Hike in the Clearwater Mountains in the Alaska Range (Day 4 of 4)

Hike in the Clearwater Mountains in the Alaska Range (Day 4 of 4)

By Troutnut on July 9th, 2013

I think this was the best day of the hike. I woke up and poked my head outside the tent and saw a bull, cow, and calf caribou wandering around within 200 yards. Better still, it wasn't raining!

After climbing just a few hundred feet into the last pass of the trip, we had a relatively easy mostly-downhill hike for the rest of the trip. Sun and blue sky made the scenery even better, especially as we passed by a series of emerald alpine lakes.

Photos by Troutnut from Clearwater Mountains in Alaska

Pass at the top of Alpine Creek (panorama). This detailed 360 degree panorama is best viewed full-size. From Clearwater Mountains in Alaska.

Beginning of Alpine Creek From Clearwater Mountains in Alaska.

Bull caribou walking away From Clearwater Mountains in Alaska.

Beginning of Alpine Creek. Alpine Creek starts at the lake outlet in the bottom of this picture From Clearwater Mountains in Alaska.

Denali Highway back in view after hiking 19 miles. From Clearwater Mountains in Alaska.

Wandering tattler. This type of sandpiper is known to nest next to high streams above treeline in rugged Alaska mountains. From Clearwater Mountains in Alaska.

Mountain harebell (Campanula lasiocarpa) From Clearwater Mountains in Alaska.

Second lake down Alpine Creek From Clearwater Mountains in Alaska.

Lake atop Alpine Creek From Clearwater Mountains in Alaska.

Climbing toward the last pass From Clearwater Mountains in Alaska.

Little creek below the final pass From Clearwater Mountains in Alaska.

Saxifrage of some sort. Maybe yellow-spotted saxifrage (Sagifraga bronchialis) but it could be some other species of Saxifraga. From Clearwater Mountains in Alaska.

Dwarf buttercup (Ranunculus pygmaeus) From Clearwater Mountains in Alaska.

Dragonwort (Persicaria bistorta) From Clearwater Mountains in Alaska.

Panorama near the pass From Clearwater Mountains in Alaska.

Morning caribou 2 From Clearwater Mountains in Alaska.

Rainbow over upper Alpine Creek From Clearwater Mountains in Alaska.

Rays of sun in the Susitna Valley From Clearwater Mountains in Alaska.

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Comments / replies

Oldredbarn	July 14th, 2013, 11:34 am
Novi, MI Posts: 2588	Wow! That's all I can say Jason. Just wonderful...and you even added some flora for Jonathon and a bird for Spence. ;) Thanks for sharing! Beautiful! Spence
	"Even when my best efforts fail it's a satisfying challenge, and that, after all, is the essence of fly fishing." -Chauncy Lively "Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood

Jmd123	July 16th, 2013, 11:59 pm
Oscoda, MI Posts: 2358	WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW........... I guess there is some compensation for putting up with seemingly endless winters...this stuff is mind-blowing, Jason...the colors alone...and of course I love the flora shots & scientific names (a nod back at ya there, Spence!). Won't be anywhere near as spectacular but I'll have to share some floral photos of my latest work (Karner Blue Butterfly habitat surveys for the Manistee National Forest). BTW Jason, I'm sure your insects are horrible, but today I saw the front of my work vehicle swarmed by at least 100 deer flies, I'm not kidding...I'm considering a full beekeeping suit and a smoker to keep them at bay when I can no longer avoid those survey areas where they threaten to drain one entirely of blood... Jonathon
	No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...

Troutnut	July 17th, 2013, 5:37 am
Administrator Bellevue, WA Posts: 2516	The insects weren't bad on this trip, actually. :) That was one of the benefits of being up at high altitude on rainy days with highs mostly in the forties. Even at the start of and end of the trip (low altitude, fair weather) the mosquitoes were nothing compared to what we've had near Fairbanks for most of June and early July.
	Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D. Troutnut and salmonid ecologist

Lastchance	July 17th, 2013, 12:39 pm
Portage, PA Posts: 437	Holy cow? What beautiful photos and great scenery. Thanks

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