Mt Baldy....Take 2

The sun poked its head out so I beelined it for Mt Baldy again.  I was anxious to know if all the snow had melted, and still a little sad that I didn't get to the top on the first day out.  Sometimes summers in Alaska are non stop beautiful weather.  But there has been a lot of rainy days the last 2-3 years...so I abandoned the plan to stain the deck and headed out.

Baldy is a great convenient hike, the starting point right in Eagle River, at the top of Skyline drive.  From the parking lot, ascend up the hill past the gate and you will find the wooden Mt Baldy trailhead side.  You can also make your way by staying left of the gate at the parking lot, but I prefer the switchbacks and view on the front face.  The first climb from the parking lot to the trailhead sign is probably the steepest part...everything else is pretty gentle switchbacks.

That said...I was not fueled for performance today and took a ton of little breaks.  This first one if from the bottom third of the hike, looking up towards the finish line.

This is the spot I usually stop and do a little rehydration break.  There are some rocks that make for a natural resting spot, and this spot marks  a transition in the hike where you do just a couple more of tthe winding switchbacks to one very short rocky bit to traverse, and then you duck around the side of the mountain and overlook the valley (and backside of the hike).

Today there was still just a bit of snow.  But easy enough to get through.  Maybe by next week it will be gone.

And I noticed a lot of pretty flowers were poking their way throught.

The valley on the left shows an old house (very decrepit and graffiti filled if you go by that way), and a serene pond.   This is actually my favorite section of this hike.  I love when you climb over the little path and it opens up into even more beautiful scenery.

This very spiky mountain to the right is Blacktail rocks.  One of these days I need to actually go up there (I have been to the base, but not over the top).

The reward at the top -- looking down over Eagle River in all of its lush and picturesque glory.

Of course there are other rewards -- the choice of going forward to Blacktrail rocks on a longer hike.  A descent down the backside of the mountain back to the parking lot.  Or like me, just heading back down the switchbacks and enjoying the view on the way down as well.

And of course, don't forget to get a selfie or group picture from the summit.  It was a little crowded on here today.  I have other photos from other days, so just kept on trucking.

I noticed this little guy in a tree on the way up.  I decided to let him hike back down with me. I will post his picture to an Alaska hiking website, and see if anyone is looking for him.  If not, I will add him to my collection of fosters!  

Once home, the plan was to stain the deck.  However, what appears to be an unhappy Ewok had some other plans.  Not sure if he was disgruntled at my absence, my deck plan, or the stuffed puppy in the garage.  Either way, I scooped up this little fluffball and got this seasons coat of Timber Oil on the deck.

 

South Fork Saturday

 The cats don't hike.  So when I get a chance to hike with friends with dogs, I am always totally in.  Meet Rolly.  Rolly did about 8 times the steps we did, running ahead and running back, but I think we all had a good day.  We started at the South Fork trailhead off of Hiland Road in Eagle River.  Today's plan was just walk and hour in to the first bridge and back out.  Rolly is posing here at the finish point.

Rolly behind the South Fork bridge

This is always a beautiful trail, and well trafficked.  We saw several people today, but way less than I was expecting for a Saturday in June.  Must be the persistent snow that is still around.  This trail goes back to Hanging Valley Lake at one fork, or Eagle/Symphony Lakes if you stay the course and go ahead.  On a day with limited time, the first bridge is a great family friendly walk either way.

After a short uphill with about 3 switchbacks, it's a gentle climb along the lower ridge overlooking the river.

To the right you can always branch off up Hunter Pass or to Rendezvous Ridge.  But about 2 miles in you get to this river and the 1st bridge...which is beautiful, and one of my favorite stops along the way to Eagle Symphony Lakes.

This was as far as we went today.  A nice quick catch up with a few folks I hadn't seen in a summer or more, and an introduction to another new face.  

The road back is of courser as pretty as the way in.  We didn't spot any wildlife (other than other dogs out with their people).  And in general I prefer my hikes wildlife free.  I had to try to out trot a moose once...do not recommend.

