Alaska The last Frontier Trails and Glaciers - McCarthy-Kennicott- Harding Lake - Valdez- Fairbanks

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 by Abe Sanoja 

Alaska, The Last Frontier: 
Trails and Glaciers

Alaska Journey    2025

 

 

Alaska continues to surprise and humble me with its vastness, silence, and overwhelming beauty. During this journey, I explored a wide stretch of its rugged landscape, beginning in Fairbanks, where the summer skies often fill with smoke from wildfires sparked by lightning. These fires, documented since before 1924, are part of the rhythm of this land. Just south of the city, I found peace and stillness at Harding Lake, one of the countless lakes across Alaska that reflect the sky and i...

I was warmly welcomed in Fairbanks by my friend Kelly, whose generosity and friendship I deeply appreciate. From there, we traveled first to McCarthy, a remote and almost romantic village surrounded by mountains and history. Nearby, the Kennicott copper mines tell stories of resilience and boom times long past. We hiked to the Root Glacier, stood on its icy surface, and heard it creak beneath my feet, an unforgettable and humbling moment.

We also had the privilege of watching Native Alaskans fish along the Copper River using traditional methods, continuing a cultural legacy tied to the famous Copper River salmon.

From McCarthy, we drove to Valdez through the breathtaking Thompson Pass. The landscape changed dramatically, and the mountains came alive with waterfalls cascading down every slope like silver ribbons. Valdez, framed by ocean and cliffs, felt like the end of the world in the most beautiful way.

Alaska remains a place where glaciers, lakes, wild trails, and history blend into something unforgettable and deeply moving.

by Abe Sanoja

Alaska sigue sorprendiéndome y haciéndome sentir humilde con su inmensidad, su silencio y su abrumadora belleza. Durante este viaje, exploré una amplia extensión de su agreste paisaje, comenzando en Fairbanks, donde los cielos de verano a menudo se llenan de humo de incendios forestales provocados por rayos. Estos incendios, documentados desde antes de 1924, forman parte del ritmo de esta tierra. Al sur de la ciudad, encontré paz y quietud en el lago Harding, uno de los incontables lagos de A...

Fui recibido cálidamente en Fairbanks por mi amiga Kelly, cuya generosidad y amistad aprecio profundamente. Desde allí, viajamos primero a McCarthy, un pueblo remoto y casi romántico rodeado de montañas e historia. Muy cerca, las minas de cobre de Kennicott cuentan historias de resiliencia y de épocas de auge ya pasadas. Caminamos hasta el glaciar Root, nos detuvimos sobre su superficie helada y lo escuché crujir bajo mis pies, un momento inolvidable y lleno de humildad.

También tuvimos el privilegio de observar a nativos de Alaska pescar en el río Copper utilizando métodos tradicionales, continuando un legado cultural ligado al famoso salmón del río Copper.

Desde McCarthy, condujimos hasta Valdez a través del impresionante paso Thompson. El paisaje cambió de forma dramática y las montañas cobraron vida con cascadas que descendían por cada ladera como cintas plateadas. Valdez, enmarcado por el océano y los acantilados, parecía el fin del mundo en la forma más hermosa.

Alaska sigue siendo un lugar donde los glaciares, lagos, senderos salvajes e historia se mezclan en algo inolvidable y profundamente conmovedor.


por Abe Sanoja


































































                                                            I will never forget you Alaska 

Copyright © 2026 Abe Sanoja
All rights reserved.

The writings, photographs, and content shared on this blog are the work of the author and may not be reproduced or distributed without permission, except for brief quotations used in reviews or educational discussion. I love Alaska , Thanks Kelly for a great opportunity and the places we discover  and been my Friend. 

Many of the ideas presented here are also part of The Kitties of the Camino Book Series – A Journey of Values, a collection of bilingual stories for children inspired by the spirit of the Camino.

To learn more about the books and follow the journey of the series, please visit the books section of the blog:
The Kitties of the Camino Book Series – A Journey of Values
https://tortuga-hiker-camino.blogspot.com

For permissions, questions, or inquiries regarding the books or the blog, please contact the author at
caminante.abe@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting and for hiking and walking with me . 


Location: Alaska, USA

Comments

  1. Kathy SondheimJuly 17, 2025 at 10:09 AM

    Beautiful!! Looks like an amazing adventure!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. SOLINSAJuly 24, 2025 at 11:42 AM

    Hola Abe! Leímos tu post desde SOLINSA, las fotos están increíbles. Qué gusto ver por dónde andas.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousAugust 27, 2025 at 8:13 PM

    Cute tortuga

    ReplyDelete

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