9/12/08 – 9/13/08 Wasilla – Palmer – Sheep Mountain - Thompson Pass
Having made plans for lunch with a family friend, we headed south toward Wasilla. Since we arrived early, we stopped by Lake Lucille Park and were able to see the news crews setting up for an interview with Sarah Palin at her house across the lake. We had a lovely and informative meal with Denise, an Alaska resident since 1968, who was able to give us some insight into the culture and attitudes of the Alaskan population. We continue to be impressed by the work ethic and variety of jobs held simultaneously by most of the residents.
From Wasilla, we drove east on the Glenn Highway through the Matanuska-Susitna valley toward Palmer. Palmer was the site for an experimental New Deal project that established the Matanuska Colony, culling 203 families from Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota to form an agricultural community. The failure rate of the colony was high, but some families stayed and Palmer grew into a lively well-planned residential and agricultural community. Palmer is also home to the Alaska State Fair, which has made world records with the largest cabbage, radish, spinach and lettuce due to the rich soil and long days of the summer growing season in the valley.
Continuing along the Glenn Highway, we were amazed by the majestic scenery, surrounded by the Chugach and Talkeetna mountain ranges and the glacial formations. We stopped at the Sheep Mountain Lodge for some (excellent!) homemade pie and were fortunate to get free camping recommendations from the friendly waitress. We settled on the Sheep Mountain Airport Road “site” for the night.
Sunshine greeted us in the morning which inspired us to use the many available hiking trails maintained by local residents and employees of the Sheep Mountain Lodge. We chose to do an approximate 3 mile loop of the Corkscrew, Thriller and main trails and were rewarded with sweeping views of the snowy peaked Chugach mountains and sheep perched atop the cliffs of the aptly named Sheep Mountain.
Getting back on the road, we continued on through the spectacular valley, passing glaciers and the many moose chasers out for a Saturday hunt. At the Glennallen junction, we headed south on the Richardson Highway toward Valdez. We soon encountered the perennial rain that is often settled in the region. However, we found the Thompson Pass area to be one of the most beautiful areas of the state, full of lush greenery, steep cliffs, rushing waterfalls and spectacular jagged peaks. The Worthington and Valdez glaciers (on opposite sides of the pass) are both formidable and stunning and well worth a stop.
Chugach Mountains
Sheep Mountain
Worthington Glacier
Bridal Veil Falls
Valdez Glacier
From Wasilla, we drove east on the Glenn Highway through the Matanuska-Susitna valley toward Palmer. Palmer was the site for an experimental New Deal project that established the Matanuska Colony, culling 203 families from Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota to form an agricultural community. The failure rate of the colony was high, but some families stayed and Palmer grew into a lively well-planned residential and agricultural community. Palmer is also home to the Alaska State Fair, which has made world records with the largest cabbage, radish, spinach and lettuce due to the rich soil and long days of the summer growing season in the valley.
Continuing along the Glenn Highway, we were amazed by the majestic scenery, surrounded by the Chugach and Talkeetna mountain ranges and the glacial formations. We stopped at the Sheep Mountain Lodge for some (excellent!) homemade pie and were fortunate to get free camping recommendations from the friendly waitress. We settled on the Sheep Mountain Airport Road “site” for the night.
Sunshine greeted us in the morning which inspired us to use the many available hiking trails maintained by local residents and employees of the Sheep Mountain Lodge. We chose to do an approximate 3 mile loop of the Corkscrew, Thriller and main trails and were rewarded with sweeping views of the snowy peaked Chugach mountains and sheep perched atop the cliffs of the aptly named Sheep Mountain.
Getting back on the road, we continued on through the spectacular valley, passing glaciers and the many moose chasers out for a Saturday hunt. At the Glennallen junction, we headed south on the Richardson Highway toward Valdez. We soon encountered the perennial rain that is often settled in the region. However, we found the Thompson Pass area to be one of the most beautiful areas of the state, full of lush greenery, steep cliffs, rushing waterfalls and spectacular jagged peaks. The Worthington and Valdez glaciers (on opposite sides of the pass) are both formidable and stunning and well worth a stop.
Chugach Mountains
Sheep Mountain
Worthington Glacier
Bridal Veil Falls
Valdez Glacier
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