May 8-18, 2001
Alaska Moody family trip
The following links are to the 4 "albums" that comprise the digital photos taken on our trip to visit Gwyneth during her break after spring semester at the University of Alaska( part of the Georgia Hope Exchange Program = FREE ) in Anchorage and the start of her summer employment at Kennicot Lodge in the Wrangell - St. Elias National Park and Preserve in Southeastern Alaska on the Yukon Border. Wrangell - St. Elias Mountains National Park
These photos along with additional ones scanned from other photos taken by the family on the journey around the state.
We left Anchorage heading to Denali National Park. We were to stay at the State park cabins but the snow was too deep to get to the cabins. We stayed one night at a private cabin behind the Igloo Truck Stop and Liquer store overlooking the Alaska Range and in site of Denali ( proper name for Mt. McKinnley ). We headed north to Fairbanks ( a very modern city ) and then proceeded to drive to Center ( of what?) Ak where the Circle Hot Springs are located. We spent some wonderfull days there and did a little exploring. This is an old fashioned resort dating to the 1930's. Well worth the drive form Fairbanks over the snowy passes on hundreds of miles of dirt / gravel roads. Before leaving for our next reserved cabins near Chena Hot Springs ( tacky modern resort ) we drove to the Yukon River at Circle, Ak., and got to see the start of the "break up" of the ice on the river.
We next went to Chena Cabins and visited the hot springs. Great cabin located on the Chena River ( creek really at this point ) and in the national forest. Very choice spot and the cabin was delux. Here there was no snow and the mosquitos had evidently just arrived.....
Next we were off toward the coast via Quartz lake and following the Delta River. The drive was spectacular as is most drives in this state. Only about 10 highways in the state and half of those are gravel.
We tried to stay at Kennicot Lodge where Gwyenth was to be working in the next week, but it still wasn't opened for the season.... too much snow etc. It turns out that any relative of "friend" of an employee can stay at the lodge for half price. Too bad we missed the season as the "Season" opens at around the time of our departure the end of May. We decided that we liked missing most of the tourists as well as most of the mosquitos but not having to put up with too much snow or really cold temperatures.
The drive from Glennallen 9 closest "town" to Kennicot to Valdez was the most dramatic of all the roads we took. The area gets alot of snow but had yet to melt much during our drive through. It wasn't till a month later that Gwyneth talked of the raging floods during the " melt" in the high altitudes.
Valdez is a very pictureque place with lots of things to do close by.... including visiting the "pipe line" museum. It wouldn't be a bad place to live all things considered. Our kayak trip was a little put around the inlet, but even that was inspiring with such great views. We took the state ferry from Valdez to Whittier going by a small detour of the Columbia Glacier. The private tour boat guys hate it, but the state ferry is the best deal with great accomadations, food and they go abit out the way to show you some of the great sights.
Whittier is a strange place. Built during WWII as a fuel depot, it has an enclosed city for the winter residents as it gets over 400 inches of snow. The only way in besides the boat is a tunnel ( longest in North America I think ) under a major mountain chain. Up until last year it was a Rail road tunnel only where you had to put your car on the train. They spent millions and made it into a one way road / rail road. Twenty minutes in, twenty out and twenty for the trains.
From there we drove through great vistas to Seward ( great little town ) Then back to Anchorage via the Turn again Arm of the Cook Inlet. Another awe inspiring place.
All in all we found the state truly beautiful and remote. It's totally full of "red necks" that are hell bent on raping and pillaging the rivers, the soils the forests etc etc. The place is just too big for them to have destroyed it all - but through no fault of thier not trying. If you ever have a chance to write to your US Rep or Senators, be sure to ask them to protect the state from it's inhabitants.
Gwyneth Moody
c/o Kennicott Glacier Lodge
PO Box MXY, McCarthy
Glennallen, AK 99588
Bunkhouse ( Gwyneth's Shared Home ) 907.554.4477
Information/Reservation Kennicott Lodge 1.800.582.5128