Prospect Heights Hike

We got a hike in up the Wolverine Peak trail, not too long ago.  We were surprised to see the parking lot paved.  Did we miss a year?  This is one of the closest 'real' in the mountains trails and we go here every year at least once.  And the paving looked fairly new.  Maybe they paved it after we were there last summer.  Or maybe we missed a summer.  

And instead of a metal mailbox like box to put your parking envelope and money in, there is now a new electronic parking pay station.  We have an annual pass, but I was curious to see how much a day pass was, but it wanted me to swipe my card before telling me how much I'd have to pay.  Is this because there are different prices for different weekends or holidays, than for weekdays?  I don't know.  

I don't know is the prompt for me to check.  State parks website says:   

"Nightly camping: $10 to $45 per night 

Daily parking: $5 to $10 per vehicle"

Starting off on the trail, there was a giant vehicle clearing a wide path below the power line. [This goes on up to Powerline Pass]

In my memory, there's always been green below the power lines.  This was like a buzz cut.  

The whole state, including the Anchorage hillside is much more aware of fire danger.  In California power companies have paid large fines because fires have been caused by broken power lines.  So that's my positive interpretation of this new clear cutting under the power lines. The picture on the left is looking south, on up to, eventually, the Flattop area.  

 

One of my favorite spots is the bridge that goes over the rushing Campbell Creek as it pours down the mountain and eventually to a calmer existence in town.  

It was a warm, sunny day.  Though hazy.  There had been reports of fires near Fairbanks and the Matsu area and when we were driving home we could see a big white cloud rising in the distance.  

The trail goes on up about three miles, then there's a smaller, steeper trail that goes up above treeline and to this view of Wolverine Peak.  This was one of the first trails we hiked back in 1977 or 1978 when we first got here.  There's a big rock as the trail emerges into this view.  We have lots of pictures over the years of the kids standing on the rock.  Didn't take a picture of the rock this time.  Also, the treeline is higher up than it used to be.  And the permanent ice bank above the big rock was no longer there.  And this was in June.  

While most people seem to curse dandelions, I think they're pretty cool.  And the leaves are full of vitamins.  

The bugs seemed to like them too.  

Here you can see how hazy it was from the rock.  On a good day, this spot has a view of Denali.  We could barely see the Inlet behind downtown Anchorage.  

Yes, I'm thinking a lot about how all three of our national legislators voted for the big horrible bill.  And I may or may not comment sometime here.