Friday, September 11, 2009

North Face Trail

We just couldn't get enough of Girdwood this weekend! We headed back for more. This time was quite a bit more challenging as we set out to hike the new North Face Trail that goes to the top of Aleyska. The good news is that if you make it all the way to the top, you get a free tram ride down!
Here we are getting ready for our adventure!And quite an adventure it was! This warning was posted at the bottom of the trail. If the steep climb, and bears don't get you, maybe the unexploded artillery shells will. Don't worry, we did not see any bears, or explosives. We did get attacked by bugs though.
Andrew had Chloe this time, and I had the backpack/baby survival kit/kitchen sink.The trail started with a steep climb, then meandered through a low brush vally. There were all sorts of cool wooden paths interspersed in the beginning.This is the "calm before the storm". We were feeling good at this point, just before the trail changed to a very steep and windy incline.Me, Chuck and Farah near the top. We are being attacked by bugs, and stopped only for a split second for this picture. If we kept moving the bugs stayed at bay. You see I am still wearing the backpack, but it was only a few minutes later that I had to get Andrew's help. Whew it got so heavy there at the end, with my lungs and legs burning it was nice to have the weight lifted.
By the time we got to the top we were exhausted, too exhausted for a group photo--although I wish I had one now. It was a challenging hike, and oh man were we glad to have the tram ride back down!

2 comments:

Allen & Julie said...

We have got to take that hike! Do you think old G-dad and G-mom can make it? As for trams, What goes down must go up right?

Amber said...

Okay... You guys are insane! Did Chloe just chill the whole time?!? I bet it was beautiful up there.