But plenty of serene skies and mountains to enjoy instead.  And of course it was fun watching Rolly spaz out all the way.  Til next clear weekend!

Mt Baldy...2024 Take One

It seems like the last few years in Alaska I have spent a lot of time waiting for sun...and warmth.  After 3 or 4 false springs (the sun shines, it starts to melt, we let our guard down, and boom...snow), and a few thousand flicks of the switch to turn the fireplace on, fireplace off, heater on, heater off, it was finally sunny out!

I have been watching the snow become patchier on the mountains on the drive home from work.  And while I knew there was still snow, I figured there was a good chance I could make it to the top in sneakers.  And the first real vertical of the year, also figured I would be good getting up to around the halfway part where you have to scramble over the rocks.  Pretty sure it was last year I 'postholed' and lost a shoe at about that spot, so I wasn't going to keep going if it was too much snow at that point.  (Posthole...as in falling through the snow when you take a step and finding out you are thigh of hip deep, and probably more but that's about where you are able to pack in enough snow to stop)

The hike to Mt Baldy begins at the top of Skyline Road in Eagle River, and winds up to a fantastic view on top of the mountain overlooking the town and valley.  This can be done as a 2.9 mile loop, or out and back.  From the parking area, you can choose to go left, which starts our flatter, and bushier and ascends up behind Mt Baldy, or to the right.  My favorite way is to the right.  This first little incline to the trailhead is probably the steepest part.  Note to self.  When there is still snow by the parking lot...there is a lot more above.

I was loving those blue skies and beautiful rows of clouds!  The majority of the hike up this route is switchbacks.  There is ample opportunity for cardiovascular exercise just by setting your pace.  Not much up and down, mostly just ups.  It's a relatively smooth dirty trail, with enough width to stop and step to the side and leave room for folks and dogs to pass.  There are a few spots that can be a bit slick with rain, mud, or snow, but usually it's a great trail.  This is also a well travelled trail, one that I feel comfortable doing alone.  Are there bears about this area?  Yup.  But if there are a lot of cars in the parking area, you are going to be meeting people frequently enough that you aren't super likely to surprise a bear.

It may not yet be full spring, but it's very pretty.  It's hard to tell that whole town of Eagle River is right down below.

Not sure if my camera got foggy here or what, but I thought it was a cool effect.  I was actually making decent time (for me), and only stopped for a couple of breathers.  I was feeling like getting back into shape after my winter hibernation was going to be easier than I thought.  But.  The joy was short lived.  After I rounded the next corner...the snow patches got more continuous.  I, as I always do, figured if I could just push through it, it would be fine.  So I picked my way through and got to the spot where there should have been another switchback...but that's where it was just uphill in slick and half melted snow.  The lady to the right was part of another group tenuously trying to get back down.

To be fair, I do this at the start of every year.  I get over exuberent for spring.  I buy my plants to early and they struggle to survive.  I head to the trails the first sunny days and end up hip deep in snow, rather than enjoying the sun at ground level like a wiser soul.  That said, plenty of people were heading to the top via Microcleats.  I decided to pick my way back through the snow and head down.  That one bad knee will hold up a lot longer if I am not twisting it sliding on ice and unstable steps.

All and all, it was still a good day.  Some mountain time is better than none.  And now I think I shall have to keep going back to see how many weeks until the snow melts off, and write it down to remind myself to wait in the sun with a cocktail next year in May.

did find this odd little caterpillar, and gave him a lift on a twig off the trail and away from thundering feet.  Surely if he is awake, it must be spring soon.  Thought I would share an Alaskan caterpillar.

 Til next weekend...see if I can get a little closer next time!

View from the parking lot.  At least it's greening up at the lower altitudes!

Thunderbird Falls

 After a too long winter, I decided I am going to have to work up to the hikes a a bit.  So thought I would start with an easy one, Thunderbird Falls.  Starting at a State Park parking lot, it's a relatively easy hike to a little waterfall.  All Trails puts it at 1.8 miles.  It starts with an uphill from the parking lot, but then gives you a few ups and downs along the way.

This is a good, easy, roadside hike for tourists looking to stretch their legs along the way./

I did this one with a coworker, a hubby, and a toddler.  We still had some snow covered slick spots down by the falls, but the main part of the trail was clear.  There are a couple of decks to gaze out over the moderate abyss at the skyline, with some interpretive information about the area for those who want a bit of a reading break after the hill.

                                            

We followed the path along the wooden boardwalk to the end, and then looped back down and off to the right on a side trail to get to the base of the falls.  Also a great spot for selfies.

Or if you just prefer the scenery, it's a good spot for that too.  So if you are looking for a short and convenient spot to reconvene with nature without investing a huge amount of time, this is a good walk for you.

Trail of the Wolf

 Sometimes you just gotta decide it's spring, even when the environment hasn't fully committed yet.  It's April 21st.  For the 3rd or 4th time this year, I am declaring spring!  Maybe this time it will stick.  My neighbor and I committed to starting spring and summer walks this past Tuesday.  When Tuesday after work came and a trail was discussed, I said we needed to do a reintroduction to hiking for me after the long winter (aka the sidewalk...fortunately the views are even beautiful on the sidewalk).  I figured the trail, being shaded would be snowy, muddy, cold, and slick.  But 5 days later, Sunday, trails would obviously be melted right?  Yeah, no.  But it wasn't slick or muddy at least.  Just slushy.

Still, it was glorious to just get out there again.  So easy walk #2 of the year...Eagle River Nature Center.  

                    

This is a must for anyone visiting.  You get this view in about half a mile from the paved parking lot on a wide, sloping trail that is pretty easy for folks of all levels to accomplish.  One summer I was walking with friends out this way, and at the starting point an elderly man with a walking stick stood looking longingly at the path as his children and grandchildren started out.  I could tell he wanted to go, but perhaps thought better of it.  So I stopped to ask if he was going to go down the trail, and let him know that it was wide, gently sloping, and easy to navigate (rocks and twigs visible and easy to avoid), and he could walk with us if he wanted.  He literally jumped (or skipped) at the opportunity.  I would guess he was mid 70's, and probably more capable than me.  They were on vacation from India.  He had lots of good stories to tell, and was excellent company down the trail.  I was glad to give him the 'trail condition' so that he got to enjoy the hike (and was secretly happy that by coming with us I was able to guide him down the most scenic of the branching paths).  So for anyone reading this coming to Alaska looking for a short wide trail with a great payoff, and just a bit of a hill, this is the one for you.

We stopped to buy the annual pass, which also give trail conditions, and today's notice was this.  Mostly slushy and a tad wolfy.

                    

I don't think I have ever seen a wolf warning sign up in the area before.  I mean, I know they are in the area.  Some nights I hear them down on the winter, especially in winter.  Part of the magical reason I love it up here.  But of course I have never actually seen them.

After about 30 mins, I was looking at the slush ahead of me.  Having met a few dogs on the way, I didn't really think much about it...but then I realized these are awfully big tracks for a dog.

Not enough toes to be a bear.  Truly huge pawprint.  We watched a few huskies go by and checked their tracks...and declared even the biggest dogs on the trail had tiny feet no where near this size.

And so we followed the trail of the wolf to where the forest opened up and the river ran.  (OK, to be fair the wolf was walking on the trail, so the trail of the wolf was just the trail, but it sounds better that way)

This section of the trail is called Rapids Camp.  I come here often, it's one of my favorite spots.  But I admit it's usually summer, so this is the first pic I have taken with all the snow still on the riverbank.  It's abour 5km roundtrip from the parking lot to get to this spot.  Wonderful spot for a picnic.

On the way back, I caught a little motion by a tree and played Peek-a-boo-Ptarmigan.

        

                            

He did pose for one good view of his tailfeather.  He's obviously a bird model.  He had a very beautiful feather pattern.

