In Valdez and the start of a new segment

Living on the Edge - of Childs Glacier, Copper River is running below it.

Hi Everyone, we are in Valdez for the afternoon - showers, laundry, some phone calls and of course a blog update. We have had some incredible weather - must be the good weather wishes from all of you. Today it is about 70 and completely clear skies - we are loving this weather. While we were in Cordova we had an overcast dry day on Monday when we drove out to the Million Dollar Bridge on the Copper River Highway and then spent some time near AND ON Childs Glacier. Yesterday was clear blue sky and warm which was perfect for our work in Alaganik Slough and along Hartney Bay. The day was topped off with a climb/hike to a view point over Sherridan and Sherman Glaciers. The ferry trip this morning was full of wildlife sightings which made up for the early morning (6am) start. There were quite a few sea otters putting on a show, killer whales, seas, some other whales (maybe minks) and possibly some dolphins. The students wrote their updates on the ferry ride from Cordova to Valdez this morning. This afternoon we go to Old Valdez to look at the remnants of the town after the 1964 earthquake and tsunami and start our trek north. Stopping at Keystone Canyon and Worthington Glaciers for some short hiking before we stop for the night at Squirrel Creek Campground. Tomorrow we head down to Chitina and the confluence Chitina and Copper River between the Chugach Range to the south and the Wrangells/St. Elias to the north. Get ready for some spectacular photos in a week or so when we get into Fairbanks around the 4th of July.

Your comments have been great, and I have been passing them on to the students! They are just as excited about the blog as you are! - jc

Karen-

Since our last update we’ve been in Cordova, which is probably one of the most beautiful places we have seen so far, everywhere you look there are flowers and lakes with the Chugach Mountains and bald eagles in the background. We went to Childs glacier and Sheridan glacier which were both amazing, the hike up Sheridan mountain was a lot of fun. It was also exciting to watch Childs glacier calving into the Copper River and listening to the thunderous crash it made as it hit the water. I loved getting stuck in mud during our walk down the river and being able to figure out the amount of uplift from the 1964 earthquake on the beach by looking at how far up the barnacles were on the rocks.

Amanda –

We have become so accustomed to beautiful mountains and swooping bald eagles that time in the van has become time to catch up on sleep. Our standards of cleanliness drop a little lower each day. Clean dishes and stainless clothing seem overrated at this point. Each day gets finer than the last. Prof. Garver says it best, “It doesn’t get any better than this”.

Rose-

As I cast for the fiftieth time out across the river clouded by glacial till, I hope that this time I will feel a bite. Ah yes, something, my line goes taught. Alas, another spinner taken by river rocks. Restringing my fishing line I figure something has got to give. The fish win again. The mosquitoes are becoming immune to Deet, my arm is sore from casting and we have to catch the ferry at 7am tomorrow. The battle may be won for tonight, but the war has just begun between me and the Alaskan King salmon run.

Brittany-

The coastlines are amazing! Best so far? Fort Abercrombie on Kodiak and the Prince Williams Sound. I think I just like water… actually, just the ocean, since at the last lake, (Lake McKinley on the Copper River) I met a leech the size of a large hamster. We aren’t on good terms.

The mountains are beautiful too. They offer those quintessential-Alaska photo opportunities Brandon is so good at catching. They’re still covered in huge amounts of snow… pretty impressive for June. I keep imagining them covered with all the 100ft of snow or so they get ever year. Ahhh! Definitely coming back here to ski! This area gets 5-7 METERS of water-equivalent precipitation per year.

High expectations for the following days: I’m still not satisfied with why the glaciers are blue, I am dying to eat more fish (I completely support Rose’s and Garver’s fishing addiction) and I am waiting to meet a bear.

P.S. I am moving to Kodiak. Think it’ll be a summer gig though since even the locals despise the winters. Please forward my mail. Thanks!

Sam-

So far, the McKinley Trail Cabin has been my favourite place so far. The forest where the cabin was (Chugach National Forest) was outstanding. It reminded me of the Fern Gully. Driving through the Chugach Mountains was incredible, the best scenery so far. Turning corners and seeing the snow covered jagged peaks was unreal. Hiking on Child’s Glacier and watching it calve was also a highlight.

Kelly –

So we’re on the ferry again and its time for some more highlights. Basta and I were the only brave ones and took a swim in McKinley Lake, near where we stayed, and while it was very cold, it was also very refreshing after not taking a shower for a couple days. My next highlight would have to be walking on Child’s Glacier with another glacier (Miles Glacier) in the background. It made for quite the view.

Sarah –

My highlights in Cordova have been some of the best on the trip so far. I liked hiking on Child’s Glacier and watching it calve at the same time. Having a roof and walls was quite the treat at McKinley Trail Cabin the last three days, as well as the cozy sleeping quarters. The hikes up to the Lucky Strike Gold Mine were a nice evening activity, but the interesting game of Pictionary last night might have taken the cake.

Jon –

Eating breakfast from a shopping cart in a parking lot! Discovering an abandoned gold mine! Hopping on a WWII bunker! Feeding the Cockburn! Falling hot dogs! Speeding toward a grizzly in a giant van! Government conspiracies about missile launchers! Spongebob birthday cake! Hikes that have no end point! Alaska! Yeah!

Brandon –

The landscape during this adventure has grown increasingly exotic and beautiful. Cordova is an unexpected surprise; moss covered forests, an actively calving glacier, and numerous wetlands of the Copper River. The cabin we have for shelter (thank you National Forest Service for building it and Professor Cockburn for reserving it) isn’t shabby either! I don’t see how this trip could possibly get better, but I eagerly await the expeditions that await us, and I realize how fortunate I am to get to share this experience with such a good natured, interesting, and knowledgeable group of students and professors.