind wasn't howling along the ridge. Having done all the hard work to reach the ridge, we extended this hike about a mile and a few more hundred feet by hiking the ridge line toward Mt Healy proper. Beautiful views and lots of Arctic ground squirrels and marmots to keep us company!

Nancy rocks

Arctic ground squirrel

Marmot

Mt Marcus

Trailside looking south up Riley Creek

Whose there?

DENALI HIGHWAY

Last weekend our Carlo Creek backpacking plans were thwarted by the rainy weather.  So we gassed up the Ford and headed east on the Denali Highway.  The 134-mile-long Denali Highway links Paxson on the Richardson Highway to Cantwell on the Parks Highway. Winter snow closes the highway to through traffic from about October to mid-May.  The first 21 miles of the Denali Highway from Paxson and the first 3 miles from Cantwell are paved. Maclaren Summit, the second highest highway pass in the state, represents the only significant grade on the highway.  When the Denali Highway opened in 1957, it was the only road link to Denali National Park and Preserve (then Mount McKinley National Park) until the completion of the Parks Highway in 1972. (Prior to 1957, the national park had been accessible only by railroad.)

Camping is allowed pretty much anywhere along the road but as the day was rainy we were in no particular hurry to stop and set up.  Instead we contented ourselves with driving all the way to Paxson, and then turning around.  We made many stops along the way, visiting with the loons and other birds that return to the area every year.  We saw a Moose with a new calf, a fox, swans, gulls, ducks in addition to our favorite, loons.
Camp was a pullout about 30 miles from Cantwell.  The rain stopped long enough to set up the tent and eat, then it was bedtime.  Ptarmigan serenaded us as we fell asleep, happy to be out of our cabin and out in the wild Alaska countryside.  An intermittent rain drumming against the tent soon worked its magic, sending all of us to a restful slumber

TRIPLE LAKES TRAVERSE

Tuesday evening we hiked the Triple Lakes Trail.  Hiking it north to south made it seem a new experience even though we hiked it last year.  Trail crews are still at work on this relatively new trail and their hard work shows.  Saw a moose on the way to the trail, and a few squirrels along the way.  Almost nine mile in 3 hours and 20 minutes.  We were moving!

Me demonstrating how to call a stick to you

Mr. Tree

Road goes on forever...

You looking at me?

FLOWERS

Seems like just yesterday everything was covered in snow.  Now, its flowers everywhere you see.

KESUGI RIDGE

Friday afternoon Champ and I loaded up the pack and drove north to the Ermine Hill Trailhead about 160 miles from Anchorage on the Parks Highway.  Lots of traffic as it seems everyone was eager to get the long holiday weekend started.  We reached the trailhead about 6:30 and by 9 pm we were setting up camp just above the Ermine Hill/Kesugi Ridge trails intersection. 



ERMINE LAKE



                                                                                                                                                                                    

Had a total of nine tents in our little city by Saturday at noon.  Only ones sharing a tent were me and Champ.

TENT CITY

Cool Looking rocks

Little did we know, but the several hours we spent here Friday night waiting for the rest of the gang to arrive was the only dry weather we would have for the next two days. By Sunday, a very wet group headed down to the cars.

FROGGIE WENT A COURTING ...

Enjoyed another trip to the Kenai last weekend.  Drove down Friday afternoon and spent the night at a campground on Skilak Lake.  This large lake is formed from the waters of the Kenai River and melt off from Skilak Glacier on the eastern most end of the lake. As both main feeder streams into the lake emanate from glacial origin, Skilak waters are somewhat cloudy from glacial silt suspended within the waters.   Deep too, with a maximum depth of 160 meters.

Saturday morning we hit the trail for Fuller Lakes.  Three miles and 1500 feet later we found ourselves searching for the perfect campsite above the upper Fuller Lake.



OUR HOME ABOVE UPPER FULLER LAKE

After getting settled, Bruce, Champ and I set out for the far ridgeline across the lake.  The trail was faint and the brush was thick but we made it to a point where only tundra separated us from the top.  If we ever come back, we know where to access the ridge and can then walk it out all the way to the Skyline Trail trailhead.

Lots of flowers blooming alongside the trial.

