We
spent almost a week in Seward, arriving just after the 4th
of July crowd left and the festivities ended.
On
the 4th of July weekend Seward has a big race up and back down
Mt Marathon. It is “only” 5K (3.2 miles) in distance, however
it climbs about 3000’ with an incline of about 45 degrees much or
most of the way. The race winners complete the climb in around 40
minutes. Heck, it takes me about 40-45 minutes to go 5K and that is on
level ground.
Picture
of Mt Marathon. The race goes to the peak on the right just above the snow bank.
Coming down the racers slide down the snow bank. Pretty tricky. Go
too fast on the snow and you won’t be able to stop before crashing
into the rocks at the bottom of the snow bank.
Also
note the RV parking on the waterfront in the picture above.
Originally
we had planned on arriving in Seward about 10-12 days before the 4th
to get a waterfront campsite and stay through the 4th.
However at the last minute we changed our mind and went to Homer for
a much quieter weekend.
In
retrospect, maybe we should have gone to Seward and braved the crowds
and noise. Maybe the next time we go to Alaska we will spend the 4th in Seward.
Anyways
we had a nice stay in Seward. We had a very nice waterfront, dry
camping, site with great views.
Our
campsite viewed from the bay on a boat tour we took. More on the
boat tour in the next blog entry.
The
city operates several campgrounds along the shoreline of the bay.
All sites are first come first serve unless you reserve for a group
of 10 or more RV’s.
We
stayed in the Iditarod CG, the smallest CG with only 10 campsites.
On this
map the Iditarod CG is campsites #100-109. We really liked the
Iditarod CG. With its
small size it was quiet & calm. The
other camgrounds were very busy.
Seward
CG Map
While
in Seward, don’t miss going to the Alaska
Sealife Center, a great aquarium.
Sharon
at the entrance to the Alaska Sealife Center
We
spend a very enjoyable and informative couple of hours viewing the marine wildlife.
The
highlight was watching a pair of harbor seals in courtship. The
aquarium guides said they were almost positive the female was in
estrus and it would be only a matter of hours or a day or two before
they would mate. Also if we happened to see them to start mating, be sure to
let the aquarium staff know.
One
of the seals swimming in their pool
The
female flirting with the male.
She
is being a little hussy, isn’t she!
After
the flirtation on the rock she was chasing the male round and round
in the pool.
Then
there was the giant octopus.
A short video of the octopus
EXIT
GLACIER & HARDING ICEFIELD TRAIL
On
a very nice afternoon we visited Exit Glacier and the short trail to
viewpoints for the glacier. Some of the trail was smooth packed dirt
just perfect for Sharon’s scooter
While
Sharon drove her scooter back to the visitor center, I hiked another
1/3 mile on a rocky trail to closer views of the glacier. Oops, no
pictures of the glacier from this trail.
However
in the river below the glacier there were some blocks of glacier ice in the
river. I put a small chunk on a rock for the picture below. I thought about carrying this chunk of ice back to the RV for
drinks tonight, but with the ice melting, it would have made a real
mess.
A
day or two later on a beautful sunny day I left early, about 7:30 am,
and drove to Exit Glacier
for a ambitious hike on the Harding Icefield Trail.
The
entire trail is 4.1 miles oneway with an elevation gain of about
3000’. However, there are significant views of Exit Glacier at
Marmont Meadows, mile 1.4 – 1000’ elevation gain, and at “Top
of the Cliffs” mile 2.4 – 2000’ elevation gain.
For
a map of the trail as a PDF file go here.
On the map images below, click on the image to see a larger and clearer view.
Image
of a map the lower half of the trail
Image
of a map the upper half of the trail.
My
plan for this hike was to hike to the point I felt comfortable
climbing to and then return. If that was just the 1.4 mile point,
that was fine. I did make it to the 2.4 mile point with great views
of the Harding Icefield.
The
hardest part of the hike was the first 1.4 miles to Marmont Meadows.
The trail is quite steep in places and lots of high steps on rocks.
Above Marmont Meadows the trail switchbacks up “The Cliffs” on a
fairly gradual incline. Much easier than the first part.
An example of the
rocky trail for the 1st
1.4 miles
Marmont
Meadows with the cliffs in the back ground. The trail switchbacked
to the top of “The Cliffs” from here.
Views of the trail through the Cliffs part of the trail.
Various views along the trail
At
the “Top of the Cliffs” viewpoint.
TheHarding Icefield behind me, and its outflowing glaciers cover 700 square miles
of Alaska's Kenai Mountains in glacier ice.
If I had gone to the end of the trail I would had a much better view of the ice field.
The
trail going beyond “Top of the Cliffs”. Look for the labels pointing to
a couple of hikers and the trail continuing on.
Looking
down on a switchback.
I
am really glad I started this hike early in the day. As I was going
down I must have passed or let pass me, about 40-50 hikers.
Here
is a group in a ranger led hike
Some
flowers and and a Marmont from along the trail.
A Salmon Berry. Looks like a large raspberry. They are delicious.
I
have been lax in my exercise routine since we stated this trip, or I
would have attempted to do the whole 8.2 mile 3000’ elevation gain
hike.
But
4.8 miles and 2000’ is not bad for a 71 year old who thinks of
himself as about 45!!
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