RoadNotes: The Hatcher Pass Adventure

Eagle River State Campground, Eagle River, AK – August 6 & 7, 2014

Arriving on a Wednesday afternoon, we were really surprised to see the campground almost full. As the afternoon wore on, more and more RVs circled the campground being unsuccessful in securing a site for the night. Good thing we got here early. We managed to snag a primo spot, in fact it’s the same one we saw a moose and her baby wander through last time we were here.

Unfortunately, the facilities here at the campground continue to deteriorate. Last time we were here, the fresh water supply was inoperable, and this time, that still hadn’t been fixed and now both dump stations are out of order. I’m guessing that since it is so late in the season, these things will not get repaired until next summer.

But, we are going to be away for most of the day exploring Hatcher Pass, which is on a 49 mile stretch of road, mostly gravel, running from just north of Palmer to Willow. And let me tell you, the GPS is doing everything it can to avoid this road.

Between Eagle River and the intersection with the Parks Highway you must first go through the Palmer Flats. This is a huge swampy plain at the base of the mountains where the winds constantly blow. The Element gets blown around pretty good, I can only imagine how exciting it will be tomorrow when we drive Big Guy through here.

Along the way to Independence Mine State Historical Park which is at Mile 17 of the Hatcher Pass road, the scenery is all around us. It is soooo green.

At the turnoff to the mine is the Hatcher Pass Lodge. The only place to stay over night and get a meal on this road.

We arrive at the Independence Mine visitor center. It was formerly the mine managers house.

Although some of the buildings have been repaired, many are left in an unrestored state. Most of the actual mining structures are what have been left untouched. They had several hiking paths so off we go.

Many pieces of equipment were left just where they were when the mine shut down in 1951. When the government fixed the price of gold at $35 an ounce, the Independence, like many other mines, could no longer make a profit and eventually ceased to operate.

This is the entrance to the water tunnel which dramatically streamlined the mines operation.

The remains of the tram tower that was formerly used to transport the ore from the mine to the processing plant before the water tunnel took over that function.

Several Artic Ground Squirrels came out to entertain us.

The elevation here is 3500 feet and if you look really close you can see that the temperature is a balmy 50 degrees.

With our explorations of the Independence Mine complete, it’s time to continue on the Hatcher Pass Road.

We arrive at the Pass, named for Robert Hatcher, a prospector and miner who began the gold boom in the Willow Creek mining district of the Talkeetna Mountains in 1906.

It’s all downhill from here. We we let some of the faster traffic past us, well one truck, and continue on down the mountains towards Willow in first gear. We pass by more current and abandoned mining operations,

Hungry after all of our exploring we find a small pullout next to a vigorous creek and stop for a bite to eat. It’s windy and there is a slight drizzle, but the Element provides a nice cozy sanctuary from the weather.