First let us get an important fact out in the open: if you are tired and do not feel hot and sticky it does not matter that it remains light well past 23:30 and that sunrise will only be about 4 hours after that. Of course, if you are feeling hot because the air is still and your Air B&B does not have AC falling asleep is a bit harder. Mom and Dad fared better than I did (and to be fair AC is not something really needed here when typical temperatures top out at 68F towards the end of July). The heatwave is subsiding but temperatures are still well above normal. When we woke this morning the sun hung low in the sky blazing a brilliant orange. My guess is that the remarkable color owes something to the wildfires and the smoke they’re producing. At times today we did smell smoke in the air. I am also going to blame my scratchy morning throat on air quality. But we were ready for our first hike in Chugach State Park just after 09:00.
Mom had selected the Dew Mound hike which is just under 7 miles in length and has a total gain and loss of about 700 feet much of which happens near the halfway point of the loop. We had no real expectations. We began the walk on a well graded hard packed path that would take us to the Dew Mound trail proper (the whole hike is a lollipop shape). At that point the nature of the trail changed. Roots, roots, rocks, and roots. The treadway is actually well built but full of roots and rocks. You meander through a birch forest. Now and then a burbling stream can be heard and you might even cross it. We still do not know what the white fluffy cotton-like whisky things hanging from trees and on the ground were. Probably nothing good. While the area does have both black and brown bears we saw no sign (fine by me). Heard just a few birds now and then as we made our way through the forest.
We are walking through a birch forest. Photo of Ken by Mom.
--July 09 2019 at 09:33. Anchorage, AK, United States
The lookout point on the Dew Mound trail: about 3 miles in if you are going clockwise.
--July 09 2019 at 10:52. Anchorage, AK, United States
I had such high hopes for this little lake. I was imagining a nice mountain lake I could dip my feet into. You can just make this little lake out through the dense foliage and I suspect if I had tried to push through to it I would have been unwilling to dip my feet in.
--July 09 2019 at 10:58. Anchorage, AK, United States
If the sky had not been hazy I expect the view from the lookout spot, about 3 miles in, would have been prettier. No amount of clear skies would have made the tiny Dew Lake more appealing. It is close to the trail but screened by the masses of foliage. I suspect it is not a wonderful lake in any event. However, all is made right when you catch your first proper view of eagle River another half mile further on. That also made a fine spot for lunch.
Eagle River is the best feature along the Dew Mound trail. While we had lunch here a little further on you reach Echo Bend which actually is more scenic.
--July 09 2019 at 11:47. Anchorage, AK, United States
Up and down, never large hills, we went. tapping over more roots and rocks until we passed a yurt people can rent. After that the trail footing got much easier and the grade much flatter. Eventually you close the loop and walk the last third of a mile (seems longer) on the same flat fully accessible path you started on when leaving the visitor center. It was a nice hike.Echo Bend on Eagle River.
--July 09 2019 at 11:53. Anchorage, AK, United States
- Distance: 6.6 miles
- Ascent and descent: about 690 feet
- Total Time: 4.5 hours with about 35 minutes in breaks
- Weather: hazy, steadily warming from mid-60s to upper 70s.
No comments:
Post a Comment