July 8, 2009

Grayson and Darby get in a game of Uno before leaving Matanuska Glacier

Jonna and Mark enjoying another beautiful morning in Alaska!

Arriving in our "big rig" at Hatcher Pass near Palmer

Independence Mine State Historical Park at Hatcher Pass

Darby and Grayson try their hand at gold panning

 Before panning, they learned how to differentiate

between Gold (Au) and Pyrite (Fe2+S22-), otherwise known as "Fools Gold"

They think they found a speck of gold

A view of the mine complex from the Assay Office

The Assay Office was where the business was run

Two of the miners' bunkhouses

The mines are situated in a vast, beautiful setting 20 miles north of Palmer

Although in disrepair, the structures are beautiful on the landscape

Darby, Mark, and Grayson by the old gold mill complex

Mark and Grayson by the old Pipe, Sheet Metal, and Electrical shops

Jonna and Mark by one of the miners' bunk houses. They were all painted gray with red trim to make them cheerful for the hardworking miners

Darby and Mark by the "Mess Hall" 

The mountains around Hatcher Pass are beautiful.

Hatcher Pass is where the Chugach and the Talkeetna Mountain ranges converge

Jonna, Grayson, and Darby posing by the Little Susitna River

The Little Susitna River runs 110 miles from the  Mint Glacier

in the Talkeenta Mtns. and empties into Cook Inlet by Anchorage

More gorgeous wildflowers on the road to Hatcher Pass

It SAID it was the best ice cream in the world so we needed to verify!  2 thumbs up!

Beautiful wetlands behind our camp in Palmer

Jonna and Grayson took a hike before dinner

Grayson resting in front of the camp office at the Homestead Campground

Grayson chilling out Alaska style

The BIG game of Uno after dinner!