Early June 2013 in and around McHugh Creek

While it is early June we still have lots of snow at the higher elevations around the area.  Here at Glen Alps part of the parking lot is still covered in snow as well as the trails.

The state park system has a new volunteer cabin (used summer and winter) at Glen Alps trail head.  This is a very high traffic area since local hikers and visitors to Alaska enjoy the view from Flattop as well as other trails. In May there were two emergency evacuations of hikers from Flattop one with a broken leg and another a broken ankle. 

At the end of the overlook trail there is a good view of downtown Anchorage (unless it is hazy which it is today) but here is the view

Hopefully we’ll get back up on a clear day and will post a better picture.

There is a nice compass displayed at the overlook with pointers to the different mountains and volcanoes giving the height and distance to each.

Here are pictures of each of us as we walked back down the trail to the parking lot.

                                    

While most people come to McHugh Creek for hiking the trails or to have a picnic, many people come for  more adventurous activities.  Here people are taking advantage of the water and wind on Turnagain Arm to do some kite boarding/surfing.  Today we counted nine at one time.

There are also a lot of rock climbers along the Arm but don’t have a picture of them.

We had visitors from back east and Glenn sent us a picture he took of us at the motorhome.

                                                     

While we  were in southern Arizona we could not see the sunsets from our motorhome but the reflection off the Ajo Mountains was a beautiful red glow.  Well here on Turnagain Arm the sun is usually still high when we go to bed.  However one night we were later and here is the view across the arm at 11:00 PM as the sun is beginning to set.

With the snow having left the area we are in bloom.  Here are some of the flowers in our area.

One thing that has surprised us is that with all the flowers blooming the fireweed has not bloomed in the area.  We were told years ago that the plant was called fireweed because it come out “after a fire or any other disturbance to the soil in the area” and was first to bloom but not this year.

Saw the plants everywhere but no blossoms.

Also a spruce tree is very interesting with the new cones coming in red.