Independence Mine & Hatcher Pass

Independence Mine is located up the Hatcher Pass Road, in the mountains just to the north of Palmer. The road winds up through beautiful mountain scenery, past rushing mountain streams
















We have a delightful lunch in a ski chalet perched on a hill overlooking the valley below. This is a popular cross country ski area in the winter. Now the snow has been replaced by beautiful wildflowers.






The mine stopped working in the early 1900's, but some restoration projects are under way. The major part of the mine operations are at about 3500 ft., well above the timberline which is approximately 2500 ft here.

Knik Glacier - Quintessential Alaska

The Knik Glacier area is indescribably spectacular - six miles wide at its base which is on a lake over 400 feet deep and filled with icebergs of all shapes, sizes and colors.

There are no roads, or rails leading to Knik Glacier. The only way there is up the Knik River by airboat! The airboat can navigate through as little as 4 inches of water. We bounce our way over the waves and mini rapids at 15 to 20 mph.

The views upriver as we approach the glacier are truly fantastic!

We get out of the boat at a "Base Camp" set up by our tour guide and host, Tom, where we are served snacks and hot chocolate or hot cider. The face of the glacier is over a mile away from our viewpoint. The lake is so full of icebergs that we can not get any closer.

While we gape at the scenery, Tom practices his art of balancing rocks. some of his work is quite remarkable.

A Train trip into the Kenai Peninsula

Our trip starts out in Whittier Alaska, on the western coast of the Kenai Peninsula. Whittier is on a fiord leading out to Prince William Sound, it is a very tiny town, just one short main street. It does, however serve as a ferry port and port for other cargo - the deep fiord waters do not freeze in winter.

To get to Whittier we have to go

through a one way tunnel, over 2

miles long, that is shared by

train tracks. So cars go westbound for 15 minutes every hour on the 1/2 hour and westbound on the hour. The other 15 minute windows are for eastbound and westbound trains.

There are many glaciers to be seen along the way to Whittier, and many spectacular waterfalls.

Right next to the tunnel there is a magnificent waterfall that cascades down from snowfields thousands of feet above. There is also a large Glacier hanging just up the valley.









We spend a bit of time taking photos and enjoy a delightful lunch at a chinese buffet! We are told it is an unusually beautiful day - so often cloudy and/or rainy here! Our weather karma is working for us once again!





The train is a double-decker with a panoramic car that provides fantastic views in all directions. The train travels through a part of the Kenai mountains where there are no roads, so the scenery we see is only visible by train.

There are more glaciers to be seen, the most prominent being Spencers Glacier.

And, Wild mountain streams crashing through deep rocky gorges.

Another significant Glacier is Trail Glacier, a river of ice flowing over 25 miles.

Palmer

The little town of Palmer lies at the junction of the Matanuska and Knik rivers, both originating from massive glaciers. It lies in a valley between two mountain ranges the Chugach mountains to the south and the Talkeetna Mountains to the north. Most of these mountains are about 5000 ft high.

The town of Palmer is only about 240 ft above sea level. It is about 36 miles north of Anchorage. Population is about 5800.







The most prominent peak in the area is Pioneer Peak.










There is a great view from parts of town up the Knik Valley and on clear days can see the Knik Glacier 20 miles up the valley. The mountains at the head of the glacier are over 10,000 ft high and permanently covered in snow .

Around Palmer are several picturesque lakes. Also, right behind our park there is a marshy area where 2 pair of bald eagles reside. They are often seen in dead trees suveying the marsh for dinner, or wheeling around in the sky, sometimes coming very close to us (30 to 50 ft).






Just southwest of Palmer the knick river flows into the Knik Arm, which is an extension of Cook Inlet. This is a view back across the Knik Arm to the mountains south of Palmer.

Matanuska Glacier

The trip starts out overcast but eventually we get some sunny intervals. The road winds upwards in elevation following the Matanuska River, which of course, originates as meltwater from the glacier. Alongside the road are some magnificent wildflowers - fireweed in full bloom.



Matanuska Glacier is one of the more prominent glaciers visible from a highway - actually the Glenn Highway leading northeast from Anchorage & Palmer. It is about 60 miles from Palmer. At the State overlook the glacier is about 4 miles away and the higher peaks behind are obscured by clouds. As a river of ice, it is almost 4 miles wide at its mouth, and extends 27 miles back to its icefield source in the high Chugach Mountains.

We drive down a potholed road, across the rushing glacial melt river and to a parking area about 1/2 mile from the glacier - for a fee of course. Then we walk about 1 mile on overburden, rock fragments carried down by the glacier which, with melting over the years, have settled over some of the toe of the glacier. Small metal bridges span the melt streams. We get out onto the ice and stop there, a sign says to proceed further should have proper equipment - crampons and ice axe.

The face of the glacier is very rugged and towers several hundred feet above us

Another great adventure in Alaska!