Hike 11: Salmon Creek Dam, Juneau (August 26)

In a effort to do some last minute training before Peru, my coworker-friend and I opted for a quick Sunday hike, before an evening flight. Given the time constraint, I picked out two hikes for us: Herbert Glacier and Salmon Creek. I was personally learning towards going on Herbert Glacier Trail, but my roommate convinced me otherwise based on the significance of the dam. I have wandered up the trail several times to Salmon Creek Dam, but always turned around. So, I'm counting this one in the 30 new hikes.

Salmon Creek Dam was built in 1914, and at the time was a "marvel of engineering of the time" it was the first constant angle arch variable radius dam in the world. The history, theory, and design can be easily read on the Wikipedia page instead of me bumbling through a reexplanation. It was built the the Alaska-Gastineau Mining Company to provide electricity for the mining needs. It still produces electricity and is a source of drinking water. Because of the engineering marvel that is sitting in our back yard that I haven't taken the time to visit in 8 years of Juneau-residency, it was decided that we would do the Salmon Creek Dam Trail.

Salmon Creek Trail is ranked as moderate, and is reasonable flat with the exception of the first quarter mile(ish) and the last bit that goes up several sets of stairs to the Dam. And honestly, when we got to the top and found the platform above the alpine, it felt like we had left Juneau and had been transported somewhere else.

Lunch at the end, with a view. 

Dam on the right. 

And because it's my favorite joke... 

What did the fish say when he ran in to the wall? 

A: Dam!

Hike 10: Verstovia/Picnic Rock; Sitka, AK

I travel for work a lot, so I have been trying to incorporate hikes while on work trips. So, on a day trip to Sitka, the meetings ended early, I spent the afternoon doing another hike with a teacher-friend. And, because I have an iphone and apple is great with planned obsolescence in the version of an inefficient battery, my phone died so I only got a couple of photos.



With a plane to catch in the evening, we booked it. Verstovia is just south of the main town area and the start of the trail is next to someone's house. If the sign wasn't there and if I didn't have someone who knew the trail, I don't think I would have found the trail head.

The trail is well marked and is a few switch backs. You gain elevation quickly, and it's worth it at the top.

So, for the name... Verstovia is the name of the entire mountain. The trail leads to an amazing look out point, which is the natural turn around. That spot is called Picnic Rock. Above it is a pointy, rocky peak that is called "Arrowhead." Altogether is Verstovia. After scrambling to the top and struggling and feeling tired, we turned around and I went to the airport.

Carved in to some of the steps: Mount Verstovia

The last few steps to Picnic Rock.

View from the top. 

Hike 9: Angel Rocks, Fairbanks, AK (July 28)

This hike was a little more difficult than I would like to admit. It wasn't very long, but maybe it was the heat, the different air in Fairbanks, or that it was after work with Fairbanks coworkers, but I'm glad I had lots of water and my hiking poles.

Angle Rocks Trail starts on Chena Hot Springs Road (about 49 miles out of Fairbanks) - almost all the way out there, and if you're doing the long version, you can end at Chena after a 7 mile hike. The short version is 3.5 mile loop. (For more accurate location information, this is a good spot to look.)

The trail starts out along the river, and then heads up towards the Angel Rocks which are granite outcrops and of course, we had to scramble up on top of them. I'll be honest, I was a little nervous climbing up on them, because if I turned around to look behind me, it was probably about a 600 ft drop, without anything to catch me or prevent serious injury or death. But Mike got up there, so I could too, right? And there's that saying about being outside of your comfort zone, but the limitations are if you fall off and die, that might be a little too far outside the comfort zone.

Turns out, everything was fine, and we scrambled down the rocks a less scary way than we came up.

After scrambling around the rocks, we began the hike down and took our time eating blueberries and keeping an eye out for bears.

Looking up from the bluff. 

View from Angel Rocks. 

The hiking trio! It was warm.