The remote mining town of Kennecott and its supporting outpost McCarthy have their roots in the early 1900’s, long before the Wrangell St. Elias National Park was established in 1980. In 1899 two prospectors bushwhacked their way into the Kennicott Glacier Valley and discovered what was then the richest copper deposit in the Read More …
Category: Alaska
Orange County to Seattle to Anchorage to Glenallen to McCarthy
Last Saturday I flew into Anchorage from Orange County after a quick lay-over in Seattle. Two days later I caught an eight-seater dual prop plane from Anchorage to Glenallen (186 miles / 300 km) and then squeezed into a Cessna mail plane to get from there to McCarthy (100 miles / 160 km).
Destination Alaska
In a month and a half I am flying up to Alaska to work for a bush plane company operating out of Wrangel St. Elias National Park and Preserve (map / wiki). When I visited Wrangel St. Elias National Park last year it made a lasting impression on me.
Alaska – Miscelaneous
Alaska is a unique place. Massive industry interests in petroleum, mining, timber, and fishing are juxtaposed against environmental conservation. The time-honored Alaskan tradition of self-sufficiency is juxtaposed against cities and communities which clearly owe their success to tourism.
Denali National Park – Field Trip! (NP #31), Alaska
Denali National Park (map / wiki) was established around North Americas tallest peak, Mount Denali, AKA Mt. McKinley (Denali translates to “the high one” in Native Athabaskan languages).
People I met in Alaska: Cheney
. David Cheney: The Medicine Man . I picked up Cheney on my way out of Haines heading north back towards Anchorage. I figured I could use a bit of company, and I expected a bit of entertainment. Cheney introduced himself as Cheney The Medicine Man. He had half a dozen necklaces with dangling wire wrapped Read More …
Kenai Fjords National Park (NP #30), Alaska
Kenai Fjords National Park (map / wiki) is essentially only accessible by boat or seaplane. Seclusion gives the area a serine and unspoiled quality, but it also means that in order to properly enjoy the park, you’re going to spend some money getting out there.
People I met in Alaska: Chris
Cool Hand Chris I met Chris early on in my travels through Alaska (August 4th). I was driving Highway 2 towards Tok when I came to a section of alternating one-way traffic for some road construction up ahead. Chris was manning the Stop/Slow sign, and during my ~12 minute wait we got to Read More …
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park (NP #29), Alaska
8/6/15 It’s no coincidence that the largest national park in the US resides in her largest state. At over 20,000 square miles Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve (map / wiki) occupies an area greater than the state of Vermont. It’s unique from other parks I’ve visited for a few reasons.
Ferry Ride to Alaska (State #47)
Deciding to take the ferry up to Alaska was a serious commitment for two reasons. It’s expensive ($833 for my car and $369 for my personal ticket) and it’s definitive. I had to commit to being in a certain place on a certain date from four months in advance, and that was tough to do.