Alaska Part V
Jun. 26th, 2007 01:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
leftyjewI forgot to mention the beautiful crane we saw in the mud on the Tony Knowles Trail. Thought I'd give Mother Nature public credit for that one.
Woke up Tuesday, davenned, had breakfast (but skipped the probably-dairy waffles), and packed up our stuff to head down to Seward for part 2 of our trip. As![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
arctic_alpine was handling the bill (I paid for the car rental so she paid for everything else), I heard a guy making reservations at a hostel in Seward. I had heard last night that he was heading to Seward and thought that it would be nice to take him with us (nice for him and nice for us). I offer him a ride, and explain that we'll be taking the long route and hiking along the way. He had no problem with that and actually preferred it. In hindsight, I probably should have asked my travel companion before inviting a guest, but I didn't. Anyway, there's no foreshadowing here - he isn't evil, it was just another thought.
Soarctic_alpine, and I set off with our Dutch travel companion, Tim. Southward, ho! It turns out Tim is planning to stay in the same hostel we are, which makes things super-easy. Anyway, I had heard about this trail in Girdwood at the Alyeska Hotel where you can see Portage Glacier. We were planning on going there, but not before getting on Seward Highway. Literally the most beautiful highway I've ever driven on. I suppose this isn't saying much because I think #2 is I-80 between Lewisburg, PA, and the NJ Turnpike. But it really is amazing. If it means much, the road is 55 mph, but between the curves and wanting to ogle the scenery, I think I went about 40 most of the way. Anyway, you see beautiful views of Turnagain Arm, the Chugach Mountains, and the sky the entire way. Wow! As we went along, we came across signs saying things like "Scenic View" where you can pull aside and take a picture. I didn't quite get that at first. I just saw signs that said, "Scenic View Ahead" and then a camera with a right arrow and I thought, "Right there is an officially scenic view. Everything else is not really scenic. Ready for a scenic view? Ok! Look right there!! Oh shoot, you missed it!"
Right, so the highway was great! We came to Girdwood and followed the signs to the hiking trail. Got out, put on our boots and were ready to climb. Unfortunately, the shuttle driver told us that the trail we were planning on taking (to the top of the tram) was closed, but there's the Winner Creek trail still available. So we settled on that. It was a nice hike. Lots of dense spruce forest with ocassional clearings where alders had set up camp. We came to a wooden bridge over some whitewater leading to a waterfall. It was a great place to stop and think, and munch on snacks (trail mix and granola bars was our lunch that day). There was another footbridge (much more narrow) and then we got to the highlight of the hike - the hand tram! Basically it's a metal cage suspended over the creek by a few ropes that you get into and pull yourself across. Well, the first bit you basically go with gravity. The second part (after the middle of the slack) was fun. The first part was scary as anything for someone who's afraid of heights. What an adrenaline rush!arctic_alpine and I went first - there, then sent the tram back to Tim, and then arctic_alpine and I went back, sent the tram back, and Tim came back. Pulling Tim was significantly harder than pulling arctic_alpine and my full weight, but it was all good fun. Then we headed back to the car.
On our way back, we saw a few people coming into the trail. One couple (40s-50s, good health, man was wearing Yankees cap) was near the start of the trail and asked us, "So is there anything to see here besides this?!" By "this," he meant lush trees and undergrowth and all sorts of pretty things and the solitude and peace of walking through a forest. We told him about the tram and the waterfall, but I don't think they should be hiking.
It was about 3:30 by the time we got back to the car. I had another granola bar, some nuts, and headed down along the highway. Still amazing scenery. We talked a bit less because we were getting tired. We also talked a bit less because the scenery kept getting better. We listened to right wing talk radio and talked about how stupid it was. Eventually, we pull into Seward.
We get to Moby Dick Hostel at about 4 and no one is there. The office doesn't open until 5 or 5:30 (I forget). We take the opportunity to visit the Safeway we passed on the way into town.arctic_alpine and I pick up a bunch of useful things like salsa and veggies and such and basically plan our meals for the remainder of the trip. Tim gets some salad. So we head to the hostel, find out which our rooms were. I was nowhere near as into this place as I was into the 26th Street Hostel in ANC - no real public space or homey feeling. We make a quick dinner of burritos and head over to Exit Glacier at about 8 (we're ready for another few hours of hiking before sunset).
Tune in for the next installment - Exit Glacier hiking.
