Mat-Su Valley (Matsuka Valley)

Trapper Creek, Alaska

100 miles from Denali National Park

June 19, 2016

Driving on the Glenn Highway to Palmer AK…now this is a must highway to drive while in Alaska.  On our way to Denali.

Talkeetna Glacier

 The road is now paved and not too many frost heaves.  You can tell this is a popular visitor spot for airplane tours, rafting, canoeing, fishing, ziplines, glacier climbs and hiking.  The Black Spruce still have the “drunken forest” look ( roots hit thermafrost and trees get all bent up).  The highway is lined with lovely wildflowers, again a reminder that Spring is just here in middle of June.  The weather is changing and the forecast for Denali is 3 days of rain :( Glad I was able to get my beautiful picture of Denali as we were traveling on the Top of the World.

This was a day of Glaciers.  The Tallinn, Matanuska, Talkeetna and the Nelchine.  Say that fast three times.  Lots of very nice homes sprawled along the glacier ice fields and various lakes and rivers. During the Depression, Pres. Roosevelt colonized this region with farmers from the Midwestern States, bringing hundreds of farming families into the Mat-Su Valley.  They were given 40 acres of land. You can still see many of the old barns, called the Colony Barns. Pretty cool sight.  One of the exciting things you can do here is “Canoe/cabins.”  You take your sleeping bag and pad, get into your canoe and go for 14 days staying in backcountry cabins with rustic bed frames and woodturning stoves.  Sounds like something we would like.  

Did a quick visit and tour to the Musk-Ox farm.  Bought some quviut that I hope to knit up into a very nice cowl or something like that?  The quviut is collected by combing these 600 lb shaggy Ice Age survivors ONCE a year in the spring.  It is the underwool of the musk-oxen. 8 times warmer than wool and can be washed in any temperature of water!  Bit expensive because this wool is in rather short supply and somewhat difficult to recover!!

Arrived in Palmer, AK with a bit of a culture shock.  Lots of people, normal highways, fast food places….but definitely ALASKA all the way.  Dirty trucks, canoes, boats, and ATV’s.  Left Palmer quickly after getting fuel, groceries and liquor for our 4 day stay in Denali.  

Bog Dog! (Bodie loved the bogs)

Stayed in Trappers Creek for the night before we head out for a short drive into Denali.  Had to make these reservations 6 months in advance (sort of like our Yosemite ordeals).  The weather should change near the end of our 4 days here.  Let’s hope.