I'm going to Juneau, Alaska this upcoming August. I've already paid for my
airfare (only ~$400.00) and I've paid for the cabins and campground rentals/fees
(another ~$200.00).
Approximatly 900 miles North of Redmond, WA is Juneau, AK:
And the Topo Version:
Here's just the local Juneau area -
showing the Eagle Glacier and Windham Lake Cabin's to the North as well as the Taku Glacier Cabin to the East:
And again the Topo Version:
Below is my itinerary. If anyone is remotely interested in going with me, give
me a shout out. My wife doesn't really want me going alone...
Saturday August 16th, 2014
Fly in to Juneau from Seattle. Alaska Flight #68, seat 10F. Leave SEA at 6:25AM
(Pacific Time), arrive Juneau at 7:50AM (Alaska Time).
Hike, Taxi, Bus, or hitch hike to the
Mendenhall Glacier Campground
(58.413738°,-134.583915°) (Google indicates it's 5.5 miles from the Juneau
Airport).
Set up camp at site #12 (campground site is paid for/reserved)
Camp should be set up by mid-day, which will give me time to hike to Mendenhall Glacier (3 Miles)
The hike is in the forest along the North edge of the lake. I'd like to get to
the bare rock pennisula that is jutting out into the lake in front of the
Glacial Snout. I'm hoping take some pictures (Does that even really need to be said...)
Return back to the campground. Have a snack and go to sleep.
Mendenhall Lake Campground and Trail from Google Earth:
And again the Topo Version:
Sunday, August 17th, 2014
Make my way (taxi or hitch hike?, or whatever) to Eagle Glacier Trailhead
(58.528173°, -134.808234°) (Google Indicates 18.6 miles from the Mendenhall
Campground). The trailhead is up the Glacier Highway (AK7), it's the only Road
North out of Juneau. Hopefully this doesn't turn out to be that problematic.
Hike to
National Forest Service Eagle Glacier Cabin at (58.572913°,
-134.751303°) (~5 mile hike) (cabin is paid for/reserved). I'd like to get to
the trailhead no later than Noon, as I'd like to get on the trail and to the
cabin way before nightfall.
Stay the night at Eagle Glacier Cabin
Trail to Eagle Glacier Cabin from Google Earth:
And again in Topo Version:
Monday, August 18th, 2014
Awake at the Eagle Glacier Cabin.
Do some fishing (maybe). I don't imagine fishing would be any good there, as
it's a glacier run off stream.
Hike up to the Eagle Glacier snout (definitely) (2 mile hike). This should be a
cool hike. As with most other Glaciers, the ice is retreating, and there will be
much new terrain exposed.
Head back to the Cabin.
Hang out...
Spend the night there at the Eagle Glacier Cabin.
Tuesday, August 19th, 2014
Again, awake at the Eagle Glacier Cabin.
Pack up and head out the way you came in (~5 Miles).
Make your way to the Glacier Highway.
Find the Windfall Trailhead (58.523640°, -134.794221°)
Hike to
National Forest Service Windfall Lake Cabin (58.508500°, -134.723000°)
(3 miles) (cabin is paid for/reserved).
Hang out. This will be a tough day, 5 miles from the Eagle Glacier Cabin to the
Road, down the road a bit, and then 3 miles to the Windfall Lake Cabin.
Spend the night there at the Windfall Lake Cabin.
Windfall Lake Cabin from Google Earth:
And again the Topo Version:
Wednesday, August 20th, 2014
Awake at the Windfall Lake Cabin.
Hike to Herbert Glacier (Probably NOT, unless I'm feeling really adventurous!)
Yeah, I won't do this alone. It's totally across country. They'd never find my
body.
Do some fishing in Windfall Lake (more than likely). I'm hoping to catch some
trout or salmon. Either would be tasty, I'm sure.
Spent the night there at the Windfall Lake Cabin.
Thursday, August 21st, 2014
Awake there at the Windfall Lake Cabin.
Pack up and leave.
Hike the Montana Creek trail over to the
Mendenhall Glacier Campground
(58.411778°, -134.577962°) (7 Miles)
Premier Fishing (Rainbow, Cutthroat Trout and Dolly Varden in the high country,
Salmon Lower)... No shit, this is supposed to be some awesome fishing. I can't
wait.
Depending how I feel, I may forego the hike up and over to Montana Creek and
just hike out the three miles to the road and make my way to the Mendenhall Lake
Campground.
Stay the night at the campground (site #28) (campground is paid for/reserved)
Trail from Windfall Lake to Mendenhall
Glacier Campground via Montana Creek from Google Earth:
And again the Topo Version:
Friday, August 22nd, 2014
Awake at the Mendenhall Glacier Campground
Pack up your stuff and get ready for the fight or boat to Taku Lodge.
Take that 5 Glacier Flightseeing tour and then on to Taku Lodge (58.491016°,
-133.942750°). Have some Salmon there at the Lodge (this would be out of pocket
~$250.00 for the 5 Glacier Flight Seeing and the Salmon Dinner). Alternatively,
charter a boat and have them drop me off at the National Forest Service Taku Glacier Cabin.
Get a skiff to the
National Forest Service Taku Glacier Cabin. (58.390060°, -134.014103°) (cabin is
paid for/reserved)
The cabin is right on the edge of the inlet, directly across from the snout of the massive Taku Glacier. It should be quite the sight.
Spend the night at the NFS Taku Glacier Cabin.
Taku Glacier Cabin from Google Earth:
And yet again the Topo Version:
Saturday, August 23rd, 2014
Awake there at the Taku Glacier NFS Cabin.
Do some fishing. Fry some Salmon. Not much hiking to be had here. I might climb
up the hill side behind the cabin to get a better view of the Glacier. That
should be cool.
Spend the night there at the NFS Taku Glacier Cabin.
Sunday, August 24th, 2014
Awake at the Taku Glacier Cabin (Last Day, SAD)
Get a skiff from the NFS Taku Glacier Cabin to the Taku Lodge.
Fly back to Juneau from Taku Lodge.
Make your way back to the Juneau Airport for the flight back to Seattle...
Flight is Alaska flight #78, Seat 9A.
Flight leaves at 3:10PM (Alaska Time) and arrives in Seattle at 6:27 (Pacific
Time).
I'm not really going there to "Hunt", but I do plan to do a lot of fishing. I
might bring a .22 pistol, so if a grouse or Ptarmigan jumped out if front of me,
I would probably try to get dinner. Otherwise, I'm only bringing a .458 SOCOM
AR-15 rifle
as a Bear Defense Weapon.
Yeah, so if anyone is remotely interested in going, let me know. Lodging is all paid for
(cabins and campgrounds). It would only be ~$400.00 airfare from Seattle to
Juneau (roundtrip) and the cost to get from Juneau to the Taku Glacier Cabin...
either flying in or getting a skiff (or whatever) price is negotiable... That
and there would be the normal cost of buying groceries and beer.