Andrew Edge's Photo Gallery :: 2002 Alaska Trip / Denali National Park 3 (Hwy Pass)

On Wednesday, I went out with Ann the guide and another group of strenuous hikers. We were to take a route the staff called the

On Wednesday, I went out with Ann the guide and another group of strenuous hikers. We were to take a route the staff called the "Highway Pass Crossover." We followed one fork of Stony Creek up one valley, climbed over a high saddle pass, then returned to the van via another fork of Stony Creek.

The first crossing of Stony Creek proved to be a bit tricky. The water was fairly deep, a little too deep to simply walk across. I had sandals back in camp, but I didn't expect stream crossings on this hike. It took us a while to find a spot where rock hopping was feasible. I'm grateful for Gore-Tex boots.

The first crossing of Stony Creek proved to be a bit tricky. The water was fairly deep, a little too deep to simply walk across. I had sandals back in camp, but I didn't expect stream crossings on this hike. It took us a while to find a spot where rock hopping was feasible. I'm grateful for Gore-Tex boots.

Glacier meltwater streams can be hard to cross. Their depth is sometimes impossible to determine given all the silt in the water. A shallow creek bed can instantly turn into a deep channel. The mass of the silt also gives the water much more force than a clearwater stream. That makes it hard to balance while rock hopping. The creek crossings were always an exciting and challenging part of a hike.

Glacier meltwater streams can be hard to cross. Their depth is sometimes impossible to determine given all the silt in the water. A shallow creek bed can instantly turn into a deep channel. The mass of the silt also gives the water much more force than a clearwater stream. That makes it hard to balance while rock hopping. The creek crossings were always an exciting and challenging part of a hike.

The scenery was simply too beautiful to describe. We soon left the wet tundra behind, and starting climbing through dry tundra and loose, rocky scree. Ann set a steady pace. I fell back at times to do some photography, then had to race to catch up.

The scenery was simply too beautiful to describe. We soon left the wet tundra behind, and starting climbing through dry tundra and loose, rocky scree. Ann set a steady pace. I fell back at times to do some photography, then had to race to catch up.

It seemed to me the hills here could have easily been on Mars. It was certainly a different experience than hiking in the Smokies.

It seemed to me the hills here could have easily been on Mars. It was certainly a different experience than hiking in the Smokies.

Traversing the scree slope along the old Caribou trail was a lot of fun. There were spots where the drop-off was even steeper than in this photo. The guy in front of me was having a less enjoyable time of it, so I loaned him my hiking stick. It helped as a psychological aid if nothing else.

Traversing the scree slope along the old Caribou trail was a lot of fun. There were spots where the drop-off was even steeper than in this photo. The guy in front of me was having a less enjoyable time of it, so I loaned him my hiking stick. It helped as a psychological aid if nothing else.

Looking back the way we came.

On this hike, I packed my tripod along with all my lenses. I had hoped to find time to take some quality photos. However, I never seemed to get the opportunity to completely set up. Every time I tried, I fell behind. On the bright side, I got plenty of exercise, and the ability to add some much needed human scale to the vast landscape panoramas.

On this hike, I packed my tripod along with all my lenses. I had hoped to find time to take some quality photos. However, I never seemed to get the opportunity to completely set up. Every time I tried, I fell behind. On the bright side, I got plenty of exercise, and the ability to add some much needed human scale to the vast landscape panoramas.

The dry, alpine tundra just kept climbing ever higher.

The dry, alpine tundra just kept climbing ever higher.

We finally reached the saddle pass at 4600 ft. where we stopped for lunch. This is a shot of the valley we followed to get here.

We finally reached the saddle pass at 4600 ft. where we stopped for lunch. This is a shot of the valley we followed to get here.

Mike, who had climbed Denali in the past, had no trouble with these hills. He and I asked to have the Muldrow Glacier hike added to the week's offerings. Simon highlighted the difficulties of the hike when presenting it to the guests, but it still managed to attract enough interest to get the go-ahead the next day.

