The group decided to explore Alaska on foot, we split up into two hiking groups. One team (5) hiked along the Whittier canyon gorge while the other team of three hiked the strenuous Harding Icefield Trail. The trail is 4.5 miles one-way, 3-4 hours each way, 3000 feet elevation gain, 25% grade level (indicates steepness). The trail ends at the summit (3482 feet elevation) several hundred feet above the icefield where hikers can actually walk onto the ice field. The first three miles of the trail is beautiful with panoramic view of snow-capped mountain range, lush vegetation, colorful flowers and fresh water streams running off from the melting snow. Beyond the three-mile post (~2800 feet), the landscape changes drastically with bare hills patched with blankets of snow. Snow is a plenty even in mid-July at 3000 feet elevation and even on the trail pathway. Hiking up the hilly path in the snow can be quite a challenge and physical without proper gears. I was not prepared at all while my other two hiking companions were well-equipped with hiking poles and snow-spikes. One had to share one pole with me while the other shared one snow-spike to help me with sure-footing and balancing walking on the snow both ascending and descending the mountain... This is indeed one of the highlights of the trip.
Link to fishing gallery: https://pbase.com/mic_hong/alaskafishingjuly2016
Link to Anchorage/Seward gallery: https://pbase.com/mic_hong/alaska1jul2016
Link to bay cruise gallery: https://pbase.com/mic_hong/alaskacruisejuly016
Link to Denali NPP gallery: https://pbase.com/mic_hong/alaskadenalijuly2016