Sunday, September 20, 2009

Eklutna Lakeside Trail

Eklutna Lakeside Trail, September 20th, 2009

Cast: Susanne, Thorsten, Trond

25 miles bike trip on nice gravel trails and roads along the Eklutna Lake




Thorsten and Susanne on the trail next to Eklutna lake
Trond and Thorsten with Bold Peak hiding in the clouds in the background



Eklutna lake with the Mitre in the background.
Eklutna River with Bashful Peak (8005 feet) in the background.



Along the Eklutna Lakeside trail.
Heading towards the Serenity Falls cabin.



Eklutna Lake in fall colors. The Fireweed is already dead which means that winter is not far off.
Lunch in the Serenity Falls cabin. No trip is complete without Norwegian Caviar and Freia Milk Chocolate.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Penguin Ridge Hike

Penguin Ridge from Bird to Girdwood, September 19th, 2009
Cast: Frank, Danny, Trond
Distance 14 miles, vertical gain 9000 feet traversing Penguin Peak, King Point, Adelie Point, Crested Peak, Chinstrap Peak and Gentoo Peak.

The old tower at about 3400 feet on Penguin Peak
Frank and Danny scrambling down a blocky section near King Pt.
Danny enjoying the scrambling.
Frank enjoying the scrambling.
Most of the hike was along the tundra on beautiful and gradual ridges
Near Adelie Pt looking out the Turnagain Arm towards the West
Plenty of mountain goats on this ridge. We must have seen 20 goats spread out all along the ridge. The goats are fairly shy, so getting close enough for a good picture is difficult.
Halfway along the ridge is the remains of a surveyors camp with lots of cable, snow fences and trash.
NE to SE panorama with Adelie Point in the center. From NE to SE are Pkea 5030, Bird Peak (partially in the clouds), Peak 4740, Gentoo peak (center distance), and Adelie Point.
NE to SE panorama taken from the summit of Gentoo Peak. On the left hand side is Raggedtop Mnt, in the center are Girdwood, Alyaska skiarea and Alyaska True Summit, and on the right hand side is the inner parts of Turnagain Arm and the areas around Portage and Placer Valleys.