Maclaren Lodge to MaCarthy Sunday 26th July

This was going to be a long drive day to leave our camp site at Maclaren and say goodbye to the local bear to reach our next campsite.

 

There was more scenery of trees so I won’t repeat much scenery but we did pass one section of the Alaskan pipeline that carries oil from Prudoe Bay in the north right across Alaska to the port at Valdez.

 

 

And it was raining again as we came to a coffee – wee break at Chitina.

 

Next was a big river and a modern  bridge across the nearest part.

We were nearing MaCarthy, a mining town near the Kennecott Mine which needed a massive investment in a railway to bring supplies in and to take ore out. The ore is a massive 70% pure copper so very valueable and one of the richest deposits ever found in the world. The mine itself operated from 1911 to 1938 and is now a National Park. One of the massive trestle bridges that was built in just eight days.

 

 

That night we camped in MaCarthy campground which is separated from the town by a footbridge (and five miles of track to reach the mine itself}.

 

Anya, Tracey and Zoe on the bridge

 The bar at MaCarthy with the same three.

 

 

And I had a few drinks as well.

 

Tracey, Seb, Sigi, Zoe and Anya.

 

 

 

Up to the glacier and return to Maclaren Lodge, Saturday 25^th July

The route up the valley was more bush whacking than following a path and involved several stream crossings, some of which would flood your boots but I had both boots for walking and sandals to wade through the streams and dry off as I walked before changing back into boots.

 The vegetation thinned and then the rough piles of debris of the terminal moraine. The valley steepened and I had a view back down the valley. I had set off by myself straight after breakfast. There may be moose and caribou about but no signs of any bears so I felt confident about being alone.

I was ready and some others wanted to go for a walk but I had a 12 mile hike up the valley at altitude and needed to be back between 2pm and 4pm to paddle down the river back to Maclaren Lodge. I had expected others to follow me up the valley eventually but I saw no one else on the trail behind ne.

At the side of the valley was a small turquoise lake.

One of the first of what were to be several sightings of caribou and moose during the day.

At last the glacier, the lake at the front and a selfie.

My trip should have been easy…just follow the same route back but there was too much wildlife with several caribou or moose about so I had to make several large detours through brush. Caribou aren’t as dangerous as moose but I still didn’t want to get to close just in case they hadn’t read the guidebook. But on one of my longer detours I came across some ptarmigan.

 

The canoe descent started as soon as I got back to camp. People were eager to go as it had been raining nd there was a break in the weather so we organised ourselves into groups of three per canoe and those paddling set off and those going back by speedboat waited for it to turn up.

 

My canoe had Zoe at the bows, Helen in the middle with the camera instead of a paddle and me at the aft.

 

We were last to leave but we passed another canoe who having a little difficulty. Left to right, Anya, Tracy and Steve and we passed them again a little later in much better spirits.

 

We got down in one piece without mishap but it was difficult to see sometimes with someone waving a camera in your face.

 

We paddled under the bridge avoiding the rocks and turned to face up river and did a perfect ferry guide to shore.

 The paddling team, Zoe, Helen and me.

 

 

Maclaren Lodge and wilderness camp 24th July continued

Plus of course Dakota whose usual spot standing on the bows of the skiff was taken by me and he did his best to get his spot back.

The camp site a dunny but no door. If it was occupied you pulled on a string and a wooden arm came up to indicate occupation. However whilst you were on the toilet, the view up the valley was breath taking.

Custom built fire grate with a local talking to Zoe plus Helen chatting with Seb. And we were really on the edge of the river which was steadily eroding the camp site.

Journey along the Denali Highway to Maclaren Lodge, Friday 24^th July

We left Denali National Park and first stop was to pick up supplies. Read the sign on the front of the shop which is for real as in winter people do run dog sleds and if you look carefully along the edge of many of the roads in the wilderness, there are off road sections running along side of the highway for ATVs and dogs in winter when there is snow on the ground.

We headed back along Parks Highway and turned off to head along Denali Highway. After just a few kilometres the tarmac ended and the next 160kms would be gravel track.

S

A few of some of the group on the bridge, Sigi and Anya on the left, Zoe our patient guide plus David, Helen and Gaby with her back to the camera.

Sometimes you have to position yourself just right for that great shot. Seb our other guide and chief driver, Helen, David and Ziggy with her back to the camera.

The bridge across the Susitna River and just beyond the now non operational Valdez Creek Gold Mine where artisan mining still continues today but as I have just recently visited Dawson and its goldfields, I didn’t insist that we go and have a look.

No collection of holiday photos is ever complete without one of clouds and mountains reflected in lake water.

The aim for the day was for a trip up a glacial river for a bush camp and then a free fay to trek up to a glacier for those that want to or a lazy day in camp. We got into boats at Maclarens Lodge for the ride up. A speedboat would do three trips to get the whole group up river whilst Zoe and I sat on some of the luggage and went up in a slower skiff.