Let’s Fly !!
What you see above was our tour guide for 90 minutes over the Wrangell St. Elias Park. That’s 22 million acres of glaciers, 
mountains, and rivers. What a sight to see from 2 – 11,500 feet. I believe the highest peak we saw was just over 18,000 feet. I’m pretty sure our little Cessna wasn’t going to clear that peak, but no worries he just flew through the valleys and between lower peaks. We had almost perfect skies for flying. It’s also the first time I saw a mosquito at 11,500, but in fairness, he was just a passenger who didn’t pay and one I squished for none payment. :)
I’m going to fore warn you, there is a 190 pictures to look through but what an amazing sight and one I hope that each and everyone of you have a chance to see in your life time. It is a bucket list item for sure.
So after our morning flight we decided to take the van down to Kennecott where the Copper Mine was built in 1907 and ran until 1935. It’s a very long story how it all went down and made for a very interesting story. But in today’s dollars they made about 5.8 billion dollars from just this one mine. It still remains the richest mine every found to this date. To me the most fascinating part, considering the era, was the engineering it took to pull off what they did in such harsh climate. They we so good at extracting copper from the earth that they were able to shift and sort 98% of the copper from the earth. Of course the man that was digging, smashing, freezing, breaking bones, and dying survived but didn’t get rich. Their was only a few that got 95% of the riches from the land and once again prove that American Greed runs deep and long in her history. Some say that’s what makes her great, but do we always have to put the thumb on the little guy? How much money do you need to be called rich and why can’t they at least let a little trickle down to the masses. Ok, done with the rant.
Finally came dinner. Who would have thought staying in the middle of nowhere, no electricity in our room, no wifi, no cell service, that we could find a restaurant that would serve us a gourmet dinner? Don’t ask me the name of the dish, but this country boy can tell you it was a yard bird, chicken, with some veggies and fancy sauce. Damn good and a little pricey. But hey, Lori is paying so what the hell. What? She doesn’t have a job that pays, so I guess I’m footing this also.
Eh! What the hell. It was good and like my dad use to say, “You can’t take it with you.” So we just enjoyed it.
Tomorrow, we have nothing planned, so will just get up and find some breakfast and wing it. It’ll be our last day off the grid so to speak. It really hasn’t been that bad. The hotel is nice enough and the showers are excellent. The entire atmosphere is different and something everyone should give a go. I will say this, 2 full days is plenty to see the sights here, unless your a serious hiker.
Spectacular!
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