Mike, who had climbed Denali in the past, had no trouble with these hills. He and I asked to have the Muldrow Glacier hike added to the week's offerings. Simon highlighted the difficulties of the hike when presenting it to the guests, but it still managed to attract enough interest to get the go-ahead the next day.

Our guide Ann. Attending the final week of the season was interesting. I kept hearing statements like

Our guide Ann. Attending the final week of the season was interesting. I kept hearing statements like "this is my last strenuous hike of the year," and "that's my last time to ring the dinner bell."

The weather continued its uncooperative moods. As soon as we sat down to eat, the skies darkened and the cold wind picked up. Once we were done and started moving again, the sun came out and we got hot.

The weather continued its uncooperative moods. As soon as we sat down to eat, the skies darkened and the cold wind picked up. Once we were done and started moving again, the sun came out and we got hot.

As a bonus to our hike, especially since this was Ann's last long one of the season, she wanted to climb the peak that loomed over our lunch spot. Mike and I eagerly joined her, as well as a third guy who turned back about halfway up. The rest of the group started their descent down the other side of the pass.

As a bonus to our hike, especially since this was Ann's last long one of the season, she wanted to climb the peak that loomed over our lunch spot. Mike and I eagerly joined her, as well as a third guy who turned back about halfway up. The rest of the group started their descent down the other side of the pass.

It doesn't look like much, especially with the even taller mountains behind me, but being up on that ridge felt like I was on top of the world.

It doesn't look like much, especially with the even taller mountains behind me, but being up on that ridge felt like I was on top of the world.

This view is looking almost straight down through my 400mm lens. To the naked eye, the rest of our group looked like ants.

This view is looking almost straight down through my 400mm lens. To the naked eye, the rest of our group looked like ants.

I fell back again to get some shots of the spectacular barren valley we were descending into. That's Ann in front of me, Mike is behind me, and the rest of the group is nowhere to be seen.

I fell back again to get some shots of the spectacular barren valley we were descending into. That's Ann in front of me, Mike is behind me, and the rest of the group is nowhere to be seen.

We all met up again when the ground leveled off, and it was time to turn and follow the valley back towards the park road.

We all met up again when the ground leveled off, and it was time to turn and follow the valley back towards the park road.

The second crossing of Stony Creek proved easier than the first.

The second crossing of Stony Creek proved easier than the first.

For the only time during my stay, there was enough sunshine to make a decent attempt at a sparkling stream picture.

For the only time during my stay, there was enough sunshine to make a decent attempt at a sparkling stream picture.

Highway Pass hike GPS track. The last mile of our hike was along the park road. We met up with the moderate hiker group and could have chosen to ride their bus back to our van, but we decided not to do so.

Highway Pass hike GPS track. The last mile of our hike was along the park road. We met up with the moderate hiker group and could have chosen to ride their bus back to our van, but we decided not to do so.

Back at the cabin, the mountains decided to give us a show early that evening. However, they clouded up again before the alpenglow set in. Some staff members allegedly saw a small streak of northern lights around 11:30pm that night, but I was sound asleep. Chuck woke up and went outside at various times every other night, but the skies were always overcast.

Back at the cabin, the mountains decided to give us a show early that evening. However, they clouded up again before the alpenglow set in. Some staff members allegedly saw a small streak of northern lights around 11:30pm that night, but I was sound asleep. Chuck woke up and went outside at various times every other night, but the skies were always overcast.

Chuck aimed his camera at the mountain every chance he got. He was part of Pat's workshop, and spent the days taking quality photographs instead of humping a pack all over the rocks like I was doing.

Chuck aimed his camera at the mountain every chance he got. He was part of Pat's workshop, and spent the days taking quality photographs instead of humping a pack all over the rocks like I was doing.

All things considered, I'm glad I didn't sign up for the workshop. Pat was likeable and impressive, but I think I would have gotten bored without the physical activity. There are only so many mountain and tundra pictures I can take. Chuck was dismayed at my subject selection here. When he saw my camera aimed at him instead of the mountain, he told me I still had a lot to learn. :-)