Alaska (mainland in inuit language) is by far the largest state of the USA. It is three times bigger than continental France. Alaska is one of two U.S. states not bordered by another state, Hawaii being the other. The state is bordered by the Yukon Territory and British Columbia, Canada, to the east, the Gulf of Alaska and the Pacific Ocean to the south, the Bering Sea, Bering Strait, and Chukchi Sea to the west and the Arctic Ocean to the north.
The best way to visit Alaska is to get on a trail. More than three quarters of Alaska is land locked up as parks, wildlife preserves and national forests. Alaska is also home of the highest peak in North America: Mt McKinley (6194 m).
We spent August 1999 hiking in two parks: Denali, to watch Mt McKinley, then Wrangell-St Elias.
1 – Arrival at Anchorage
Anchorage is blooming in August
First encounter of the bear type!
2 – Little Coal Creek Trail in Denali park
Denali park: Little coal creek trail
In Denali park, Little Coal Creek trail is a 30 mile trail famous for its breathtaking views of Mt McKinley. For days, we followed it through without getting a single glimpse of the mountain! It’s only when we boarded a car on the next day after the trek to leave the park that we saw Mt McKinley top out of the clouds!
Watching scores of red salmons (August is salmon run time)
My largest kitchen ever!
Picking up blue berries in my largest garden ever!
This bathroom offers only cold showers!
Hopping from lake to lake. I’m glad to know that Alaska includes about three million lakes, so I’m not done!
Skinny lake the well named!
Delicious blueberries will be again on the menu…
Opening a passageway through the boulders …
… and another one for climbers!
Some modestly call these boulders « Stonehenge »
Who said it’s an easy trail?
A painter’s dream!
You bet I’m tired!
Looks as big as Ayers Rock… but greener!
Did you see how BIG is my backpack?
A yellow living creature matching a yellow lichen background, some call it mimetism…
Are you sure we have to go on?
After four days of hiking along this trail, all we can do is pointing at Mt McKinley ghost, as it never showed up!
Is this ground squirrel (marmot) trying to console us?
This is for sure, these flowers are!
3 – Wrangell-St Elias National Park
Wrangell-St Elias Nat. Park sprawls across over 13 million acres in the south central region of Alaska. It abuts against Canada’s Kluane Nat. Park and together their 20 million acres represent one of the largest wilderness area left in the world.
The road to McCarthy, the main access to Wrangell-St Elias NP, begins with a highway sign informing you that the bridge at the end is washed out. Then it warns you to watch out for loose spikes. And finally it sends you off with this blessing: Drive at your own risk! At mile 60, the road abruptly stops. Over the Kennicott river, a footbridge leads you to McCarthy, a hamlet with a year-round population of 8 to 12 people, depending on who’s staying for the winter.
When we hitchhiked back to Anchorage, we met Malcom who drove us to McCarthy where he owned a cabin and a piece of land. This is where we had our base (on his land) for several weeks while we trekked for a few days at a time, along the Root glacier or the Bonanza mine for exemple (the world’s richest copper deposit ever found).
At McCarthy general store
At McCarthy country store
We shared a bottle of wine with Malcom
Along Root glacier
Along Root glacier
Walking and sliding on Root glacier
Breakfast by Root glacier
On this morning, before having breakfast, we had to wait until a black bear would clear the way so that we could retreive our food bag hidden (as every night) on top of a tree!
One of the bears we met along the trails…
The trail to Bonanza copper mine, with Kennicott and Root glaciers in the background
Above the tree line!
It looks like a volcano, but it’s only erosion!
Copper ore is everywhere…
On top of Bonanza peak!
A view from Bonanza peak
Near Glennallen airport, just before flying back to Anchorage and the civilization, I found my home!
OVERSEAS 
Thanks for sharing those nice pictures and some info about Alaska. As a big fan of Alaska, I just have to mention two little inaccuracies:
1. As far as I know, the word Alaska is from Aleut « alaxsxaq », lit. « the object toward which the action of the sea is directed. »
2. There’s a typo in « Wrengell-St Elias National Park ». It should be « Wrangell-St Elias National Park »
Reading this makes me envious and wanting to book my next trip « north to the future » (hopefully next year).
J’aimeJ’aime
Thanks for the remarks Michael.
I hope this late you’ve been enjoying Alaska! And if not, it’s surely not too late.
J’aimeJ’aime
I love these pictures, you have such a fun sense of humor too! Alaska, that’s added to my list of things I’d love to see one day!!!
J’aimeJ’aime
wow,simplement woooow,Tres belle,super belle la ville.
ca m’inspire beaucoup a traver les photos.
J’aimeJ’aime
c’est magnifique les vues.A+
J’aimeJ’aime
This picture reminds me of this beautiful film. ‘PS I Love You’ a film by Richard LaGravenese Hilary Swank. I look forward to one day be on the Bonanza Peak. Hmmm… Bonanza Peak, one of the northernmost named peaks in the Spring Mountains and is the 5th highest mountain in southern Nevada. Those pictures are fabulous.
J’aimeJ’aime
Alaska, that’s added to my list of things I’d love to see one day!!!
J’aimeJ’aime