It was interesting to me on the way back down the trail,,,despite passing 4 to 5 other groups, we were treated to some new wolf tracks...heading the same way as us again.  Guessing they were enjoying the trail run today as much as we were.

Glacial Highs

It's taken me about a billion years to post these, but it was a pretty cool day so figure I should just get it done.  I had a friend visiting from Florida over Christmas one year, what a way to get motivated to do snowy tourist things.  This was on his bucket list...see a glacier.  So it was off to the local small airport at Palmer to hop a flight to the Knik Glacier (and yes, in Alaska we pronounce the K, and the n, so it's K-ah-nik.  It is actually pretty cool to see by air.  We got a nice low aerial over pillars of ice.

The crevasses were pretty deep.  I think I was surprised at how many miles of glaciers there were, and how vast it actually was.

A nice "frozen river of ice" pic backing up against the mountain.

I am always amazed at the beauty of the blue of glacial ice.

Apparently the weight of the glacier makes it so compact, so this shade of blue from the refractive light index is part of its distinctive beauty.

Obviouslyu I am a bit obsessed with this color.

Of course, the even crazier shades of deep blue in the ice shelves was equally captivating.

Somewhere around here is when I started thinking of all the plane crash movies where people have to hike out....and realized there was no way out of the crevasse maze.  We were just a few miles from civilization, but seemed like a world away.

Close up.

Yup.  That would be a long impossible walk home.

So this was really interesting.  I will confess how long I have failed to post.  These pics are taken in December of 2018.  Some of you might remember we had a little earthquake up here November 2018.  November 30th, 8:29 am to be precise...yeah it was that kind of memorable.  I was just logging onto a computer call, and when the painting started flying off the walls and folks started yelling, we actually ran outside from the office cubbies in the building attached to work....waited for the world to start shaking, then ran into the hospital.  Ceiling tiles were downed, there was a haze that I wasn't sure was drywall dust or smoke, but it set off fire detectors all the same.  The doors clean fell off the Emergency Department, and then the tsunami sirens went off.  Anyway...it was a big one.  When I got home 18 hrs later, the kind cat sitters had been by to right the furniture, sweep up the kitchen, because all glass in the cupboards on one wall flew out and shattered.  7.1 it registered formally.  We had aftershocks that were a 5 for months.  Anyway....if you look carefully, you can see part of the ice shelf of the glacier collapsed.  Pilot said it was down after the quake.

Here's another shot of it.

Guess I am not sure if the strongest force is the earthquake or the glacier.  It's amazing that it took a section down....but in the scope of the glacier such a small part of it.

And with that it was heading home.

Bye glacier!

One of the little black dots is a moose.  I can't pick it out now either lol 

Definately an afternoon worth the trip!

 

15 and Million Years Ago

I took this picture when you were 15.  Which was 15 years ago.  It was both yesterday and a million years ago in my mind.  You are about 2 seconds away from a goofy laugh and moving from this funny face to the next thing.  I thought we'd be doing things like this forever at the time.  You were always, and will always be, so beautiful.

 

I took a walk today.  It felt like walking through another lifetime.  I drove by the my old school where you spent your last day playing volleyball.  I walked through the old house, and down the stairs you walked down that last morning.  I touched the wall where the phone used to be...where you stood when we talked on the phone that last day.  The phone was gone but I could hear your voice so clearly all the same.

I drove by the playground where you girls stopped to take pictures.  And I left a little heart at the spot yours stopped.  I said a little prayer and left a few more tears.

As I walked through your world again, I couldn't help but notice how much less vibrant it seems without your light and color.  I felt like I was walking through a tattered memory more than a place.

And in your room, your old shoes, a hint of your personality...I remember shopping with you for these, and getting the sales guy to find the green laces.  I miss you.  I wish today you were walking with me, and anywhere else.

I wish your goodbye wasn't so soon.  Love can last a lifetime.  And so can grief it seems.  But at least there is love.  And you were so very, very loved.

Love you Jaycena...today, always, and forever.