Independence Mine at Hatcher's Pass
I spent most of the day hiking in Hatcher’s Pass. The weather was mostly cloudy with periods of light overcast and filtered sunshine. It’s definitely cooler because of the clouds, but perfect for hiking (and still no rain!).
The primary attraction at Hatcher’s Pass (elevation 3500 feet) is the old Independence Mine, a gold mining site that was active in the 30′s and 40′s and eventually closed for good in 1951. I would have enjoyed this visit no matter where the site was located but, as a bonus, the site is in the mountains with incredible views and hiking trails all around. I took one of the trails (Gold Cord Trail) up a steep mountain slope through a massive boulder field to a beautiful lake that overlooked the mine site below. It was one of the best hikes I’ve ever done (easily in my “top five” list).
The next day, I took a short drive to the Bodenburg Butte hiking trail, a moderately difficult climb to the top of a butte. The 360-degree views were excellent! On the way up the trail I kept hearing an intermittent sound that was like a drag strip in the distance. When I got to the top, I could finally see the source of the noise in the valley below; there was a drag strip in the distance (Labor Day races at North Star Speedway).
This really was an incredible way to enjoy the natural beauty of Alaska.
Grant Dufrer