July 6th 2004 Kennicott Mine

As the sign says a long tall bridge.

And narrow too isn't it, Imagine crossing it without the benefit of good decking and no guard rails. I didn't know this bridge had been redone until I got here and I wasn't sure if I would have crossed it in it's former state.

The other trestle has collapsed in spots. the road just dips down to the stream and then back up the other side, I was told that they have ot rebuild the little bridge every year or so when it washes away.

.Here is a not to good shot of the foot bridge over the Kennicott river. Until the week before it was very difficult to get a car across the river as there had not been a bridge in many years. The main way to get across for many years was a cable car kind of deal big enough for a couple of people and self powered. then the state decided to put in a foot bridge. the residents of McCarthy fought it bitterly but eventually it was built a couple of year ago. and just the week before a local resident who owns a construction company built his own bridge across the river and collects a steep toll to use it. But supposedly lets people he likes use it for free (read no tourists and no park service or state vehicles)

Once I got over to other side of the river I met Eric who drives the shuttle bus. I got on and we headed in to McCarthy for the stops there. At the second stop a couple of local kids got on, they knew the driver (everyone knows everyone else in McCarthy) and were just going hiking for the day. At the same time they jumped on so did a medium sized black dog that looked part lab but was all mutt LOL. He got right on and hopped up on the seat next to me for a pet. As we bounced down the road in the old worn out bus I talked to the kids (as I petted the dog) and the driver all in there early 20's and none of them from Alaska. they had all found there way here and now spent summers here working tie tourist trade by day and drinking at night. The driver was from Boston and the cook from the local diner was from Memphis, His girlfriend was from Florida. Any way the dog kind of lay down on my legs and went to sleep which I thought was kind of cool, I miss having a dog sometimes.

Later when I got back on the last bus I saw the local kids again but didn't see the their dog. They laughed and said he's not our dog, the driver added that he just gets on when he wants to go somewhere and if he wants off he goes to the door and the driver stops and lets the dog off. Now on the ride up there were just the four of us, well five if you count the dog, and we almost have to don't we. So there are now like 15 more people crammed in with us and they are kind of looking at us like we are nuts talking about this as of yet unseen dog, then as the driver starts the bus here comes the dog running for the bus like he knows it's the last one of the day (and he probably does!), sees there are no seats and just flops down by the door. Sure enough about a mile out of town he gets up and steps toward the door and then looks back at the driver so we stop and let him off and he bounds off in search of what ever he searches for. I never did get a picture of that dog I wish I had.

The mines at last. I just love old structures like this, The park service is undertaking a massive restoration to save these historic buildings from collapsing. I think that they should be saved but I could have done without all the people, equipment and generators. Oh ya and the really big white dog that wouldn't stop barking. All day, the staff said it was totally out of character for him, I said may be he senses something we don't. Well guess what. I checked and there were a series of small earthquakes near by this day.

The Glacier in the background is the Kennicott of course. The large piles are gravel in the fore ground are lateral moraine from the glacier.

Here I have climbed about a half mile out on to the glacial moraine. I am trying to get to the glacier. I was told when you get close you can hear it popping cracking as it moves.

The forces at work here are mind boggling. This rock has been shattered by water working in to cracks and pores and then freezing.

well that's it, the glacier. there is so much rock debris covering it that you can barley see the ice but I was able to hear it. I didn't get right up to it as it was a 200 foot decent to the very swift stream that was between me and the glacier. I could have done it but I would have missed the last bus back to town 15 miles.

Old dump site from the mine

You wont get very far in this jeep.

A nice shot of the glacier from the river.

The same place I had lunch in the evening light

The evening sun playing off the peaks and clouds of Thompson Pass

Worthington Glacier One of the Three car accessible glaciers in Alaska, Now I have seen all three.

Bridal Veil Falls

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