Run to Bonanza Mine at Wrangell St. Elias National Park

A few days after running the marathon at Wrangell St. Elias National Park I was out exploring. The hike/run to the Bonanza Mine at Wrangell St. Elias National Park was my FAVORITE place of all the areas I visited on this trip to Alaska. The scenery is spectacular! It was a strenuous climb up amongst the clouds (3,800 feet of elevation over 5 miles) but once to the top near the mine you have sweeping vistas of the Chugach Mountains, Mt. Blackburn (when clear), and the Kennicott Glacier. It was just a little cloudy when I was there but it didn't leave me without a purple mountain embrace, a valley floor like colored popcorn and a gravely glacier gliding along at a speed a snail would be annoyed at. So fun!
If you go to Wrangell St. Elias do this hike. There was a lot more at the top I didn't get the chance to explore. I understand that at one point you can actually go over the saddle and down the other side. Worth going back to.
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