7/3/09: Hope, AK, population 137

The Eclectic Group #5, was what the trail register read after we left the parking lot. My housemate (and landlord) connected me with a few people from work who were going for a hike today: Jessie grew up around the area and knew many of the trails like the back of her hand; Shelby was originally from the Philippines and said she had only been on one other hike prior; Victoria was 64, an Alaskan native, and more vibrant than many 50 year old people I have met. In addition to this mix Colin (see note from yesterday) came along to round out the “Eclectic 5.”

The end of our hike put us about 7 miles south of Anchorage, but the drive was almost 1.5 hours. We jumped on the Seward Highway and followed along the northern border of the Turnagain Arm of Chickaloon bay (also connected to Gompertz Channel). This road is the ONLY road down to the Kenai Peninsula, is a one lane, and is carved out of a rock wall that comes right down to the ocean. This provides a multitude of rock climbing sites, but also makes the road less than perfectly straight.

After reaching the end of Turnagain Arm, and passing Alyeska Ski Resort, we turn back west to follow the same distance on the southern border of the Turnagain Arm. At this point we are almost due south of Anchorage and only a limited distance away as the crow flies. We have also driven past some amazing mountain ranges and glaciers up in the distance.

We blew through the town of Hope, with all 10 buildings clustered together it really wasn’t hard to miss. The road dead ends in a campground and we find the trailhead. This trail played right along the edge of the water, though we couldn’t see the ocean for most of the time. This is a temperate rainforest which receives over 1,400 mm of rain each year has a mean annual temperature between 39˚ - 54˚ F. This also means the trail is lush and overgrown with green biomass, therefore obstructing the view to the ocean.

During the times we did pop out to a clear view of the ocean, it provided an amazing interplay of green cliffs ending in muddy tidal flats, that gave way to the deep blue of the ocean, crowned by the snow capped mountains looming in the distance.

It was a great day of meeting new friends, hiking a great trail, and seeing some amazing sights.