What we hoped to be a scenic 4-day backpack along Kesugi Ridge beginning at Little Coal Creek and ending at Byers Lake turned into a truncated two-day out-and-back slog. The first day hiking up from Little Coal Creek trailhead, the northernmost access route to Kesugi Ridge, was nice--good weather and mountain views, although not of Denali. My pack was too heavy--probably about 50 lbs, partly because I carried dog food for my pooch; he has leg issues, so I didn't put the added weight of a pack on him. And partly because I carried extra water for him. I'd gotten mixed reports on whether there were enough water sources along our initial route and I wanted to be sure he didn't get dehydrated. Note: there is plenty of water for your dog, even in such a dry summer as we've had this year. No need to pack extra!
It would be hard to get lost on this section of Kesugi Ridge even in the fog, as rock cairns dot the trail above treeline. Hiking south, the mountains are on your left and the Parks Highway and the Chulitna River are on your right. We could occasionally hear a big truck downshift and at one point I heard the whistle from the Alaska Railroad train. But mostly the ridge feels wild and rugged and reminded me of just how small a speck I was in the landscape.
Just as we set up camp at about mile 8, the storm blew in. We wolfed down dinner in the wind and rain and dove into our tents. Some of us slept well; others struggled. One tent blew over and puddles formed inside. Two people woke up with swollen eyes from bug bites. We had to yell to be heard over the rain pelting our hoods. Nobody made coffee or ate breakfast that morning. Everyone agreed we should pack up our sopping wet gear (which made it weigh more) and go back to the Little Coal Creek trailhead.
It would be hard to get lost on this section of Kesugi Ridge even in the fog, as rock cairns dot the trail above treeline. Hiking south, the mountains are on your left and the Parks Highway and the Chulitna River are on your right. We could occasionally hear a big truck downshift and at one point I heard the whistle from the Alaska Railroad train. But mostly the ridge feels wild and rugged and reminded me of just how small a speck I was in the landscape.
Just as we set up camp at about mile 8, the storm blew in. We wolfed down dinner in the wind and rain and dove into our tents. Some of us slept well; others struggled. One tent blew over and puddles formed inside. Two people woke up with swollen eyes from bug bites. We had to yell to be heard over the rain pelting our hoods. Nobody made coffee or ate breakfast that morning. Everyone agreed we should pack up our sopping wet gear (which made it weigh more) and go back to the Little Coal Creek trailhead.