Tuesday - Seward Highway
Woke up Tuesday, davenned, had breakfast (but skipped the probably-dairy waffles), and packed up our stuff to head down to Seward for part 2 of our trip. As
arctic_alpine was handling the bill (I paid for the car rental so she paid for everything else), I heard a guy making reservations at a hostel in Seward. I had heard last night that he was heading to Seward and thought that it would be nice to take him with us (nice for him and nice for us). I offer him a ride, and explain that we'll be taking the long route and hiking along the way. He had no problem with that and actually preferred it. In hindsight, I probably should have asked my travel companion before inviting a guest, but I didn't. Anyway, there's no foreshadowing here - he isn't evil, it was just another thought.So
arctic_alpine, and I set off with our Dutch travel companion, Tim. Southward, ho! It turns out Tim is planning to stay in the same hostel we are, which makes things super-easy. Anyway, I had heard about this trail in Girdwood at the Alyeska Hotel where you can see Portage Glacier. We were planning on going there, but not before getting on Seward Highway. Literally the most beautiful highway I've ever driven on. I suppose this isn't saying much because I think #2 is I-80 between Lewisburg, PA, and the NJ Turnpike. But it really is amazing. If it means much, the road is 55 mph, but between the curves and wanting to ogle the scenery, I think I went about 40 most of the way. Anyway, you see beautiful views of Turnagain Arm, the Chugach Mountains, and the sky the entire way. Wow! As we went along, we came across signs saying things like "Scenic View" where you can pull aside and take a picture. I didn't quite get that at first. I just saw signs that said, "Scenic View Ahead" and then a camera with a right arrow and I thought, "Right there is an officially scenic view. Everything else is not really scenic. Ready for a scenic view? Ok! Look right there!! Oh shoot, you missed it!"Right, so the highway was great! We came to Girdwood and followed the signs to the hiking trail. Got out, put on our boots and were ready to climb. Unfortunately, the shuttle driver told us that the trail we were planning on taking (to the top of the tram) was closed, but there's the Winner Creek trail still available. So we settled on that. It was a nice hike. Lots of dense spruce forest with ocassional clearings where alders had set up camp. We came to a wooden bridge over some whitewater leading to a waterfall. It was a great place to stop and think, and munch on snacks (trail mix and granola bars was our lunch that day). There was another footbridge (much more narrow) and then we got to the highlight of the hike - the hand tram! Basically it's a metal cage suspended over the creek by a few ropes that you get into and pull yourself across. Well, the first bit you basically go with gravity. The second part (after the middle of the slack) was fun. The first part was scary as anything for someone who's afraid of heights. What an adrenaline rush!
arctic_alpine and I went first - there, then sent the tram back to Tim, and then arctic_alpine and I went back, sent the tram back, and Tim came back. Pulling Tim was significantly harder than pulling arctic_alpine and my full weight, but it was all good fun. Then we headed back to the car. On our way back, we saw a few people coming into the trail. One couple (40s-50s, good health, man was wearing Yankees cap) was near the start of the trail and asked us, "So is there anything to see here besides this?!" By "this," he meant lush trees and undergrowth and all sorts of pretty things and the solitude and peace of walking through a forest. We told him about the tram and the waterfall, but I don't think they should be hiking.
It was about 3:30 by the time we got back to the car. I had another granola bar, some nuts, and headed down along the highway. Still amazing scenery. We talked a bit less because we were getting tired. We also talked a bit less because the scenery kept getting better. We listened to right wing talk radio and talked about how stupid it was. Eventually, we pull into Seward.
We get to Moby Dick Hostel at about 4 and no one is there. The office doesn't open until 5 or 5:30 (I forget). We take the opportunity to visit the Safeway we passed on the way into town.
arctic_alpine and I pick up a bunch of useful things like salsa and veggies and such and basically plan our meals for the remainder of the trip. Tim gets some salad. So we head to the hostel, find out which our rooms were. I was nowhere near as into this place as I was into the 26th Street Hostel in ANC - no real public space or homey feeling. We make a quick dinner of burritos and head over to Exit Glacier at about 8 (we're ready for another few hours of hiking before sunset).Tune in for the next installment - Exit Glacier hiking.
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no subject
Date: 2007-06-26 08:35 pm (UTC)Oh, and I-80 between Lewisburg, PA, and the NJ Turnpike is a nice drive, I agree. :)
Do you mind if I add you?
no subject
Date: 2007-06-26 08:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-26 09:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-27 12:13 pm (UTC)Because there was a witch/crocodile/brigand/savage on one side that would eat/kill/rob you if the proportions weren't right? :)
no subject
Date: 2007-06-27 02:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-27 03:07 pm (UTC)Or... it could handle up to 400 lbs and we didn't want to risk it with everyone together, but we also didn't want to occupy the tram for that long.
no subject
Date: 2007-06-27 05:37 pm (UTC)