August 15th and 16th
We made the short trip to stay near the southern entrance to Wrangell-St. Elias Nat’l Park & Preserve;
the “Kenny Lake Mercantile and Campground” became our home for two- nights.
We drove/bounced into the park on the McCarthy Road (a 60-mile old railroad bed) which took us 3 hours to get to the end because of all the washboards and potholes!
Scenic view -1 along the McCarthy Road
Scenic view - 2
The Copper River & Northwestern Railway was the lifeline for the Kennecott Copper Mine. It was completed in 1911 after building numerous trestles to cross the many rivers.
The McCarthy Road follows most of the old rail-bed.
(a park billboard photo)
The single lane Kuskulana Bridge
it spans 525-feet and is 238-feet above the river.
The Kuskulana River
We decided to walk back over the Kuskulana Bridge to take some pictures!
Anyone afraid of heights? I wasn't too comfortable.
Just before the McCarthy Road begins is the small rustic town of Chitina
This is one of the refurbished buildings.
This is not!
Your might even get a good deal on this car sitting across the street from the Chitina Hotel!
The two settlements at the end of the road, Kennecott and McCarthy, both originated with the establishment of the Kennecott Mines Company (copper) in 1906.
Neither town is accessible by car.
This is a half-mile "Park & Walk" operation over the Copper River to McCarthy.
Then you pay $5, one-way, to get a shuttle to Kennecott.
Scenic view - 2
The Copper River & Northwestern Railway was the lifeline for the Kennecott Copper Mine. It was completed in 1911 after building numerous trestles to cross the many rivers.The McCarthy Road follows most of the old rail-bed.
(a park billboard photo)
The it spans 525-feet and is 238-feet above the river.
The Kuskulana River
We decided to walk back over the Kuskulana Bridge to take some pictures!Anyone afraid of heights? I wasn't too comfortable.
Just before the McCarthy Road begins is the small rustic town of This is one of the refurbished buildings.
This is not!
Your might even get a good deal on this car sitting across the street from the Chitina Hotel!
The two settlements at the end of the road, Kennecott and McCarthy, both originated with the establishment of the Kennecott Mines Company (copper) in 1906. Neither town is accessible by car.
This is a half-mile "Park & Walk" operation over the Copper River to McCarthy.
Then you pay $5, one-way, to get a shuttle to Kennecott.
Main Street in McCarthy.Today the area has a population of 54 with privately owned houses interspersed with National Park property.
According to the book, The Rough Guide to Alaska the towns have
“…ancient log cabins, frame houses pieced together from whatever was available, and assorted rusting hulks which give the town a kind of junkyard beauty.”
According to the book, The Rough Guide to Alaska the towns have“…ancient log cabins, frame houses pieced together from whatever was available, and assorted rusting hulks which give the town a kind of junkyard beauty.”
The mining buildings in Kennecott. (The mine its-self is 5-miles further up the mountain.)
Some have been refubished by the National Park.
Many have not!
I'm glad this wasn't us as we headed home from the day's venture.______________
The Wild Geranium!
You can see why it is also called "Crane's Bill"(what it looks like after it goes to seed)
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