Sugarloaf.

There is a mountain in the distant hills of Denali known as Sugarloaf. The mountains jolly name does not do justice to its harsh nature. The following is our adventure to the top.

Fantastic views

About halfway up we took a break to enjoy the scenery.

An anonymous couple

Victory. The top was cold. High winds and frigid temperatures.

A mark of victory.

down the valley from the top.

miles of mountains in the distance.

on top of the world 3.0

...and 3.1

the sun breaking through the clouds on the descent.

And so yet another mountain lies victim to our bootheels. Where to next?

Reed Lakes

The Reed Lakes Trailhead. We hit this trail at about seven P.M. one night after work.

Looking back at the pass. Beaver ponds and an old mining ghost town.

Ashley resting briefly and gazing back on the trail.

The first of the two lakes. We pose for a timed photo. Don't laugh. These lakes were pretty awesome though. Very peaceful and beautiful. We were the only ones who dared brave the weather so we found ourselves alone. I have heard this area near Hatcher's pass described as, "Where God lives." Blasphemy? maybe, but still, the reed lakes hike is pretty sweet.

A waterfall between the two lakes. This place felt very mysterious and middle-earthly. I was literally scanning the countryside for orcs and hobbits.
The lower lake from a higher view.

We camped out at the upper lake. For lack of a better word I will just say... Awesome.

This was our last adventure with Mel's tent. Thanks mel.

Simply adorable.

One last picture before we retired for the evening.

We were lucky to have very little rain on our first day hiking up to the lakes but we woke up to a serious rainstorm and made our way as quickly as possible back down to the truck.

The Harding Ice fields

The Harding Icefields is one of my favorite hikes in Alaska. Ash and I hitchiked to the trailhead one day in early June.

Exit Glacier

A good majority of this hike was covered in snow. Ash prefers it this way.


These are the ice fields. Still covered in snow this time of year.

The two of us. Chipper as ever.

Pretty awesome views all around.

I did this hike last year and carved my initials in the cabin. Very exciting.

I would like to title this photo "on top of the world"

Ashley in a stance of triumph with the icefields behind

one of our failed attempts to take a timed photo.

Sharp rocks... not for me.

Anyways we had a good time skiing our way down the snowy slopes. I lost my jacket (it was later returned to me by miracle). But it was a pretty awesome time.

Crow Pass: Another epic hiking trip

After a very intense drive in the van, down the Seward Highway, in a pretty killer rainstorm, Ashley, Tyler, and I commenced our 24 mile journey from Girdwood to Eagle River. The first few miles were up a steep rocky slope but we climbed on upward, toward the clouds. Rusted metal. Relic of the mining era.

It seemed we were hiking into a strange wilderness, higher and higher into the misty mountains. Ashley and Tyler on the trail ahead.

Tyler pauses to reflect, quite at home in this rocky wasteland.

We made it up to the pass only to find that the steady rain had turned into steady snow. Had the gang crossed the Threshhold into the land of Narnia? I called upon the Christmas Goose just in case. Keep in mind this is Summer time. Mid June.

Luckily we were the only ones who dared the traverse this evening and we found the cabin vacant and welcoming.

This Ptarmagin flew in from the blinding snowstorm right into Tyler.

Three adventurers.

The tunnel to the John.

When you gotta go....

Day 2 A picture stop at the Glacier.

Across the Gulch. We spotted 3 black bears on the hills. Bad Ass.

God Bless 'Merca.

A fine bear proof food hang. Like a boss.

Tyler's moustache is coming along quite nicely. Quite a fierce creature when paired with the monkey man jacket.

Enjoying a fine meal.

I think this picture speaks for itself. But if you must know, I was defending against the black bear that met us head on, on the trail.

Luckily there was a naturally formed bridge accompanied by a rope to cross this river. How convenient.

Eagle river overlook.

One of two bull moose seen on this adventure.

And thus we end our Crow Pass Adventure. Til next time...