I’m sure many of you are getting bored to tears with all my posts and photos so I will condense our three nights in Palmer into one post.
Day 60: Sunday, July 14, 2013. Talkeetna to Palmer, Alaska. Big Bear RV park, Site 56. 145 miles traveled. We are actually closer to Wasilla but the RV park has a Palmer address.
Moose cow and calf crossing the road
After all the excitement and fun we had in Talkeetna we hated to leave but there is still more of Alaska to see. The drive was uneventful except for seeing a moose cow and her calf cross the road in front of us.
Our first order of business after getting set up was to go to Walmart a mile down the road to get some much needed supplies. When we got back we met some fellow Titanium owners from Missouri who were parked in our row.
Day 61: Monday, July 15, 2013
Our plan for a drive on Hatcher Pass Road was shortened by fog but we enjoyed our drive as far as the Independence Mine
Henry and Blondie at the Little Susitna RiverWildflowers by the riverIt was foggy all dayMarmot on top of one of the old buildingsIndependence Mine State Historical SiteOld Mine TrainHenry and Blondie exploring the Independence Mine in AlaskaWildflowerIndependence Mine
Day 62: Tuesday, July 16, 2013
A trip to the Iditarod Headquarters in Wasilla, Alaska and then a shopping trip to Fred Meyer for our final grocery shopping before heading to the Kenai Peninsula.
At the Iditarod Trail Headquarters in Wasilla, AlaskaDog sled team running down the trackTwo of the Alaskan Husky puppiesIditerod dog team taking a breakBeth with one of the puppies
Nothing could top the thrill of yesterday’s flight-seeing tour to Mt. McKinley and the Ruth Glacier so we decided to take a relaxing railroad ride.
We enjoyed breakfast at the Roadhouse Cafe, another restaurant featured on Man vs Food. After filling up on their delicious sourdough blueberry pancakes, we wandered through the Talkeetna Cemetery to see the memorial which honors the memory of the mountain climbers who lost their life attempting to climb Mt. McKinley.
Mount McKinley Climber’s Memorial in the Talkeetna CemeteryThe placques display the names of all the climbers who lost their lives on McKinleyMt. McKinley Climbers Memorial
Our train adventure was aboard the Alaska Railroad’s Huricane Turn Train. It is one of the last flag stop trains in the country. Passengers can get on an off all along the route. Anyone going camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, or taking provisions to their cabin in the wilderness can get on or off wherever they wish. Since it is a sightseeing trip the baggage car has open doors so passengers can watch the view without looking through a window. The baggage car was piled with back packs, suitcases, and supplies.
We found out when we arrived at the station that we could bring Blondie so Henry ran back to get her before boarding. She was one happy dog when she knew she wasn’t going to be left behind.
All Aboard!
All Aboard!Blondie wanted to look out the windowMt. McKinley from the trainConductor Warren loves his jobBeautiful wildflowers beside the trackPonds beside the train tracks
Our conductor Warren shared stories about the area and about the railroad. The scenery was spectacular with more views of Mt. McKinley. The train stopped on the bridge over Hurricane Gulch before reversing directions to make the return trip to Talkeetna.
A couple of miles before Hurricane Gulch, we got off the train to stretch our legsA passenger train goes by on the other trackShadow of the train on the bridge over Hurricane GulchHenry enjoying the train rideA ride on the Alaska Railroad to the Hurricane TurnBeth boardingWe stopped at Indian Creek to look at salmon
On the return trip we stopped at Sherman, Alaska to meet author Mary Lovel and buy a copy of her book “Journey to a Dream” which tells the story of moving to the Alaska wilderness with their four children 49 years ago. She signed each book and even handed out a pen with her name and email address.
Home of author Mary Lovel in Sherman, AlaskaMary Lovel signs her book for Beth
The conductor Warren was disappointed we had not seen any wildlife. Near the end of the trip he spied a moose in a field and ran through the car to tell the engineer to stop and back up so everyone could see the moose. The moose was having none of that and ran back into the woods before I could get a picture. Other than the moose I saw a pair of swans swimming in one of the many ponds we passed.
We woke up to beautiful sunny skies. The weather forecast was sunny and warm all day. A perfect day for viewing Mt. McKinley.
