Upper Winner Creek
I was going to do Virgin Creek Falls, but it wasn't a long enough hike for my purposes this day.
I decided on Upper Winner Creek.
I've done lower plenty of times.
Sean and Chris were kayaking Glacier Creek.
They put in on Crow Creek Road and the takeout was at a little park in Girdwood.
After dropping the boys off at the put in, I drove to Aleyska Resort.
I parked the car and got going.
I was hoping to make it out to Berry Pass, but I wasn't sure if I would have enough time.
Berry Pass is roughly 7.4 miles from the Winner Creek Trail head at the hotel.
I knew I wanted to take a bunch of photos too and that always slows me down.
This is about 1.3 miles in and is snow/ice on the boardwalk. I'm not sure how familiar you are with walking on this type of surface, but it is slippery!
So slippery in fact, that on my way back, I fell and scuffed up my knee and my right side (broken collar bone side) did not enjoy that!
To this point from the hotel, is 1.4 miles in.
There were a lot more boardwalk/steps than I would have guessed for the upper trail.
Once I got here, I wasn't sure if that was a snow pass or an avalanche.
I approached with caution.
I believe this was just a snow pass.
It was pretty easy to walk across.
There was no doubt in my mind that this was an avalanche.
I passed at least four more of these starting just before mile 3 and going to mile 3.35.
Once I hit 3.35 miles, I hit the time that I needed to think about turning around to get back to the guys in time.
So I turn around.
Then my cell phone goes off.
It's Sean.
They are done kayaking!
Ha! So, I run/walk back to the trail head.
This probably factored into my falling at the boardwalk portion.
It doesn't look like anything, but yeouch!
I always have to stop at the big butt tree!
I made it back in pretty good timing and head over to the guys.
They had been there awhile.
Sean and Chris tell me they surprised a bull moose while on the river!
Yikes!
They both said that they would do Glacier Creek again.
Both said the water was really cold.
Anyway, that is Upper Winner Creek.
I hope to back at some point in the next few weeks and make it past Berry Pass and maybe even as far as Rosehip Creek.
While on trail I saw lots of evidence of moose activity (scat and tracks), but I never did see a Moose.
To be honest, I think it makes sense to have someone with you if you are going to a place called Berry Pass (could definitely be a bear haven).
This view! Amazing!
The Jordan's.
I decided on Upper Winner Creek.
I've done lower plenty of times.
Sean and Chris were kayaking Glacier Creek.
They put in on Crow Creek Road and the takeout was at a little park in Girdwood.
After dropping the boys off at the put in, I drove to Aleyska Resort.
I parked the car and got going.
I was hoping to make it out to Berry Pass, but I wasn't sure if I would have enough time.
Berry Pass is roughly 7.4 miles from the Winner Creek Trail head at the hotel.
I knew I wanted to take a bunch of photos too and that always slows me down.
This is about 1.3 miles in and is snow/ice on the boardwalk. I'm not sure how familiar you are with walking on this type of surface, but it is slippery!
So slippery in fact, that on my way back, I fell and scuffed up my knee and my right side (broken collar bone side) did not enjoy that!
To this point from the hotel, is 1.4 miles in.
There were a lot more boardwalk/steps than I would have guessed for the upper trail.
Once I got here, I wasn't sure if that was a snow pass or an avalanche.
I approached with caution.
I believe this was just a snow pass.
It was pretty easy to walk across.
There was no doubt in my mind that this was an avalanche.
I passed at least four more of these starting just before mile 3 and going to mile 3.35.
Once I hit 3.35 miles, I hit the time that I needed to think about turning around to get back to the guys in time.
So I turn around.
Then my cell phone goes off.
It's Sean.
They are done kayaking!
Ha! So, I run/walk back to the trail head.
This probably factored into my falling at the boardwalk portion.
It doesn't look like anything, but yeouch!
I always have to stop at the big butt tree!
I made it back in pretty good timing and head over to the guys.
They had been there awhile.
Sean and Chris tell me they surprised a bull moose while on the river!
Yikes!
They both said that they would do Glacier Creek again.
Both said the water was really cold.
Anyway, that is Upper Winner Creek.
I hope to back at some point in the next few weeks and make it past Berry Pass and maybe even as far as Rosehip Creek.
While on trail I saw lots of evidence of moose activity (scat and tracks), but I never did see a Moose.
To be honest, I think it makes sense to have someone with you if you are going to a place called Berry Pass (could definitely be a bear haven).
This view! Amazing!
The Jordan's.
Comments