Wrangell - St Elias National Park

Here's some interesting facts.  The largest national park in the United States is the Wrangell - St Elias.  Between it and two national parks in Canada, it is part of the largest national park system in the world.  You can hike it from south to north, from the Pacific Ocean to the Arctic Ocean, and only cross one road, the Alaska Highway near Tok Alaska.  There are only two roads that lead into the park, the Nebesna Road and the McCarthy Road.  Both Roads just touch the very edges of the park, are about 60 miles long and mostly gravel.  

The last time I drove along the Nebesna Road two years ago, I wasn't able to see the mountains.  This time some did show themselves.  

The 60 mile gravel McCarthy Road leads to the small town of McCarthy, my Mom's maiden name by the way.  Near McCarthy is the old Kennekot Copper Mine, which the National Park Service is renovating.  

A little more than a two mile hike from the mining complex is the Root Glacier.  It was one of the highlights from my last trip and I wasn't able to see the mountains then. So far this year it again is a highlight.  All that gravel in this picture is part of the glacial morain.  Just under the gravel, its solid ice!

For me, being able to walk out and on the glacier for miles is just a real delight.  And this year I can see the mountains from where it originates!

Here's a lake formed on top of the glacier.

And creeks formed in the ice from the lake's outflow.  The creek flows for a ways, then drops down a waterfall into another crack in the ice.  Going to the Root Glacier was well worth the 120 mile motocycle ride dirt, even though half of it on the way back was through a thunder storm.

I camped just a little south of the town of Chitina.  Near the end of the road there is this gravel parking area above the Copper River.  

Like last time, I arrived just as the Salmon were running up the river.  These Alaska fishermen are nuts.  You can only "Subsistance" fish the Copper River with dip nets.  There's a small charter operation at the end of the road who take folks down river in small boats.  Each fisherman is allowed 30 salmon, which took maybe 3 or 4 hours to catch.  Most fisherman though take atv's and follow the old railroad grade downriver to dip net from the cliffs.  Most arrive after midnight, unload their atv's, nets, etc and head right out.  I was able to sleep through most of it, except for the last night when some decided to unload right next to my motorhome, blocking me in.  

Nearby is Liberty Creek Falls. 

Its reallly a pretty spot with a small state park campgound at the base of the falls.