8/1 - 8/3

Well we spent the last two days and one night at Kennicott Copper Mine which is in the bush of the Wrangle St Elias National Park. Let me set the stage. It is a 6o mile dirt road trip into the back country over 3 bridges to arrive at a walking bridge over the Kennicott River. Then we took another shuttle for 5 miles to the Kennicot Lodge and town that dates back to 1911. Kennicott mine was the largest copper mine in the world at the time and operated to 1938. They built a huge rock crushing plant to process the copper, power plant for electricity, housing etc for the workers, a 200 mile railroad line through the mountains and then ships to transport the copper to a smelter in Seattle.

 

Foot bridge over the Kennicott River (glacier fed)

Glacier in the background. Mt Blackburn 7,000’ mountain   

Kennicott14 story mill crushing/processing plant

Our lodge which was wonderful. 

Pics of the town. Kennicott only recently became a NP, 1986, and it’s a slow process to rehabilitate the buildings. Many have been completed, but the plant itself will take years to complete if ever. 

Debris at the top of plant. 

We took a mill plant tour which starts at the of top the 14 story building. It was quite interesting, but honestly climbing down narrow stairways, ducking under low ceilings, equipment etc, I’m really surprised that people are able to go inside this 100 year old all wood structure. Since it was left open to the elements, looters had their way. Likely what saved the buildings is the area is so remote. 

Looks safe doesn’t it?? 

After the mill tour were able to see the other parts of the town. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the Lodge at 7 pm. Filet mignon, twice baked potatoes and grilled asparagus were served for dinner. It was prefect end to the day. 

Bright and early we had a buffet breakfast and then lined up for a 6 mile glacier hike, crampons and all. It turned out to be a strenuous hike just to get to the glacier. (Our Trail guide)

Views and lunch on the glacier. The glacier at Kennicott is made up two different glacier flows combining where we entered on to the glacier. The Kennicott and Roots Glaciers combine just above the town. Kennicott is 27 miles long and 1,900 feet deep / Roots is 7 miles long and 900 to 1,000 feet deep. Interesting to note the glaciers are barely moving, but are melting in place. In 1911 the glacier at the town of Kennicott was 300 feet taller and blocked the view of the nearby mountain.

So I took this picture of the dog I shared my front seat with on the 60 mile shuttle ride both ways.