Hatcher Pass

Three day weekends! Woohoo! This whole no work on Monday thing is still something I'm getting used to. Oh, did I mention my job asked me to start full time in September? Well they did and I'm back in the saddle as a full time working woman. I am so thankful for the job I have as well as the co-workers and boss I have now too. They're amazing. A perk of my new hours is only working 4 day work weeks. So after Brian heads off to work for the day on Monday morning, Bosco & I usually try and get ourselves into some sort of adventure.

Some days are only filled with domestic adventures - mowing the lawn, weeding the flowers, tidying up the house, etc. This morning I woke up w/ the sun in my eyes and an itch for driving. (Sometimes I like to drive, in case you haven't noticed.) Despite having a to-do list a mile long, the need to go somewhere overtook me. So I packed a day bag, threw some clothes on and the beauceron in the car and off we went. 

I've heard a few people mention a place called Hatcher Pass in my few months here so despite the oncoming rain, we headed in that direction. Even with the overcast skies I could not have picked a better drive to soothe my restlessness. 

Up, up, up, we climbed along a winding road until we came to an old abandoned mine tucked in the mountains. Independence Mine, as I learned it was named as we strolled along the walking path, was Alaska's 2nd biggest load mine in Alaska's history. It flourished in the 1930's-1940's but many of the buildings still remain as historical and educational markers.

After fully exploring the mines many trails, we hopped back in the Subaru and finished the trek up to the top of the pass. On a clear day one should have a spectacular view of the mountains, but we had no such luck with our grey skies and intermittent rain today.

We wound our way back down the mountain opposite the way we came and finally picked the Parks Highway back up in Willow. I'm most certainly going to have to explore the top of this pass further under more favorable weather.