Upper Winner Creek Trail
Howdy!
We're wrapping up summer here - I've only got one week left til school starts back up. So, we're trying to pack in several activities before I have to go back.
We went to Girdwood on Saturday to hike the Upper Winner Creek Trail. It starts just behind the ski resort there, Alyeska. It was a total of about eight miles that we were able to hike and enjoy in about four hours.
We saw a moose on the way there, hanging out in the swamp area near Copper Landing. It was a sign of things to come later in the day.
We learned at the beginning of the trail that it used to be part of the original Iditarod route. Pretty cool!
About twenty feet in, we came across a creek with a huge tree fallen right across it. It was the perfect spot for a quick picture.
Parts of the trail were these cool boardwalk areas that made for some pretty easy hiking.
We were also able to enjoy fresh blueberries and salmonberries right off the bushes while hiking. They were delicious!
There's a super cool bridge over a gorge. where the creek gets narrowed in by all the rocks. It starts moving really fast and goes over these huge boulders to form a waterfall. It's a really neat spot. We hiked around a bit to see the falls from above and at the bottom.
About a quarter mile past the bridge, you get to the hand tram. I've never been in anything quite like this. There's just a rope pulley that gets you across the gorge. Only two people can fit in the tram at a time. And people who are in line behind you have to pull on the rope to get you across. It was so much fun!
We hiked about a mile out past the tram to a campground, then turned around and came back to the hotel. Toward the end of the trail, we saw a tree that has the biggest burl we've ever seen.
Right as we came out of the forest at the trailhead, there were two moose walking around behind us toward the pond at the hotel. Thank goodness they were more interested in swimming and playing than in messing with us.
We also saw a new wildflower called Ligularia that we've never seen before. So unique and beautiful!
It was another awesome day in AK!
We're wrapping up summer here - I've only got one week left til school starts back up. So, we're trying to pack in several activities before I have to go back.
We went to Girdwood on Saturday to hike the Upper Winner Creek Trail. It starts just behind the ski resort there, Alyeska. It was a total of about eight miles that we were able to hike and enjoy in about four hours.
We saw a moose on the way there, hanging out in the swamp area near Copper Landing. It was a sign of things to come later in the day.
We learned at the beginning of the trail that it used to be part of the original Iditarod route. Pretty cool!
About twenty feet in, we came across a creek with a huge tree fallen right across it. It was the perfect spot for a quick picture.
Parts of the trail were these cool boardwalk areas that made for some pretty easy hiking.
We were also able to enjoy fresh blueberries and salmonberries right off the bushes while hiking. They were delicious!
There's a super cool bridge over a gorge. where the creek gets narrowed in by all the rocks. It starts moving really fast and goes over these huge boulders to form a waterfall. It's a really neat spot. We hiked around a bit to see the falls from above and at the bottom.
About a quarter mile past the bridge, you get to the hand tram. I've never been in anything quite like this. There's just a rope pulley that gets you across the gorge. Only two people can fit in the tram at a time. And people who are in line behind you have to pull on the rope to get you across. It was so much fun!
We hiked about a mile out past the tram to a campground, then turned around and came back to the hotel. Toward the end of the trail, we saw a tree that has the biggest burl we've ever seen.
Right as we came out of the forest at the trailhead, there were two moose walking around behind us toward the pond at the hotel. Thank goodness they were more interested in swimming and playing than in messing with us.
We also saw a new wildflower called Ligularia that we've never seen before. So unique and beautiful!
It was another awesome day in AK!
I love your blog and am totally living vicariously through you. Your posts sound just like you -- fun and educational! Miss you! Cynde
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