Heading back towards Deadman Lake
We are continuing on the Glenn Highway toward Tok and Deadman Lake where we plan on staying for a few days.
There are many small towns in Alaska and some of them have some really strange names - most likely relat
ed to a way of life or happening back during the gold rush. One such town is Chickaloon which has a population of 282. It was established around 1916 as the terminus of an Alaska Railroad spur, and currently serves as a stop for motorists and river rafters. Chickaloon has a post office, gas, diesel, cafe, bed-and-breakfast, cabins and camping. The Matanuska River closely parallels the Glenn Highway and this is a perfect place for the Nova River Runners to offer scenic floats and whitewater trips on the river. The Matanuska River is formed by its East and South forks and flows southwest 75 miles to the Knik Arm of Cook Inlet.
Along the Glenn Highway are expansive views of King Mountain and the Matanuska River. There are several signs warning to "Watch out for Moose" but as Moose hunting season started on August 25th, there are no signs of any of those cumbersome animals.
One stop
along the way was to view the Matanuska Glacier that heads in the Chu
gach Mountains and trends northwest 27 miles. Some 18,000 years ago the glacier reached all the way to the Palmer area. The glacier's average width is 2 miles; at its terminus it is 4 Miles wide. The glacier has remained fairly stable the past 400 years. At the glacier terminus meltwater drains into a stream which flows into the Matanuska River. 
We passed over the Caribou Creek which is a Recreational Gold Mining Area. Recreational gold panning, mineral prospecting or mining using light portable field equipment - e.g. hand-operated pick, backpack power drill, etc., is allowed in these designated areas on state lands without mining claims. This Caribou Creek heads at a glacier terminus in the Talkeetna Mountains and flows 35 miles southeast to the Matanuska River. I tell you this because there are 26 creeks named Caribou Creek in the Dictionary of Alaska Place Names. From this information it appears that Caribou Creek was a favorite and popular name.
We spent the night just past Glennallen on the Glenn/Richard
son Highway junction. Tomorrow we will pass through Tok and again end up at Deadman Lake.
We are continuing on the Glenn Highway toward Tok and Deadman Lake where we plan on staying for a few days.
There are many small towns in Alaska and some of them have some really strange names - most likely relat
ed to a way of life or happening back during the gold rush. One such town is Chickaloon which has a population of 282. It was established around 1916 as the terminus of an Alaska Railroad spur, and currently serves as a stop for motorists and river rafters. Chickaloon has a post office, gas, diesel, cafe, bed-and-breakfast, cabins and camping. The Matanuska River closely parallels the Glenn Highway and this is a perfect place for the Nova River Runners to offer scenic floats and whitewater trips on the river. The Matanuska River is formed by its East and South forks and flows southwest 75 miles to the Knik Arm of Cook Inlet.Along the Glenn Highway are expansive views of King Mountain and the Matanuska River. There are several signs warning to "Watch out for Moose" but as Moose hunting season started on August 25th, there are no signs of any of those cumbersome animals.
One stop
along the way was to view the Matanuska Glacier that heads in the Chu
gach Mountains and trends northwest 27 miles. Some 18,000 years ago the glacier reached all the way to the Palmer area. The glacier's average width is 2 miles; at its terminus it is 4 Miles wide. The glacier has remained fairly stable the past 400 years. At the glacier terminus meltwater drains into a stream which flows into the Matanuska River. 
We passed over the Caribou Creek which is a Recreational Gold Mining Area. Recreational gold panning, mineral prospecting or mining using light portable field equipment - e.g. hand-operated pick, backpack power drill, etc., is allowed in these designated areas on state lands without mining claims. This Caribou Creek heads at a glacier terminus in the Talkeetna Mountains and flows 35 miles southeast to the Matanuska River. I tell you this because there are 26 creeks named Caribou Creek in the Dictionary of Alaska Place Names. From this information it appears that Caribou Creek was a favorite and popular name.
We spent the night just past Glennallen on the Glenn/Richard
son Highway junction. Tomorrow we will pass through Tok and again end up at Deadman Lake. 
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