We left Talkeetna yesterday and stopped at to Visitor Center to get some info as to where to go in the Mat Su valley. They suggested going to Hatcher Pass and Palmer. Going down AK 3 to the Willow cutoff to Hatcher Pass and Palmer. Sounds good, the Hatcher Pass is supposed to have some great views we thought, and it did. Only 45 minutes down on AK 3 you will see the Willow cut off, no problem.
Well off we went. About 35 minutes later we saw a sign, “ Hatcher Pass”, camper in tow we made a left, first mistake. Down the road we went when we came to a sign, “End of Pavement”. That does not sound good, I thought, but the road looked ok. Not paved, but ok towing an 9 ton camper with at pickup.
Not paved is an understatement. The road got worse and narrower as we drove on. There was no place to turn around. There were workers fixing the road, they just waved us on with a smile. To the right, a rock face going staight up. To the left a drop off of about 500ft, with no guard rail.
But the views were unbelievable. The scenery indescribable. The pictures do not do it justice, but to say that Ann was upset, was an understatement (once we arrived in Palmer, she didn’t get out of the truck for about 10 minutes and couldn’t even eat). We never went over 25 MPH, the road were rough and twisty. There were grades over 10%, up and down. If we knew what we were in for, we would never have tried it. Especially pulling a 5th wheel camper. All of the locals we talked to since then could not believe that we make the trip. I was not worried at the time, and the truck came through, so far, OK.
So here we sit in Palmer. A OK. One more tale to put on the Blog.
The next day we back to Hatcher Pass. This time through Palmer, which is what we should have done the first time. We visited an old Gold Mine, which is now a state historic site.
Life is good on the Roan Roan...
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