Sunrise was at 4:51 am in Wasilla. We started our van shuttle about 8:00am. On the way to today’s hike we made a stop at the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage. There were examples of each native people’s homes and ways of life, including the Athabascan, Yup‘Ik and Cup’Ik people, Inupiaq and St Lawrence Island Yupik people, and the Unangax and Alutiiq people. Their homes were built two to five feet below ground with earthen roofs of sod, moss and birch bark. The doorways were “l” or “j” shaped to keep the cold drafts and polar bears out. In some of the villages there were also larger community houses for work, planning, ceremonies and other activities. It was a very informative and enjoyable stop. Next we drove to Girdwood for a hike on the Winner Creek Trail. The trailhead was located behind the Altadena Resort (a ski resort). The hike was about a total of five miles (out and back). Just as we were to begin hiking, a tsunami warning was issued due to a 7.3 earthquake in the Gulf of Alaska. Our guide made phone calls and determined we were safe, as were the night’s lodging cabins. As we arrivedw at the half way point, it started to rain, but luckily it was light and we were mostly protected by the dense canopy. After the hike we drove to Hope where we stayed at the Bear Creek Lodge. Sunset was 11:11pm at the daytime temperatures were in the 50’s to mid 60’s.
A whale skeleton at the Alaska Native Heritage Center highlighting those Alaska Natives that hunted them for food and tools.
Example of an Athabascan home.
A community house. This entry way was added for viewing purposes as all openings were “L” or “J” shaped.
Along the Winner Trail.
Our guide found a small patch of salmon berries and we each tried one.These were slightly under ripe and therefore a little bitter.
This gorge was at our turn around point of the hike.
Alan walking our luggage to our cabin for the night. It reminded me of the “cart in” campgrounds in Minnesota.
Our cabin for the night was called Bridge Cabin. It had its own outhouse. Cabins closer to the main lodge had communal flush toilets.
A view of the sleeping area of our cabin. It had electricity, but no running water.
Each cabin had a small gift bear @bearcreeklodgeak
