Tram rides!

This morning we decided to take advantage of our 2 for 1 toursaver coupon to go up the Alyeska Mountain on a tram ride. It was really clear and initially we thought we might get the ride up and then hike down. On the ride up, the tram operator said they discourage people from hiking down because it is so steep and that is when people have the most problem. We changed our plan, and hiked further up the mountain when we got off the tram to the top of the highest chairlift and the base of Alyeska Glacier. There were still a few spots on the trail with snow but the day was warm and hiking was wonderful. We spent a couple of hours up on top of the mountain. Along the trail we met a couple from Anchorage who moved there 6 years ago for work. They came from Texas! What a climate change. He just retired and he said they have the opportunity to get moved back south by the company since that is the agreement they make when they move them to Alaska, but after looking around the lower 48 states, they decided they don’t want to live anywhere else but Alaska. They gave us some good ideas of places to go while in Seward as well as some more local things. They also recommended a great pizza and beer place in Anchorage (Moose’s Tooth) for when we pass back on our way leaving the Kenai Peninsula.

After riding the tram back down the mountain, we decided to go hiking on the Winner Creek trail. The trail follows part of the famous Iditarod trail. We drove to the trail head and hiked in .8 miles to the hand tram that goes across Winner Creek. It is a two-person cage that you propel high across the creek by pulling the rope. It can be done by the person (or people) in the cage, or by people on either or both sides of the creek.

There were lots of people out today so lots of people on both sides were helping propel the cage. Before it was your turn to ride across, it was your turn to help the people in front of you and on the other side get across. Then the next person in line behind you did the same for you! It was a bit like zip-lining I imagine (having never done it, I can only guess), only you are in a steel cage. The hand tram originated in the days of the miners who would use it to cross the river since there was no bridge. Not only did they have to use it for themselves, but also all their supplies, and in the winter, for their dogs and sleds. We walked a short way to the canyon and then turned around to head back across the hand tram and to the car. It was a nice walk through what reminded us of a rain forest.

Tomorrow, we pack up the trailer and head down to the town of Seward….the forecast isn’t great for the next couple of weeks but we hope to find a window of nicer weather, where we can take a boat cruise out to the fjords and glaciers.