Alaska!

Rockskipper said:
I'm a little late in noticing this, but your photos are fantastic! And I suspect those hamburger rocks are stromatolites.
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Thanks - and I just checked out stromatolites. (Never heard of them before.) Have you studied geology formally or informally? I really wish I knew more and recently started watching youtube videos to learn. I'm thinking when I retire (end of this school year!) I might take a class at the nearby community college. It would be so fun to know more about what I'm seeing on these amazing hiking trips.
 
Janice said:
Thanks, Richard! I hope you saw my note about you: "...a solo young man (quite intrepid he was) whom we got to know a bit on Day 4 and then again on Days 6 and 7." We were delighted to meet you there!
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Yup I saw that while going through the thread and had a little chuckle. "Intrepid" is quite generous, I think "obsessive planner" is a bit more apt haha
 
Janice said:
Thanks - and I just checked out stromatolites. (Never heard of them before.) Have you studied geology formally or informally? I really wish I knew more and recently started watching youtube videos to learn. I'm thinking when I retire (end of this school year!) I might take a class at the nearby community college. It would be so fun to know more about what I'm seeing on these amazing hiking trips.
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I have a BS in geology from Utah State, but it's such a vast field I hesitate to mention it, as one could get a dozen degrees in it and still be woefully ignorant of the subject. Nick Zentner on Youtube as well as Shawn Willsey are both good.
 
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Rockskipper said:
I have a BS in geology from Utah State, but it's such a vast field I hesitate to mention it, as one could get a dozen degrees in it and still be woefully ignorant of the subject. Nick Zentner on Youtube as well as Shawn Willsey are both good.
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I'll check them out on youtube - thanks.
 
Janice said:
Thanks - and I just checked out stromatolites. (Never heard of them before.) Have you studied geology formally or informally? I really wish I knew more and recently started watching youtube videos to learn. I'm thinking when I retire (end of this school year!) I might take a class at the nearby community college. It would be so fun to know more about what I'm seeing on these amazing hiking trips.
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Be careful, once you go down the geology rabbit hole you find it is really deep and you just have to keep digging.

A good college textbook that was recommended by @Georgia Yankee is "Earth: Portrait of a Planet" by Marshack. I got an old edition for a reasonable price about a year ago. I highly recommend a real book if you want to learn. It would not help you with what you are seeing, but would give you a basic understanding to build on.

An awesome book is "Annals of the Former World" by John Mcphee. It is about geology and the plate tectonic revolution in the late 60s. It also has lots of interesting history. Great book.
 
wsp_scott said:
Be careful, once you go down the geology rabbit hole you find it is really deep and you just have to keep digging.

A good college textbook that was recommended by @Georgia Yankee is "Earth: Portrait of a Planet" by Marshack. I got an old edition for a reasonable price about a year ago. I highly recommend a real book if you want to learn. It would not help you with what you are seeing, but would give you a basic understanding to build on.

An awesome book is "Annals of the Former World" by John Mcphee. It is about geology and the plate tectonic revolution in the late 60s. It also has lots of interesting history. Great book.
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Thanks - just requested them from the library. (Michigan's statewide library network is great!) Now the challenge will be to make time to read...
 
Janice, What a Great Great Trip Report! Loved It! Yes isn't Alaska Incredible! In the years 2013 to 2017 and in 2021, went up and went all over areas in Alaska with especially along the coast! Good for you! Looks like you had a wonderful adventure!

Thanks and Best to You!
 
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Just looking again at your trip report. Loved your photos and everything. Best to you!
 
Hi Diane - We considered various options but ultimately decided on another Wrangell St. Elias trip, the Seven Pass Route. The glaciers on this route were really calling to us. We and several friends will do a guided trip with the same company we used last summer, Expeditions Alaska. I had wanted to go to Denali, so I did some research and found a shorter, on-trail backpacking trip near Denali a few of us will do un-guided before the other trip. It's the Kesugi Ridge Trail in Denali State Park, which is about 40-50 miles from Denali. We'll spend 3 nights there, and if we get clear skies (which I know is not a given) we should have great views of the mountains off in the distance. Fingers and toes crossed for good weather at least part of the time!
 
Janice, Sounds Good! Hope you get to see the mountain bigtime! Several times have been up in Denali NP. Both times when there saw the mountain under clear skies which was outstanding. And you heading back to the Wrangell St. Elias area again. Outstanding. What dates or time period when you think you will be there? Have been in the Wrangell area, both at Kennicott and at Yakutat with Absolutely Loving It.

Janice, onetime coming back in late August, was on the ferry and it docked at Yakutat. That evening the skies were clear and the whole Wrangell St. Elias Range was White and bathed in Alpenglow by the evening light. Simply Gorgeous! Yes that Wrangell St. Elias Area is soooooo Incredible! If younger would love to go back in there and live and be all summer with just enjoying life. Good For You in Going Back!

Also lately have been very much thinking of Alaska. And one of my thoughts is going up in the spring and summer with biking and hiking all over. Alaska can be expensive but simply outrageously Gorgeous! If indeed do go up, maybe we could meetup somewheres. See What Happens. But Good Good For You and do know that you will sooooo Enjoy.

Again Best To You!
 
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