Nenana River near Denali
The colors have began changing at higher altitudes and the first dusting of snow hung to the highest mountains. The changing terrain of the Parks Highway through the Alaska Range offers panoramic vistas and many rest stops. Temps are in the upper 50's and damp from the passing showers. Despite the cooler feeling weather, I'm happy to be back on the road again.
Willow Creek Drainage
Upper Willow Creek
Turning off the highway, I welcome the afternoon of sunshine while climbing 3800 ft from Willow to Hatcher Pass. Open only from July 4 - October, this high pass above the timberline is a great motorcycle road. Passing the many mining operations along the way, one crests the pass at Summit Lake, a algae green hanging lake nestled in the pass. It was an engine off affair most of the way down though my brakes may have suffered a bit.
Summit Lake was a real surprise
Hatcher Pass
Summit Lake
I had planned on camping up at Hatcher Pass but the wet and cold conditions led me down to the Matanuska River just in time for sunset. I pitched my tent on the silty riverbank and fell fast asleep to the rush of glacial melt.
Sunset on the Matanuska
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