Lost Coast, Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska #3367

Along the outside coast of Glacier Bay National Park Rick and Alice Johnson, along with my wife, explore the sea arch at Astrolabe Rocks just south of Icy Point. The part of the Alaska coastline that starts at Cape Spencer and ends at the Alsek River is sometimes referred to as the “Lost Coast.” It is rugged, seldom visited, stunningly beautiful, and includes a glacier flowing into the ocean, the La Perouse Glacier. In 1999 and again in 2011 I backpacked the fifty-mile section from Lituya Bay to the Alsek River. Both seven-day trips ended at a fish plant along the Alsek River, where there is an unpaved landing strip and ranger station. A ranger monitors the number of backpackers that walk the coast. In 1999 he counted about 20-25 people who had made the journey in the past year. When I showed up 12 years later in 2011, the same ranger greeted me using my name. I was amazed he remembered me. He reminded me that not that many people walk the coast and hardly anyone does it twice. That year only 20-30 people made the hike. Except for my traveling companions I never saw another person or boat on those trips, and just a few planes high above us. We saw many bears and far-too-many wolf tracks to count. The sense of really wild wilderness and aloneness was exhilarating. This photo illustrates the month of September in my 2021 Alaska calendar. Both the 2021 Juneau and Alaska Calendars can be ordered at markkelley.com or purchased locally at Hearthside Books, Juneau Artist Gallery, Ben Franklin Store, Super Bear IGA, and Foodland IGA. Thank you for visiting and be well – Camera: #Nikon #D850, Lens: #Nikkor 80-400, Digital Capture, Handheld ©Mark Kelley