Wanderings in the Chugach

coldclimb

I must confess aside from your typical traveling out of state or out of country, I don't get around too much. Over a summer, I can spend over a month in the mountains, and never venture outside a few valleys I call home. Sure, there's plenty just in those valleys to occupy me for years, but it's always good to see more places!

And so, I ventured out this morning with Prezwoodz into HIS home mountains, the Chugach. It's great to get out with Kelsey, because we share many of the same personality traits, passions, and physical conditioning. We made good time getting to the trailhead and I was determined not to let the speeding ticket in a "safety zone" get in the way of a good day,:thumb so we started off in bright sunshine aiming for the summit of Jewel Mountain, a couple miles away. The weather was supposed to turn bad later, so we hurried.


Here's Kelsey at a photo stop after turning off the trail up a ridge that looked like a nice route to the summit.




Kelsey dwarfed by the ridge on the way up. Off to the left from here were three mountain goats, but we didn't get close enough for pictures.




The ridge steepened towards the top with several false peaks. Here's Kelsey on the crux section.




Kelsey's portrait on the summit, before the clouds finally caught us.




Ahhh Alaska! Note the "termination dust" in the foreground. Winter is coming!




Just one peak over lies the Milk Glacier, and a whole lot of permanent ice. Kelsey is rather tiny.




On the way down the opposite ridgeline, we spotted another goat, and then dropped down out of site over the ridge for a drink of fresh glacier water. Heading out from there, we aimed for where we'd spotted the goat, and sure enough we found it! We were spotted first and the shaggy beast was a little leary of us, but we managed to get in some clicks before it escaped down through the cliffs. Amazing where these guys can go... absolutely amazing.

This is actually my first close encounter with a mountain goat. I've seen them from afar of course, but this was quite cool.




I got a bunch more halfway decent shots of the goat which I have posted HERE for all who are interested!

The descent was quite uneventful and I'm afraid I didn't even pull the camera out. I'm sorry! I hope you enjoyed a journey into the Chugach with Kelsey and me!

Art Scott

The goat has a look like ...DANG THOUGHT I WAS ALL ALONE UP HERE!!!

That is quite rugged terrain you have there and it is nice for you to share your adventures with those of us that have a great fear of heights.......I would have to have a paved sidewalk and hand rails to get me up there.

Fantastic shots just FANTASTIC......bowthumbthumb

KEEP'EM COMIN' PLease!

System

WOW!!! Magnificent shot.

ian408

I'm gonna date myself...but the shot on Milk Glacier reminds me of a
magazine cover. I don't remember the guys name but they were in the
Karakoram.

Very nice. Especially the goat.

schmoo

Nice photo set!! I am always interested in seeing the scenery up in the cloud lands.

saurora

Great shots! Love the shot of Kelsy dancing on the ledge. I always enjoy your posts. I have a deathly fear of heights and it's fun to sit here in the safety of my computer chair and see through your eyes!

wxwax

Love it!

Thanks for the story, the piccies, and for taking us somewhere different.

Awais Yaqub

These are wonderful loved last 2 a lot

Pixel Popper

Thanks for posting these. I SO-O-O enjoyed seeing this work. I just noticed you are from Wasilla, AK. Talk about a small world. I used to live in Wasilla and work in Palmer, AK, currently residing in Maryland.

Anyway, loved the shots!

annnna8888

Great shots! I especially like the one with Kelsey dancing on a ridge. I hope it wasn't too close to the edge though.
I always enjoy travelogs from hikes or climbs. Particularly the ones with neat piccies and a good story. We want more!

Ana