Sally drove up to Hatcher Pass on the Hatcher Pass Road with her photographer. This is one of the most beautiful points in Alaska, containing snow capped mountains on all sides with sweeping mountain tundra fields and many cirque lakes couched in mountain amphitheaters. It is one of those areas where you are not looking at it, but are in it. You are almost overwhelmed by the beauty. The Independence Gold Mine which is a National Historic Site is within 5 miles of the pass. There is still a small operating gold mine in the area, and there was a wedding being held there the day that we took the hike. They had one of those white wedding tents set up way up in the mountains.
To get to the pass we had to drive about two miles uphill over a dirt road which was heavily rutted as snow melt ran over it and, because of the steep grade, people spun their tires. We wanted to take Rita over the pass road but after beating her up on the 60 mile McCarthy road last month, we decided we would give her a rest.
There are mountain ridges on both sides of the pass, and Sally decided to try to hike up on the south side with her photographer. Her first challenge was a steep snow field that she had to cross. Sally was making good foot holds in the snow on the way across as she did not want to go tumbling down. And, of course, her photographer did not want to go tumbling down and lose the camera.
Once across the snow field, Sally continued through a series of switchbacks up to the top of the ridge. From there she was able to hike along a long mountain ridge which dropped off on both sides providing spectacular views of the mountains on all sides.
The sun came out at times providing more brilliant highlights of the colors. The ridge covered about a mile and undulated up and down over several significant high points. On the North side of the ridge the snow had not yet melted which added to the ruggedness of the area.
Near the end of the ridge, it split in a Y so Sally was able to hike to point where a new valley was in view. The surroundings were like eye candy and gave you a feeling of exultation. Really wonderful! We were so high that we saw several "flight seeing" tourist planes below us.
Along the hike we spotted a Hoary Marmot at the very top of the ridge scurrying around for food. When he realized he had company, he froze so his picture could be taken, then scurried back into one of his holes.
On the way across we also saw a ptarmigan which blended in with her surroundings perfectly. She did not move as we walked by which we thought was odd, as if she was protecting something. On the way back, there were two small chicks about 40% of her size. They scurried for cover, but she stood her ground, protecting her brood.
Toward the end of the ridge traverse, the camera tripod was set up on the trekking poles, and Sally got a picture of herself with her photographer.
This hike looks very wild, and no one else went where we did while we were there, but there were many people down below, and two young snowboarders did come up for a run down the first big snow bowl. We watched and it seemed like a lot of work for a couple of short runs, but then we did the work and did not get the runs.
Also, the snow fields that we crossed at first had people sliding down them on their backs. They were having a great time.
We are in Talkeetna now, a small aging-hippy-type village near Denali. You see a lot of tourists but also some Real Alaskans following the subsistence lifestyle which is very popular up here. We are off to the national park tomorrow.
by Bill, the photographer
P.S. to our children: Don't worry, kids. We're not doing anything dangerous! We are VERY cautious.
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