Four
I ran the Chugiak HS ski trails the other day... they were nice, I approved. There was only one trail that I didn't like-- the Swamp Trail. It led me into a swamp so I turned back. Huh. I realized that I had totally developed at Kincaid-snob attitude. Note to self: Kincaid isn't the only place to train.
Four is the number of car skeletons I saw out on the trail... two on the Junkyard Loop. I thought they were quite decorative. Anyone know if there's more?
No bears, thank goodness.
Four is the number of car skeletons I saw out on the trail... two on the Junkyard Loop. I thought they were quite decorative. Anyone know if there's more?
No bears, thank goodness.
posted by LAV at 09:42
3 Comments:
Laura, I don’t know the total number of junked cars on the Chugiak Trails. I love those trails though.
Anyway, the reason for this post (Alaskan geophysics stuff of course): A very cool thing (pun intended) about the Chugiak Trails area is right next to it the Alaska Railroad went to straighten the track ten or so years ago and found a huge, buried prehistoric ice cell. Folks figured it was a chunk of the glacier that last covered this area that had not melted due to the amount of glacial till that was piled on top of it. The AKRR was befuddled as to how to deal with this ice cell. I don’t think they ever did straighten this section of track.
woa. That is sweet.
And there's way more dead cars... I must have been running pretty hard last time because I ran there today and noticed that the two cars on the junkyard loop were only the topmost two of a much, much larger pile.
Chugiak Trails are cool because they lie on part of the Elemdorf Morraine. The Elmendorf Morraine consists of glacial ridges that fan both sides of Knik Arm. Not only do you find moraines and eskers in these areas, but also karst pits (where glacial ice was covered with till and then the ice melted). And some of these pits have filled with water making kettle lakes. The coolest areas of the Elmendorf Morraine, IMO, are the Bradley/Kepler Lakes area leading up to Crevasse Morraine Park near Palmer. Crazy terrain. The Strabel’s dad Ed made a trail system in Crevasse Morraine Park that you should check out. The trails are brutal for skiing, running or mtn biking. And often you will be running on these trails and look off down the drops into karst pits on either side of the trail and go “holy crap this is cool”. Spring is the best time to go there and see the terrain (no leaves to block the view).
I sense an infatuation with junk cars … perhaps you will become a scrap metal commodities trader after ski-racing?! ;-)
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