Arctic Valley Climb

Tuesday, after Vacation Bible School was over, Pastor Steve invited me to go on a hike. I, of course, was delighted to have such an opportunity as I am really getting into hiking. We took a brief drive up the highway and went through part of Fort Richardson Army Base.

In order to get to the trail head, one must travel up the mountain with multiple switchbacks on a road that turns from pavement to gravel. The hike itself is a two mile round trip hike with a 2000ft elevation change.

At the beginning of the hike, we were already above the tree line and the only thing we found growing were little flowers, and a bunch of blueberry bushes that have not yet produced fruit. This hike was a much gentler hike than my climb to Twin Peaks, as far as elevation is concerned. There was a constant incline but it was nothing like what I experience at Eklutna one week earlier.

The beginning of the hike.

Pastor Steve, on our way up...it was misting

It took approximately an hour and a half to reach the top, a place called the Saddle. Along the way, I saw many interesting things. One of the first things I saw was the ground squirrels. These reminded me a lot of the Prairie Dogs back in South Dakota. They burrow into the ground and when intruders are around they stand on their hind legs—much like a Prairie Dog.

Ground Squirrel

Another interesting thing that I saw was “Site Summit” which is the old Nike Missle site. Site Summit is the only intact Nike missile base in Alaska. Built in 1959 and active for 20 years, it protected Anchorage from possible Russian bomber attack along with several other sites.

Site Summit Missile Site.

The Missile Site

 The view from the top was well worth the climb. The climb was not as strenuous as I was expecting and the payoff was gorgeous. From the top we could see Eagle River Valley, Eagle Lake and Symphony Lake. From the top to the bottom there was, what Pastor Steve estimated to be, about a fifteen degree temperature change. At the trailhead the thermometer in the car read 53 degrees and at the top there was snow and it was much cooler. I was glad it was cooler out.  When hiking, one can really break a sweat so the cooler temperature is much appreciated.

Eagle River Valley

Eagle River Valley

 Click on the video below for the panoramic view from the top.

When we arrived at the top we decided not to continue up Rendezvous Peak or Mount Gordon Lyon because there was a great deal of cloud cover and climbing any higher would not give us a better view but rather more clouds.

On the drive back down the winding road, we made a pit stop along the way to look over Ship Creek and all the lush green forestry that was growing within the valley. We also stopped to overlook the city of Anchorage. It was beautiful to see, as the sun was setting, and the clouds had lifted enough to capture the moment.

Looking from the top down into Ship Creek Valley.

Ship Creek Valley

Anchorage!

Anchorage

I continue to be amazed by the beauty here in Alaska. God created such a beautiful place, a place that I get to experience for an entire year. I continue to count all the ways that I am so entirely blessed to witness God’s handiwork as it unfolds in front of my eyes.

“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.” (Psalm 95:1‑7)