There are so many important issues facing the nation and the world today: global warming, overpopulation, pollution, nuclear proliferation, war, financial crises, and swine flu. What can one person do to stem the tide or solve even one of these problems? Most people are overwhelmed by the very ideas, if indeed they even think about them at all. However, today I took a breather from stressing about the solution to each one and the guilt associated with not engaging them. I took a ride on the Indian to Girdwood bike trail.
The Seward Highway bike ride is likely the most beautiful ride in the country. The ride heads south out of Anchorage, Alaska towards the Kenai Peninsula, home to Seward and Homer, Alaska. One short 13 mile section, from Indian Creek to Girdwood, has been paved with a beautiful 8'-wide multi-use trail. It is sandwiched between the Seward Highway and the Alaska Railroad, which itself is bounded by Turnagain Arm, and 40-mile tongue of the Cook Inlet, discovered by Captain James Cook in 1778. It has the second highest tide in the world, just behind the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia. Twice a day it rises and falls 27 feet, exposing the expansive mud flats, with its sinews of braided rivers.
The trail itself is paved, 8' wide and in perfect condition. At viewpoints along the way, the designers installed telescopes, so visitors can pick out Dall sheep and mountain goats on the rocky hillsides around the inlet.
Looking west you can see how narrow the bore of the inlet is; when the tide turns and rushes back, it creates a standing wave that is the favorite of wind surfers and photographers.
The trail itself is paved, 8' wide and in perfect condition. At viewpoints along the way, the designers installed telescopes, so visitors can pick out Dall sheep and mountain goats on the rocky hillsides around the inlet.
It was a beautiful day; temperatures in Anchorage reached 68 degrees, a veritable heat-wave, and I felt overdressed in biking shorts covered by black pants, wool bike pull-over, and a ball cap under my helmet.
In places, the remains of huge winter avalanches still on the trail to remind us of the awesome power and impact such events. Signs along the trail tell of early Alaskans killed in maintaining the railroad line. It had been a cold year, and a large amount of snow still sits above the trail on the steep hillside. Check out the huge avalanche cone coming down almost to the road.
The trail ascends above the road, following the old roadbed to Girdwood, the fantastic ski area and Anchorage's playground.
It is likely the greatest ride in the country. The views across Turnagain Arm of the Kenai mountains are breathtaking. My iPhone camera doesn't nearly do them justice.
The trail winds through aspen and birch trees. Leaves and twigs from the winter still litter the trail. Cool!
The Alaska Railroad parallels the trail. Finished in 1922, the Bird Creek bridge is likely original. The creek is seen here flowing into the inlet. In a month it will be full of Silver Salmon, and hundreds of anglers will be lining the shore. I'm luck...the only guy on the trail today
Looking northwest, the Suicide Peaks and Indian Creek. The Seward Highway is the only link between Anchorage and points south: Seward, Kenai, Soldotna, and Homer. And the best fishing! Halibut and salmon. Thor comes this weekend, so we're heading down with the boat to hopefully fill the freezer for a year.
The Kenai peninsula. Dream on!
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Erica K
Leeandra Nolting
Rennis
Susie Lindau
Jeff L. Howe
mhold
Salon.com
Comments
And lucky too to have such a beautiful area in which to ride. Anyone who thinks the Far North is a winter wasteland had better think again.
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