We started the day by walking to beautiful downtown Talkeetna.
Welcome to beautiful downtown TalkeetnaDowntown Talkeetna. House rules at the historic Fairview InnStubbs, the Mayor of Talkeetna. He hangs around downtown.I had a spinach bread for lunch. It’s kind of like a square pizza with spinach and cheese.
Next we stopped by Talkeetna Air Taxi at the airport to book a flight-seeing tour with a glacier landing. The first flight available was at 4:00 so we returned to the RV park to get the truck and drve to the Talkeetna overlook for a view of Mt. McKinley with no clouds.
Beth and Henry at the Talkeetna overlookAn Airplane flies over Mt. McKinley
At 3:30 a van picked us up to take us to the airport for our flight. There were six passengers on our plane – two guys and a gal from Norway, a man from Maryland, and us. Our pilot Alex was from Georgia.
The flight was one of the most amazing things I have ever done. Seeing the mountains from the air and flying so close to the south face of Mt. McKinley was awe inspiring. It’s a day I will never forget.
Waiting to boardMt. McKinley is in the upper left beneath the cloudsShadow of our plane over the mountainsThe Ruth Glacier is in the gorge between the mountainsWe went really close to Mt. McKinleyView of McKinley through the front windowWe were really close to the mountainsReally, really close to the mountain!We were headed straight to this mountainReally, really, really close!
Ours was the only plane on the glacier and we had plenty of time to enjoy the jaw dropping beauty around us.
We landed on the Ruth Glacier. Hard to believe it was warm enough to wear short sleeves.The high round snow covered peak is the south peak of Mt. McKinleyHenry taking videosBeth with the planeLoving every minute of our time on Ruth glacier
We flew low over the glacier as we started our return trip to the airport.
Flying over the glacierBeautiful scenery on our way back to the airport
What a glorious day it was! A day we will never forget. Perfect.
Day 57: Thursday, July 11, 2013 Teklanika Campground to Talkeetna, Alaska. Talkeetna Camper Park Site 34. 182 miles traveled.
The sky was still overcast as we drove the 30 miles from Teklanika to the Denali National Park exit. Our chances for a clear view of Mt. McKinley on our drive south on the Parks Highway were looking pretty slim. Mt. McKinley, at 20,320 feet tall, is the tallest mountain in North America. On a clear day there are overlooks along the highway between Denali National Park and Talkeetna where the mountain can be seen. We were keeping our fingers crossed the sky would clear.
The views were spectacular as we drove along.
There were still clouds in the sky as we exited Denali National Park and crossed Riley CreekOur view out the front window of the truck as we drove south on the Parks HighwaySpectacular view at one of the overlooks on the Parks Highway
Our first view of Mt. McKinley from a Parks Highway overlook
Then finally, parts of Mt. Mckinley came into view at one of the overlooks.
Stops at a couple of other overlooks were disappointing with clouds completely covering the mountain. Finally, as we drove into Talkeetna, we were rewarded with spectacular views from the Talkeetna overlook.
Finally! A beautiful view of Mt. McKinley from the Talkeetna overlook as we entered the town of TalkeetnaDenali (formerly known as Mt. McKinley), 20,320 feet tall, is the tallest mountain in North America
Happy happy happy! We checked into our campground and watched the Alaska Railroad trains load and unload passengers right behind our campsite.
The Alaska Railroad runs right behind our campsiteOur home in Talkeetna
We enjoyed a great dinner on the outside patio at the West Rib Cafe and Pub which was featured on an episode of The Travel Channel’s Man vs Food. An Alaskan Crabcake sandwich for me and Halibut and Chips for Henry hit the spot.
Our plan for the day was to ride the bus up to the Polychrome Overlook and take a hike. When we awoke to a steady rain we decided to wait to see if it would clear up. The rain continued all day so we took a couple of short hikes around the campground instead.
Morning walk near our campsiteWe took a walk out to the Teklanika River in the rainThe stream runs along the edge of the campgroundWildflowers growing in the middle of the riverbed
The rain finally let up a little later in the afternoon so we spent the rest of the day relaxing by the campfire.
Henry and Blondie enjoying the fireNow this is the kind of view I like out our back window
