Alaska/Canada 2022-19: McCarthy
July 26-29, 2022
We camped for 5 wonderful days on the banks of the Kennicott River at Base Camp Kennicott, at the end of the 60-mile-long dirt McCarthy Rd.
From our campsite, we could see Kennicott Glacier and Kennicott Mill Town.
From the campground, it's a 1/2-mile walk across the Kennicott River footbridge and up the dirt road to McCarthy. From McCarthy, a free shuttle takes folks the 5 miles to Kennicott.
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We crossed the footbridge to McCarthy at least once each day, sometimes having to press ourselves to the sides to allow four wheelers to pass.
Best to carry bear spray when walking in Alaska, especially in wooded areas. Even in Alaska's populated areas, nature is in charge.
McCarthy, originally named Shushanna Junction, grew out of the need for Kennicott's miners for recreation and goods not available in Kennicott. Though it's within Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve, there are privately-owned homes and businesses. The State of Alaska owns the McCarrthy Airport and the University of Alaska holds some land as well. The state, university, and Ahtna Native People conduct various types of environmental research in the park.
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No far down Dan Creek Ave is the Potato, where we enjoyed several meals.
With its dirt streets and wood porches, McCarthy resembles an old frontier town. It takes less than 5 minutes to walk from one end of town to the other. Down the slope at the far end, McCarthy Creek borders the town.
Along the main and side streets are old, new, and remodeled structures.
The red building in the picture above is the Old Hardware Store, which since the 1970s has housed Wrangell Mountains Center.
With a mission to promote understanding of the environment and our place in it, from roughly Memorial Day to Labor Day, the center runs residential and day programs for locals, students, scholars, and travelers.Throughout the summer there are events—storytelling, music jams, nature walks, a lecture series, art exhibits, a fundraiser run—and in winter, there arre virtual events.
The center includes Porphyry Place (porphyry: igneous rock containing crystals), a nearby cabin that serves as a concert space and study area.
The center also has demonstration gardens as part of its goal to live sustainably.
Near the turnoff from McCarthy Rd to McCarthy sit the remains of a Copper River and North Western Railway turntable.The CRNW transported copper from Kennicott to Cordova, on the Gulf of Alaska. Returning from Cordova, the engine was turned around at McCarthy to chug backwards to pushed the train up the hill to Kennicott.
More on the CRNW and Kennnicott in our next post.
We camped for 5 wonderful days on the banks of the Kennicott River at Base Camp Kennicott, at the end of the 60-mile-long dirt McCarthy Rd.
From our campsite, we could see Kennicott Glacier and Kennicott Mill Town.
Kennicott Glacier viewed from our Base Camp Kennicott campsite.
Kennicott Mill Town & footbridge to McCarthy viewed from our campsite.
From the campground, it's a 1/2-mile walk across the Kennicott River footbridge and up the dirt road to McCarthy. From McCarthy, a free shuttle takes folks the 5 miles to Kennicott.
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McCarthy-Kennicott Area, 60 miles from Chitina on the dirt McCarthy Rd.
We crossed the footbridge to McCarthy at least once each day, sometimes having to press ourselves to the sides to allow four wheelers to pass.
Walking to McCarthy.
Shortcut from road to McCarthy, which we took just once.
Best to carry bear spray when walking in Alaska, especially in wooded areas. Even in Alaska's populated areas, nature is in charge.
Sign in Kennicott when we were there. Sounds like a grizzly due to its color, but it's not. Still...
The McCarthy Museum marks the turn onto Kennicott Ave, aka Dan Creek Rd, into McCarthy.
McCarthy, originally named Shushanna Junction, grew out of the need for Kennicott's miners for recreation and goods not available in Kennicott. Though it's within Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve, there are privately-owned homes and businesses. The State of Alaska owns the McCarrthy Airport and the University of Alaska holds some land as well. The state, university, and Ahtna Native People conduct various types of environmental research in the park.
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No far down Dan Creek Ave is the Potato, where we enjoyed several meals.
The Potato
With its dirt streets and wood porches, McCarthy resembles an old frontier town. It takes less than 5 minutes to walk from one end of town to the other. Down the slope at the far end, McCarthy Creek borders the town.
Looking back up the main street from near the end of town. R: Ma Johnson's Hotel. L: Golden Saloon & Salmon & Bear Restaurant.
Waiting for the shuttle at McCarthy Center Store.
You can also take the shuttle back to Base Camp. There's a vehicle bridge downstream, as demonstrated by this humongous Mann- or Earth Mover-type RV that barely fit.
Private home. Note the snowshoes above the door, propeller blade to the left of it, & walking sticks in the left corner.
Newer private home.
Wooden sidewalks.
Home moved to a new site awaiting a foundation.
Not everything is old—this home is under construction.
And the necessary outhouse.
"You're on a road to NOWHERE. <--Residential Deadends-->. Kids & dogs at play." McCarthy has a certain flavor.
Kennicott Glacier is the backdrop to McCarthy: antique car, Lancaster backpacker hotel (red) & Golden Saloon.
Marilyn of course loved the flat bed truck cum garden.
Antique car next to truck garden.
Folks at a Wrangell Mountains Center event.
With a mission to promote understanding of the environment and our place in it, from roughly Memorial Day to Labor Day, the center runs residential and day programs for locals, students, scholars, and travelers.Throughout the summer there are events—storytelling, music jams, nature walks, a lecture series, art exhibits, a fundraiser run—and in winter, there arre virtual events.
Storytelling even at Wrangell Mountains Center in August 2022.
The center includes Porphyry Place (porphyry: igneous rock containing crystals), a nearby cabin that serves as a concert space and study area.
Inside Porphyry Place.
The center also has demonstration gardens as part of its goal to live sustainably.
Gardens at Porphyry Place.
CRNW turntable.
Near the turnoff from McCarthy Rd to McCarthy sit the remains of a Copper River and North Western Railway turntable.The CRNW transported copper from Kennicott to Cordova, on the Gulf of Alaska. Returning from Cordova, the engine was turned around at McCarthy to chug backwards to pushed the train up the hill to Kennicott.
More on the CRNW and Kennnicott in our next post.
Another great adventure story. Does the turntable still work?
ReplyDeleteThanks--it really was awesome. I still miss that area. I think I read somewhere that the turntable could be pushed around, but there is no train anymore. The rails were pulled up when Kennicott Copper Mine closed in about 1938, and the former route turned into a road--that's in our next post.
DeleteYou two are having quite a trip! We are jealous 😭... Not really, but it's great to see the photos, and the two of you look terrific. Bring us back a snowball in the freezer. Or - even better - I would prefer one that was covered by the colors of the Northern Lights!
ReplyDeleteBe safe and come home!
Dan and Sally
This is from last summer's trip--catching up on posts:-) We did love it.
DeleteI went to Kennicott and McCarthy a few years back. Absolutely loved it. I could live there (well, maybe not in winter.) Next time I see you, remind me to tell you the story of the murder that occured in McCarthy in 1983. Or, read about it on Wikipedia - but I have a spooky personal connection to the incidence.
ReplyDeleteI could live there, too. We heard about the murder--but a personal connection? Yes, we'll have to talk about that!
DeleteAs usual beautiful scenery and buildings. Love the rustic architecture...especially the inside of the buildings.
ReplyDeleteIt really was all amazing
Delete