Alaska LifeNote: Kennecott Mine is an abandoned mining camp inside of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Closed in 1938, it produced almost $200 million worth of copper, and continues to be a landmark community (and some say a haunted place). From Anchorage, you drive north along the Glen Highway to Glennallen at Mile 187. Then you go south on the Richardson Highway until you reach Mile 82, where you follow the 33 mile Edgerton Highway to the town of Chitna on the Copper River. Next you follow the unpaved McCarthy Road for 48 miles, cross a footbridge and walk about a mile to McCarthy, and then it is another 4.5 miles to Kennecott Mine. Shuttles, lodgings, transportation, including skipping the road and flying in, and tours are available.
Sadly, Alces ended up not making it into Kennecott. After at least two hours of driving at barely 15 mph on an extremely bumpy road, he made it to the Kuskulana bridge (about 1/3 of the way) and decided he didn't have enough food and water for another 3 hours into McCarthy (and another 5 out). But, it wasn't a total bust - Alces enjoyed the beautiful scenery along the way.
Here at the Wrangell-St.Elias Visitor Center, I see evidence that I might be the runt of the litter.
Here I am hitting the Glen Highway in my Alaskan chariot - the Subaru.
What a beautiful rest stop - thats the Matanuska River down there.
I'm checking out the majestic Matanuska Glacier
This is what they call a pig and they are sent down the Alaska Pipeline for cleaning and inspection duties (Oink oink).
Yikes....a bear was here.
The Worthington Glacier - you can see how high it used to be on the left there.
Can you find me here at Horsetail Falls near Valdez?
Here is a view of the Copper River and all of the fish wheels catching the world renowned salmon that swim up it.
I got a closer inspection of this glacier, as well as its erosional power.
This is the entrance to the McCarthy Road which is 62 miles to Kennecott, the abandoned (and some say haunted) mine.
Here is the Kuskulana bridge (about 1/3 of the way) where I turned around, making it a BUST! :(
And finally, I had a picnic lunch near the beautiful, thundering Liberty Falls.
A replica wooden fish wheel used on the Copper River.
So I turned are day around and hit the saloon. (See how well it has held up over the years.)
I decided to get out of the car and get some fresh air on a short hike.
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