THURSDAY, AUGUST 8

THURSDAY, AUGUST 8:

     When we got up, the sun was shining brightly!  So we thought we’d better make the most of it, and made a plan to drive up to Hatcher Pass.  It’s a drive just under 20 miles from here, up to a mountain pass of a little over 3,000 feet, with spectacular mountain views on the way.

     Just before the summit is an abandoned gold mine, the Independence Mine.  Though never on a scale with the huge gold mines of the Yukon, Juneau, or even Nome, this mine flourished in its day, from the mid 1930’s to WWII, and was a real economic boon to the immediate area, especially Palmer, which had been struggling mightily during the depression and now had a market for its produce & farm products.   Now the site has been preserved as a State Historic Site, and our State Park guide was really enthusiastic in telling his stories of the history here.

      Was interesting to note that we’re in tundra here, at only 3,000+ feet.  In Colorado, we didn’t hit tundra til at least 9,000 or more.  It’s the latitude that makes the difference!

 

                                                 Remains of some of the stairs which the miners needed to climb every day:  walking the equivalent up a 22-story building:

 

       Ate a late lunch at the Hatcher Lodge, which we’d read had good food, reasonable prices, and unbeatable views.   The views:  yes.

 

 

  Good food:  so-so.  Reasonable prices:  $10 for a grilled cheese – are you kidding??  This looks like more of a ski lodge – had several wood stoves inside, and photos of skiiers.  But there’s no lift around – we wondered if they cross country skied, or somehow hiked up the mountains with their skis??  At any rate, it would be a very cozy lodge in the winter time. 

 

 

      The sky had clouded up during our time up here . . . even sprinkled a little. But our guide said that’s totally typical of the Hatcher Pass area.  But this summer has last summer beat:  last year’s  average summer temp was 45 degrees!   Still had marvelous views as we drove back down the mountain.

     Had a frozen pizza for dinner, and walked with Pappy around the RV park.  The park itself is very nice and well maintained, with magnificent mountain views all around.

 

 

        But we walked past the boundary of the park itself, to the owner’s other property, and what a disgrace.  At least half-a-dozen abandoned cars, in various stages of rusting, an old school bus, various and sundry other machines and equipment, a couple of old bicycles.  How can you show such little respect and awe for the beauty of the land here?  Guess that’s the downside of the Alaskan independent spirit – “it’s my property, and I’ll treat it as I please . . .”