The BoreTide

Leaving Anchorage and traveling south along the Turagain arm Northwest of the gulf of Alaska

Not knowing what to expect we looked and waited for the Bore Tide

The boar tide is a rush of seawater that returns to a shallow and narrowing inlet from the broad bay.

We were lucky enough to catch it during the spring tide, created by the full moon

While we waited. Beau and I took some time to walk out on the flats at Beluga point.  

We obviously didn't read this post prior to checking things out.

Never walk out onto the mud flats. People have died by getting stuck in the glacial silt and being drowned by the incoming tide!

We waited

McCarthy, Kennecott and the Root Glacier

Up early, a cup of joe, hash and eggs with a splash of Willards

and we're ready to head back over to McCarthy to catch the shuttle to Kennecott

Kennecott is an abandoned copper mining camp that is managed by the national parks system.

And with 14 levels it's the tallest wooden structure in North America

The mill town started in the early 1900's and was at it's peak in the 20's and 30's

 

From town we hiked another 2 miles back to the Root Glacier in the heart of the 

Wrangle-St. Elias National Park

We followed the trail as it winds along the moraine to the toe of the glacier. 

The trail crossed amazon creek

Beau crossing the creek

Beau on the toe

We made it!  90 % of the people who make the hike back to the glacier spend less than a half hour on it.

Because it's tough walking on the glacier without the proper gear.

Although we didn't bring our crampons we did have my set of hiking poles that allowed us to explore the back regions of the glacier

 

We deiced to hike up glacier to explore the back regions and the possibilities of finding undiscovered moulins and azure blue pools 

But first a cocktail to celebrate checking another box on our bucket list

Cheers!

As the ice gives way to melting water, holes know as moulins form

We wanted to take a dip but taking a sip seemed like a safer option.

Getting off the glacier, we hiked the lateral moraine, ice covered with glacially transported rock back to the trail back to Kennecott and then McCarthy

McCarthy has gone to the dogs

And we were fine with that

a show 

Another band

and a happy hike back to camp

McCarthy

 Located in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve,  McCarthy the once thriving copper town is a cool Alaskan town of 34 people.

We made camp for the next two days across the Kennecott river.  A nice break from a the road time we've been putting in the last few days.

But to get to McCarthy, Kennecott and the glacier we had to cross the footbridge

We were excited to check out the town and have a beer and pizza

We kicked back and listened to this Canadian guy sing and tell stories

Celebrating the start of our Alaskan adventure with a jello shot with pop-rocks!

Back to camp.  Tomorrow we hike the Root Glacier

The Yukon and on to ALASKA!

Leaving Dawson Creek in  British Colombia  we drove the Alcan Highway to the Yukon then on to Alaska

But before we left the Yukon we had to stop at the Sign Post Forest at Lake Watson.

Beau's plate along with the others in the crew, ended up in the front row, near the bottom just to the right of Beau

I'll buy a Sour Toe Cocktail for any friends who snap a pic the plates.

The Crew

The Alcan highway was constructed in 1942 and the word is that grandpa John Becker worked on it back in the day and that's when he shot his Bull Moose.  It's 1500 miles to Fairbanks. 

Alaska was granted statehood in 1959.  Beau has been planning this trip sense 2014.  Thanks for taking me along!

About7 years ago Beau moved in with Comstock but BJ was on his first Alaskan trip on Adventure Bikes.  They planned the route for the next few days 

I'm pretty sure this won't be Beau's last trip North.

On to McCarthy  day 7

But I'm going to jump a head to The Denali highway

Driving West we got our first look at Mt. Denali the highest mountain peak in North America

with a summit of 20,310 feet.

Next thing on our bucket list was to drive the Danali highway and explore Roosevelt lake.

This was actually day 13 of our trip

 

It wasn't easy but we made it to Roosevelt lake.  When we reached the lake Beau kicked his shoes off and worked his way to the upper end of the lake.  I worked my way down to the beaver dam at the lower end of the lake. I caught some trout and a grayling and Beau caught some as well.

Beau took a refreshing dip to celebrate.

We camped at the State Park near Delta Junction