Chocolate Lilly

Back at camp we enjoyed a pleasant dinner with Nancy and the girls of Bruce's harem (Jennie Larissa Dela and Maryanne). Its a tribute to Bruce's management skills that all these ladies seem to get along well. By 9 pm, Champ Nancy and I called it a night and hit the sack. Little bit of rain and some wind during the night but I slept well. Temperatures were mid 40's and my 1 lb Western Mtn. Bag proved adequate. Probably helps to have two warm bodies next to you when you are using an ultralite sleeping bag.



Blue sky on Sunday



The weather Sunday morning was nice. Blue skies and a slight breeze. An easy hike back to the trailhead. By 2pm we were muching on BLT's at Wiseman's Grocery in Cooper Landing.

In case you're wondering, the title of today's musings is from the classic childrens song.  Lots of artists have released a version (google it you'll be surprised) but for me only the Burl Ives version counts.  Its amazing the things people talk about as they leave the cares and stresses of modern world behind.  Enjoy!

Frog went a courtin' and he did ride, uh-huh

Frog went a courtin' and he did ride, uh-huh
Frog went a courtin' and he did ride
With a sword and a pistol by his side, uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh



He rode right up to Miss Mousie's door, uh-huh
He rode right up to Miss Mousie's door, uh-huh
He rode right up to Miss Mousie's door
Gave three loud raps, and a very big roar, uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh


Said Miss Mouse, are you within, uh-huh
Said Miss Mouse, are you within, uh-huh
Said Miss Mouse, are you within
Miss Mousie said, I sit and spin, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh

Took Miss Mousie on his knee, uh-huh
Took Miss Mousie on his knee, uh-huh
Took Miss Mousie on his knee,
Said Miss Mousie, will you marry me, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh

Without my Uncle Rat's consent, uh-huh
Without my Uncle Rat's consent, uh-huh
Without my Uncle Rat's consent,
I wouldn't marry the President, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh

Uncle Rat laughed, and he shook his fat sides, uh-huh
Uncle Rat laughed, and he shook his fat sides, uh-huh
Uncle Rat laughed, and he shook his fat sides
To think his niece would be a bride, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh

Uncle Rat went running downtown, uh-huh
Uncle Rat went running downtown, uh-huh
Uncle Rat went running downtown
To buy his niece a wedding gown, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh

Where shall the wedding supper be, uh-huh
Where shall the wedding supper be, uh-huh
Where shall the wedding supper be
Way down yonder in the hollow tree, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh

What shall the wedding supper be, uh-huh
What shall the wedding supper be, uh-huh
What shall the wedding supper be
Fried mosquito and a black-eyed pea, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh

First to come in was a flyin' moth, uh-huh
First to come in was a flyin' moth, uh-huh
First to come in was a flyin' moth
She layed out the table cloth, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh

Next to come in was a juney bug, uh-huh
Next to come in was a juney bug, uh-huh
Next to come in was a juney bug
She brought in the water jug, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh

Next to come in was a bumbly bee, uh-huh
Next to come in was a bumbly bee, uh-huh
Next to come in was a bumbly bee
Sat mosquito on his knee, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh

Next to come in was a broken back flea, uh-huh
Next to come in was a broken back flea, uh-huh
Next to come in was a broken back flea
Danced a jig with the bumbly bee, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh

Next to come in was Mrs. Cow, uh-huh
Next to come in was Mrs. Cow, uh-huh
Next to come in was Mrs. Cow
She tried to dance but she didn't know how, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh

Next to come in was a little black tick, uh-huh
Next to come in was a little black tick, uh-huh
Next to come in was a little black tick
She ate so much it made her sick, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh

Next to come in was the big black snake, uh-huh
Next to come in was the big black snake, uh-huh
Next to come in was the big black snake
Ate up all of the wedding cake, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh


Next to come in was the old gray cat, uh-huh
Next to come in was the old gray cat, uh-huh
Next to come in was the old gray cat
Swallowed the mouse and ate up the rat, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh

Mr.Frog went a-hoppin up over the brooke, uh-huh
Mr.Frog went a-hoppin up over the brooke, uh-huh
Mr.Frog went a-hoppin up over the brooke
A lily white dove came and swallowed him up, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh


Little piece of corn bread layin' on the shelf, uh-huh
Little piece of corn bread layin' on the shelf, uh-huh
Little piece of corn bread layin' on the shelf
If you want anymore you can sing it yourself, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh