Pictures

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Leg 6: Talkeetna Mountains -- Chickaloon to Cantwell (cont.)

I was hoping to float Kosina Creek about 20 miles, all the way to the Susitna River. But unfortunately the creek was oftentimes not floatable -- there was plenty of water but the creek frequently braided out over shallow rock gardens.

I took the opportunity to dry my feet while floating down the Susitna River on a warm, sunny day.

Some of the game trails in Alaska are remarkably good, sometimes almost confusable with manmade trails. (The primary difference is that manmade trails get brushed back whereas game trails usually stay pretty brushy even if the footbed is in good shape.) One key to efficient and pleasant Alaskan backcountry travel is to find these game trails, which requires some learning: they can often be found parallel to creeks and rivers, along ridgelines, around meadow edges, up and over low mountain passes, and through/along other natural travel corridors.

Another great campsite, this time overlooking Deadman Creek.

Alpenglow lights up a tributary of Tsusena Creek.

At the headwaters of the East Fork of the Chulitna River

Also in the headwaters of the East Fork of the Chulitna River

Nice rack! I considered carrying it out and shipping it home -- I was only 2 days away from Cantwell -- but then I thought about what my mom would do with a caribou antler. Having a hard time envisioning it nailed above the garage door of their Cape house, I left it for someone else to find.

I exited the Talkeetna's and concluded my trip through south-central Alaska by floating 12 miles down the Jack River to the Parks Highway. It was a cold, wet, and splashy float so I was happy to reach the highway and have a cup of coffee in my hands within 10 minutes.

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