Friday, August 23, 2013

Kennicott and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Monday finds us underway about 30 miles down to Chitina on the Edgerton Highway.  From this small community we continue on the McCarthy Road, a sixty-mile gravel road that traversed beautiful but desolate country before arriving at the McCarthy Bridge (the end of the road literally).  A short walk across the bridge, we climb aboard a waiting van for the last five miles up to Kennicott Lodge.  The National Park Service now owns about 2800 acres around the area that includes the Kennicott Mine (closed in 1938) and the town.  We check in and are assigned Room 17.  Rooms here are very nice decorated with period furniture and pictures.  Dinner is served family-style at 7 PM for about 60 guests.

Tuesday dawns clear as we sit enjoying a buffet breakfast looking over Kennicott Glacier.  After a walking tour of town we prepare to depart traveling back down for a brief stop at McCarthy (contains one street, 3 business along a hundred-yard stretch of dirt road). 


We have been enjoying the Alaska Tour Save Book during our trip through Alaska.  It costs $100 and is available on-line and at Safeway stores.  It has all types of buy one-get one free coupons for tours, hotels, museums, Alaska Railroad and other fun things.  While at Kennicott Joy and Sharon could not decide about taking the flightseeing tour, figured it was expensive.  As we were leaving we ran into a couple we had met earlier and they were raving about the flight.  That’s when Joy and Sharon discovered a Tour Saver coupon.  Suddenly the girls decided and even though we were leaving – they called and booked a flight at 3:30 today.  Yippee, it was wonderful.  Thanks again Alaska Tour Saver book.  We arrived back at Kenny Lake and our motor homes about 8 PM.

View of Copper River near Chitina, AK

Downtown Chitina

Start of the McCathy Road

View north toward Wrangell Range

Copper River

29 miles into McCathy Road


We enjoy a beautiful day with friends

A quiet and still lake reflects the mountain above

Over a foot-bridge to a waiting van from Kennicott

Kennicott Copper Mine and Lodge from a distance

Welcome to Kennicott Lodge

NPS now owns and is restoring the mine

Joy and her "older sister" Sharon

Restored powerplant

glacial moraine covering the glacier ice


Ready for dinner we sit on the lawn

No comments:

Post a Comment