Exploring Fall

Exploring fall means a walk in the woods to spy on all the changes that are taking place and mushrooms that have fruited.  

Thank you to our oldest son and my tour guide Drew!  He spent a summer studying with Dr. Gary Laursen, who is known for his work in mycological ecology, and Drew's knowledge proved he was a good student.

Happy exploring the woods weekend everyone!

High Five Friday for Happy Puppies

High five Friday for happy puppies who have lost a leg and persevere, learning to run without missing a beat.

McCarthy

When you are in McCarthy  stop into the Golden Saloon ...

... or the general store...

... enjoy some ice cream on their deck...

... check out the local bulletin boards for all the happenings in town...

... marvel at the old mixed with the new...

... McCarthy is a wonderful example of stick-to-it-tive-ness and is still an active community despite it's remote location.

Word of the Day ~ Pingo

pingo

PRONUNCIATION:

(PING-go)         

MEANING:

noun: A mound or hill of soil-covered ice in permafrost, pushed up by the pressure of water seeping in.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Inuit pinguq/pingu (small hill).

Root Glacier

What are you boys doing way down there? 

Throwing rock in the moulin by chance?

This is an excellent sample of glacier mice.

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Below from the Science Nordic article:

Egg-shaped moss balls occur on some glaciers throughout the world, mostly documented in Iceland, North and South America and the Himalaya.

They form when moss begins to establish around a clast (sediments) lying on the glacier surface. The moss continues to grow and insulates the glacier surface, resulting in the moss becoming elevated on a pedestal as the surrounding ice melts. Eventually, the moss falls from this pedestal and may be transported on by wind.

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We spent the entire day out on Root Glacier exporting with our guides from St. Elias Alpine Guides and four other tourists.  It was a perfect day with some sunshine, a few drops of rain, and a warm breeze blowing over the glacier.  We could not have asked for a better day to adventure on a glacier!

Perfection

Perfection is a puppy dog sleeping along the path in Kennicott town.

Perfection is sitting on the deck watching the sun set over the moraine.

Perfection is our flag proudly flown.

Perfection is Thanksgiving supper in July!

Especially served at a remote vacation lodge family style so that you can enjoy the great company of the other guests.

...

High Five Friday for Enjoying Life

High five Friday for enjoying life and taking time to just sit and draw and be in the moment.

Have a peaceful weekend!

Kennecott Copper Mine

Below from the Kennecott Site Bulletin:

Kennecott was a place of long hours and hard, dangerous work. At the height of operation, about six hundred men worked in the mines and mill town. Paying salaries higher than those found in the lower-48, Kennecott was able to attract men willing to live and work in this remote Alaskan mining camp. Miners often worked seven days a week, coming down only for the rare holiday or to leave Kennecott. Mill workers and miners came to Kennecott only to work, living in bunkhouses with little time off, often sending money home to their families around the world. Despite the dangers and grueling work, the Kennecott workers mined and concentrated at least $200 million worth of ore.

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Might I say AWESOME!  Totally awesome ~ lets do that again!

Kennecott Visitor Center

Kennecott Visitor Center was a great first stop as we began to explore the area.  The Rangers were helpful and engaged with each visitor.  Since 1998 the National Parks Service has been working to restore and preserve this great piece of Alaska history. Kennecott truly is a treasure. Click HERE for more information.

Every time I visit a National Park I stamp my hand with their National Park Passport book stamp.  It's a thing I do!

The Rangers were helping some fellas with hiking information and bear proof food storage containers.  They have the visitor center shelves stocked as if it was the general store from 1922 ~ cool idea and great way to add to the effect of stepping back in time.

Tailor Made Pizza

Tailor Made Pizza located in an old commercial bus in Kennicott gets its origins from the town of McCarthy.  The tailor shop, in the hay-day of the Kennecott Copper Mine which is five miles up the road from McCarthy, was among one of the modern day 1920 conveniences.  This tailor shop later became a restaurant and pizza mecca in McCarthy.  Tailor Made Pizza lives on today and has a dog friendly ordering area with covered seating in case of rain.

 

McCarthy Airport

McCarthy Airport is a state owned, public use airport located one nautical mile northeast of the central business district of McCarthy and what they really mean by airport is a very well maintained gravel runway. Flying is a great option, in place of driving the McCarthy road if your time is limited.  Besides if you do not have a vehicle here most rental car companies do not sanction driving on the McCarthy road.

Crossing the Kennicott River

To cross the Kennicott River that leads to McCarthy, Kennicott and Kennecott Mines you have to walk across the foot bridge. Back in the day the only way across was via the train and when the mine closed and the bridge was dismantled you had to cross over the river in a pulley hand car.

The Kennicott River is a glacial fed river from the Kennicott and Root Glaciers. Very cold, very silty and dangerous if you do not know your way around these type of rivers.

Once across the foot bridge you can walk the five plus miles ~ uphill ~ or wait for the lodge van to come and pick you up.  Waiting was a great option at the end of the day.  And yes we travel with our own pillows whenever we can.

Kennicott River and in the back ground is Stairway Icefall, a 7,000 foot tall icefall and the third largest in the world.

Oh Iowa

True color will never fade. The blue of the sky is everlasting. Our eyes will always see the clear destiny of the green fields, and the bright yellow of the sun. Content in your humble grace, I lay at your hallow grounds all my enduring love. Oh Iowa your stalwart strength leads me ever forward. My gaze toward the future, my heart content and at peace.


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Photo by Heidi Klocke ~ a truly iconic Iowa Americana photo with great perspective, great lines and filled with emotion.