Day 59 - Glennallen, AK

Today is all about the drive from one town to the next. We have not done that in awhile. It's also a bitter sweet trip. Sweet because it's getting us to another new place to explore. But on the other hand it's sad because we say goodbye to our friends and travelling companions as they make their own way back home.

We left Palmer this morning around 8:45 with our destination being Glennallen approximately 155 miles away. The trip is going to be slow since we climb to 3100 feet then drop back down to around 1200 feet as the road winds around the mountains and rivers.

Glennallen is known for its outstanding scenery. Its located in the Copper River Basin at the junction of the Glenn and Richardson Highways. It is also the gateway to Wrangell St. Elias National Park the largest National Park in the U.S.

In 1898 the area saw an influx of gold seekers heading for the Klondike. This route was chosen in an effort to avoid tariffs assessed by the Canadian Government. Their effort failed as they had to enter Canada to get to Dawson.

Fireweed just coming into bloom

Stopping for a scenery break

The Matanuska Glacier is the largest glacier in Alaska that can be reached by vehicle. It originated from within the Chugach Mountain Range. It's approximately 26 miles long and 4 miles wide at its terminus. About 10,000 years ago the Matanuska Glacier began it's retreat to it's present day location. It has not change much in mass for almost two decades. It is classified as a valley glacier meaning a body of solid ice flows like a river under its own weight through an existing valley. Matanuska Glacier is considered a weather hole, meaning cold air from the glacier forces warm air upward towards the mountain peaks. This results in sunny skies and more favorable weather than the surrounding areas.

Matanuska Glacier

Note the tire skid marks on the road

Copper River Valley Mountains

Wrangell Mountains in the background 

We arrived at Caribou Lodge and RV Park got checked in and set up. Our fridge totally went down in Palmer so I had to go out and buy a Yeti cooler. They work fantastic but I know we will lose most of our meat. So we decided to make hamburgers for all six of us. We had great fun our last night together.