A room with a view

The view out my room window is of the glacier’s moraine, which is the rock and dirt that is pushed up as the mountain and the glacier collide. The white ice of the glacier begins about 2 and a half miles from the lodge.

Look for more to come soon, with more picture. Even though the internet is currently up, it can go down at any time and is verrry slow, please be patient, with Wendel's help we will get more up real soon. Happy Trails!

My Glacier Hike

I went on a glacier hike and ice climbing the Sunday (May 18th) after we arrived – that was a blast! We hiked out about 3 miles one way onto the glaciers’ white ice and climbed a wall of ice that was about 15 feet up to get the feel for how to climb then we hiked over to a “moliun”,(sounds like moo lon) which is a big hole in the ice that has water in the bottom of it and this one had a stream running out of it. The ice wall was about 25 feet down to the water and the watering hole was about another 150 feet deep. We repelled down the side of the wall as far as we wanted to go and then climbed back out. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it might be and I surprised the younger people, who were with me (other staff) as well as myself on how well I did for my first trip. I hope to try this again this summer!

I've made it and I can finally talk about it

Sorry for the delay in getting any postings up. We just got internet service running today (May 31st). I don’t know how reliable our service will be, so I will also be sending Wendel pictures and copy, so between the two of us will be try to keep you posted!

I left Augusta at 6:30am and arrived in Anchorage at 3:30pm local time (7:30pm Georgia time) on the 15th and had to stay over an extra day, because our lodge van was being worked on. My flights were good and all of my connections were on time. So we departed on the 17th for the 8 hour trip to the lodge. It was a nice trip with beautiful scenery. Different from my times visiting before, because there is still a lot of snow on the mountains.

Well, we arrived at the lodge and I started work on the 19th. Work is going great! We have had guests from France, Belgium, locals from Alaska as well as from the states. The weather has been great with the lows to begin with in the high 30’s and now in the 40’s and the highs in the mid 50’s to begin with to now the high 60’s or low 70’s for a few days. We are getting our real first rain yesterday (May 30th).
We’ve had 4 moose sightings and a few bear sightings since we arrived. There seems to be a juvenile bear that is wandering around up here. Hopefully he will move on before he gets into real trouble.
The sun sets about midnight now and rises about 3 to 4 am. I’ve pretty much gotten use to it and can go to sleep and wake up without it affecting me.

Sandy's Arrival In Alaska

For those of you following Sandy's progress to Alaska here is an update. She arrived safely in Anchorage on 5/15 at about 8:00pm eastern time. She then learned that her departure for the lodge would be delyaed by one day, so she was able to spend Saturday exploring Anchorage. She departed for the lodge on 5/17 at about 9:00am Alaska time. Apparently the lodge phones or internet have not been turned on as of yet, I last spoke with her from Glenallen, about four hours from the lodge, at about 3:00pm Alaska time as they were headed to the lodge. She is having a great time so far and I am waiting to hear from her soon, hopefully early in the week. That is all I have until she is able to call again.
Wendel

Are They There Yet?

Well I’m getting ready to start my trip to Alaska. I mailed some of my clothes and supplies ahead around the middle of April. I’m still waiting for confirmation from the post office that my stuff has arrived at the lodge in Alaska. I hope it gets there before I do!
Time is getting close, I will catch my flight to Alaska in the early morning of May 15th and will get to Anchorage mid afternoon (Alaska time – 4 hours behind the East). I will then spend a night in Anchorage and head out the next day with other staff members on the lodge van for the 6 to 7 hour ride to McCarthy and the lodge. Stay tune for details. Happy Trails!

Facts You Should Know About The Area

If you don’t know much about where I am going – here are a few facts you might find interesting.

The history of Kennicott began in 1900, when prospectors spotted a patch of green hillside that looked like good grazing ground for their pack horses. The grass, as fate would have it, turned out to be the green glint of copper ore. From that incident, a boom town was born. Just 4 miles down the mountain is McCarthy. It has a very colorful history! Since no gambling or drinking were allowed in the mining town of Kennicott, McCarthy evolved as a diversion for the miners, providing saloons and a red light district. At its peak, McCarthy provided services to the area's 800 residents. When the mine closed in 1938, McCarthy, like Kennicott, became a ghost town. Unlike Kennicott, however, McCarthy has always had a few hardy soles who have made it their home.

Location:
The Kennicott-McCarthy area is at the end of the gravel McCarthy Road across the footbridge and 60 miles from the end of the pavement in Chitnia. You can pick up a few supplies in Chitnia, but for real shopping, medical services, gas and the post office you have to go to Glennallen about 125 miles from Kennicott-McCarthy. On a good day it takes 3 to 3 ½ hours to drive from McCarthy to Glennallen. Anchorage to McCarthy is approximately a 6 to 7 hour drive.
Weather:
Alaska can be very changeable. The lodge is at 2200' elevation and sits right next to a glacier. It is in a cul-de-sac surrounded by mountains on three sides. The summer weather is generally good and they get very little wind. On sunny days the temperature may get up to 80 degrees F, with nighttime lows in the 50's. On rainy days, however, the 25 mile long icecube in front of the lodge cools things off to the 40's very quickly! May through August temperatures run 40 to 80 deg. F, and September runs 30 to 60 deg. F.
Clothing & Equipment:
Casual and comfortable clothing is the order of the day here. Outdoor clothing that can be layered for warmth works great. Lightweight hiking boots or walking shoes are suitable, unless you want to do some serious ice or rock climbing. Llight weight rain gear is a must. A hat, gloves, and sunglasses might be welcomed out on the glacier.
Stores:
There are no grocery or general merchandise stores in either McCarthy or Kennicott. There are gift shops, but items like batteries, cigarettes, groceries, and toiletries are not available.

Communications:
McCarthy gets mail service twice weekly (Wed. & Fri.) flown in from the post office in Glennallen. Stamps are not available at Kennicott.