Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Kennecott Mine, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

From Kennecott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
Our two hour tour begins almost immediately upon arrival. I'm shown here with our tour guide and the following pictures are of the Root Glacier which dominates the landscape.

From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
The glacial silt covers the glacial melt, and although it looks very deep, our guide assures it is only inches to the ice.

From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
The National Park Service has refurbished some of the buildings, however others are being left to the forces of nature.

From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
On top of the old mill, the views are awesome!

From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
We are extremely fortunate to visit the Mill and begin at the top and be able to walk down the many stories and see the entire structure. This is the last year it is open to the public prior to the restoration process beginning next year.

From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
Here I find a shoe that was left when the mine was last in operation, decades ago.

From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
We hear music coming towards us, and look what we find!

From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
Shown next is the restored general store, as it looked back in the heyday of the mine.

From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
Walking along, my eye notices this cloud formation. The sun is disappearing fast!

From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
From Kennicott Mine, Wrangle-St. Elias NP
Back on the road, the inevitable happens - rain!

For further information on the Kennecott Mine

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