Alaska – Canada Travels 2014, Palmer and Independence Mine at Hatcher Pass, July 28th to August 1st.

Palmer is an unpretentious, comfortable, homey community north of Anchorage. It has a long agricultural history and record-sized vegetable are grown here.

Palmer, where giant veggies come from. No other town would boast a sculpture of giant veggies.

Flowers at the Palmer Botanical Garden.

The drive to the Independence Mine follows the beautiful Little Sustina River.

From Palmer we take the Hatcher Pass road to the Independence Mine Historical Site. A visitor center documents the history of the mine with interesting photographs. The former gold mine is perched in a glacial bowl high above timber line with dramatic views. The State of Alaska has done an admirable job at preserving the buildings and mining operation. There are trails with interpretive signs that explained a lot about the operation. It’s well worth the visit and the fun of photographing the structures.

Independence Mine.

The preserved buildings are being repainted the original white.

 

The ore train.

The mine tunnel.

 

Some things can't be saved.

The old ore train tracks.

The mine above the timberline is ringed by mountain peaks.

Administrative buildings.

A look inside a supervisors apartment.

Looking through a window to the past.

The building were originally white with red trim. Someday they'll all be repainted.

We camped at the forest service Government Peak Campground at the base of the climb to the mine and rode our bikes back up to the mine the next day. This was a ride suggested by sprinter owners we’d met. It was very steep most of the way, a popular ride with the locals and a good bucket list ride if you’re in shape. As always the ride down was worth the climb.

The Purple Moose Expresso in Palmer. Love the roof.

 

Tomorrow we’ll be on our way to Valdez.

See you down the road.

Jackie