Over the weekend we drove up the Steese Highway to try to hike into Mt. Prindle. The mountain is a rock climbing hot spot but is also supposed to be a good hike and Sam wanted to scope out the climbing. The first night we left at around midnight during "civil twilight" and drove for a couple hours to Cripple Creek Campground at mile 60. The next morning we drove a few miles further, forded some creeks in Bowie, Sam's truck and started down the trail. We realized after about 2 miles that we hadn't driven to the spot we were supposed to park at and that we could have saved an hour of hiking on either end.
Our campsite the first night and fording one of the early creeks:
After that we followed Zephyr creek up the mountain crossing it about 10 times along the way. When we reached the top of the ridge the forest we had been following the creek through turned into tundra and the trail seemed to disappear. Instead of following what we thought was a trail that led to a different climbing spot we decided to bushwhack through the tundra which was very slow going. In the tundra natural lines turn into trail mirages all the time in the distance so after following a few trail visions and coming up empty we decided to go straight up to the top of the ridge where we found the rock cairns marking the trail we were supposed to be on.
Sam consulting the map and a picture from the top of the ridge:
Once we reached the ridge line it was a relatively easy walk down to a great campsite. Just down the creek from our tents was a large block of ice along the river where we discovered an ice cave! The next day we tried to take a day hike to try to reach the main climbing wall at Mt. Prindle but we only made it over and down the next ridge before the thick tundra turned us back. We declared victory, hiked back up the steep ridge and on the way back down discovered the remnants of a trail we hadn't seen hiking up.
Sam and Erik on the day hike/on the ice:
Salgu in front of the ice cave:
On Monday we hiked back to the car, making sure to stay along ridgelines instead of going down into the thick tundra in the valleys. It was a rainy day but that helped keep the mosquitoes away. We made it back to the car and didn't have to worry at the river crossings because we were already wet!
Sam, Salgu and Meg on the ridge/At the campsite:
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Mt. Prindle Via Faith Creek
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Granite Tors
Erik and I went to Granite Tors for 3 days. The hike is a 15 mile loop and at the top along the ridge are large rock outcroppings called 'tors'. We hitched a few rides down Cheena Hot Springs road and got there Tuesday afternoon. It started raining right when we started the hike and didn't stop but fortunately we were able to camp at the trail shelter which had a woodstove in it. The next day we day hiked around the tors climbed on them a bit. The trail through the tundra was pretty overgrown and tough to walk through. The next day we hiked down and apparently just missed a close call with a bear?
Hitchin down the road/it was rainy the first day:
Our Cabin/stove:
At the tors!
Friday, July 13, 2012
Pictures from Tangle Lakes/Delta River
Here are the pictures from last week's trip down Tangle Lakes and the Delta River. We just got back from Granite Tors so there will be pictures from there soon too. We're headed down the Steese Highway tonight to either Pinnell Mountain or Mount Prindle, not sure which yet!
Driving down:
At the pipeline:
At the lakes:
At the first campsite:
We portaged around this waterfall:
Fishin:
Down the river:
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Tangle Lakes Float Trip
Over the weekend we went on a 3 day canoe/kayak trip from Tangle Lakes down the Delta River with Sam and his other California friend Salgu. To get there we drove south out of Fairbanks past Delta Junction and turned west on the Denali highway. The first day was mostly in small lakes where we caught big lake trout. The second and third day we fished for Arctic Grayling which were behind every rock!
Tomorrow we head out for a 3 day trip to Granite Tors down the road to Cheena Hot Springs. It will be an easy hike as the whole trail is only 15 miles but there will be plenty of rocks to climb on. After that we'll return to Fairbanks and go on another weekend trip with Sam and Salgu.
I brought a film camera with me so I didn't have to worry about dropping it in the water and I got it developed today. I'll try to upload all the pictures soon but here is a preview of me and Sam in the canoe:
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Leaving for Alaska Today
I'm flying out of LaGuardia today at 6:30, I should be in Fairbanks by 12:30 tonight/tomorrow morning. I can't post pictures from my phone so I'll probably just send short updates or maybe blog sometimes from Erik's phone. Martin and Lis have been here for a few days so they will see me off tonight before they go meet some more friends.
Here are a couple of pictures of Martin and Liz eating pizza and in Central Park:
