Mountain Echoes - The ECHO

I’ve believe there are no words to describe the mind-blowing spectacle of the Exit Glacier ramping up to Harding Ice Field’s ocean of ice.

According to Verna Pratt, one of Alaska’s most noted wildflower experts, there are about 1,500 species of flowering plants across Alaska.

On July 7th, a scorching hot July 4 weekend day, hundreds flocked to Eklutna Lake to find some relief along its shore and frigid waters.

Having grown up in the seaport city of Seward on the Kenai Peninsula, the 4th of July celebration in that community is close to my heart.

Though dandelions have been around a lot longer than me, their reach in southcentral Alaska has expanded dramatically during my lifetime.

I have returned to my home many times over the years to rediscover the subtle magic I knew as a child. That place is the town of Seward.

I find low-angled trails that would still take me into the mountains. Here are some relatively easy trails for summer and fall hiking.

This year’s Citywide cleanup is April 27 to May 4, and I strongly urge everyone to get out and clean anywhere you see garbage.

According to NWS records dating back 65 years for the Anchorage area, only 13 snowfalls greater than eight inches are recorded for April.

If you’ve hiked in our state’s backcountry you’ve probably found the ruins; decaying artifacts from Alaska’s golden age of mining.

The sun was bright and the air warm April 14 of this year as we hiked the three miles from the Eagle River Nature to Echo Bend.

On an assignment in Argentina for the oil and gas company, BP, several years ago, we included the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia.

Brent Voorhees and I were pleased to find a recently made snowmachine trail as we skied north on Caribou Creek.

Conditions on Eklutna Lake during the first two weeks of February had been perfect for skiing, skating, biking, hiking and snow machining.

Our world of ice is beautiful. I can remember as a child in Seward staring at the colorful prism created by sunlight striking ice sickles.