You will not be surprised, dear reader, to learn that when we woke up this morning it was overcast. However, it seemed to us that the air must be clearer than previous days as we could see mountains from Anchorage a bit more distinctly. Today we would depart Anchorage and make our way to the area of Seward, Alaska. In fact, we are abou a half-hour drive north of Seward.Our original plan had us staying at an Air B&B in Seward but due to the heatwave (which was even worse in the Kenai Peninsula than Anchorage) causing massive amounts of snowmelt which in turn caused septic fields to become unusable we had to make other arrangements. Our Air B&B host felt really bad about having to cancel the original booking but lined up another place for us that she has access too, her father’s inn and a full-size house on the property.
The downside: it is about a half-hour north of Seward.
We were in no hurry to get to the new place so needed a hike to fill some time. We settled on the Winner Creek Trail. There are many trails that lead away from the Alyeska Resort. This is one of them. We decided to hike out to Winner Creek and the human-powered tram that you can use to cross the roaring creek. On the far side are additional trail that lead to places including Crow Mine. The trail is 2.5 miles long (one way) and you probably gain and loose about 250 feet over that distance. It is, according to the information we had, a very much improved trail. Gravel tread ways, long boardwalks, and well graded hard pack. A few roots intrude here and there but even I can get by without trekking poles. It is an easy walk. But just because it is easy does not mean it is not worthwhile. We strolled through forest that must see plenty of rain. All sorts of plants were growing along the trail. Surprisingly few wildflowers but many plants. Evergreens of unknown types and deciduous trees now and then. It felt much more forest-like than anything we had seen to date.
It was a pretty quiet trail. A bird sang now and then but the sound we heard most, eventually, was the rushing water of Winner Creek. Even voices of the many people we would pass did not really intrude to much (the music one person had playing as they went by did). The most jarring sound, and it seemed to get more frequent as the day progressed, was the noise of helicopters flying by. I suspect they are running tours to the nearby glaciers. From what a woman told us it really is a great tour.
The Winner Creek Trail is a very much improved trail. Gravel, boardwalks, and hardpacked dirt make up the trail. A large portion of the trail can be biked. It is an easy walk and well worth it.
--July 14 2019 at 10:24. Anchorage, AK, United States
Our first crossing of Winner Creek. Torrents of water are flowing under this stout wooden bridge. Photo by Judy
--July 14 2019 at 10:51. Anchorage, AK, United States
Photo by Judy of Ken working to capture the surging Winner Creek below.
--July 14 2019 at 10:52. Anchorage, AK, United States
Winner Creek roars down this cataract and under the bridge I am standing on.
--July 14 2019 at 10:53. Anchorage, AK, United States
The bulk of the descent (and later on the return ascent) is done as you walk along a gorge that I suppose Winner Creek created. If this is a creek it must be a big one. Water cascades in torrents. Frothing cataracts tumble down rocks. It is a wonderful creek. At the 2.5 mile mark you reach the human-powered tram. It was built over a 3 year period from 2002 to 2005. I am going to say the hand tram spans easily 120 feet over Winner Creek tumbling well over 100 feet below. I joined a lady who was extending her completed business trip for a couple days and we squeezed into the green metal cage to make the crossing. With a person pulling on the rope at a tram station passengers in the car really are superfluous as you can’t pull the rope yourself effectively as it zips through the cage. If you had to do the work by yourself you certain could but it will be tiring and take longer. While moving I found the ride pretty stable. Granted we were trying to stay still and not rock the cage. BUt the worst bit of the ride was getting in and getting out when the cage did rock a bit.
Dad is working hard to pull the hand tram across the gorge Winner Creek has carved out down below. We think the tram spans easily 120 feet and is certainly far more than 100 feet above the raging water flowing below.
--July 14 2019 at 11:19. Anchorage, AK, United States
I am returning from the far side of Winner Creek. I don’t honk we had gone all that far when I snapped this photo.
--July 14 2019 at 11:20. Anchorage, AK, United States
We did not go beyond the creek crossing to hike the last mile to Crow Creek Mine. After I returned across the creek (Mom and Dad did not ride the hand tram) we returned to the trailhead at Alyeska Resort. By this time it was early afternoon and the overcast was clearly not going to lift. I saw a shadow appear for perhaps 15 seconds one time. Now and then a sprinkling of rain would make its way through the tree to dampen our skin. The dampest thing we encountered was the bench we sat on for lunch and that was not all that moist. This was a thoroughly enjoyable 5 mile hike.
Now we are in our guesthouse next to an inn in Moose Pass. It is a house with charm though we are discovering some quirks. We will get by. Since we don’t expect to find a restaurant in Moose Pass we will make a trip to Seward and the Safeway to stock up on all the food we will need for the next several day. We already know there are several hikes that are pretty near here that we can do. That is good as we don’t really want to drive to Seward more than we have to.
The view looking south from our guesthouse here in Moose Pass, Alaska. As I took this picture directly over my head a sliver of blue sky appeared. It was a small sliver and it either moved to a different spot or has vanished already. However, the air is clear even though it is overcast and south of here rather closer to Seward it was raining.
--July 14 2019 at 19:45. Moose Pass, AK, United States
The sun is brightening a spot in the western sky. It never quite burst through; perhaps it is better say say the clouds never cleared enough.
--July 14 2019 at 19:57. Moose Pass, AK, United States
Looking to the east from our guesthouse. This view is certainly better than the ones out of my or my parent’s bedrooms. We really are in a nice little area.
--July 14 2019 at 19:58. Moose Pass, AK, United States
At A Glance
- Total Length: 5 miles (out and back trail)
- Total Ascent and Descent: about 250 feet ascent and descent one way. Gentle up and then a bit steeper descent as you follow the gorge. Superb footing.
- Total Time: About3 hours 20 minutes with 40 minutes in breaks. I’m guessing a lot of that was at the hand tram.
- Weather: Overcast but clear air with occasional sprinkles and a temperature that hovered at 60F.
No comments:
Post a Comment