Valdez: "Mineral Creek Canyon"

I've mentioned before how BIG everything is in Alaska. The flowers are huge (you can see my little hand below). The animals are gigantic and the scenery is larger than life.

When I was in my hometown 2 months ago, I took a drive back Mineral Creek Canyon. I don't know why they call a 'Raging River' a Creek. I guess because we have 8 of the 32 largest rivers in the US, in our state, and Mineral Creek isn't one of them. I didn't take any photos of the river, it was too grey, cold and menacing to immortalize. I did take some of the scenery along the way, but first, let's go back 25 years:

Here's a photo of my dad and the oldest 5 (I'm the nerd on the back) crossing our favorite bridged waterfall, back Mineral Creek Canyon! The bridge is all decayed and washed out now.

The waterfall it crossed is still there and just as beautiful. I'd guess about 20 waterfalls feed into Mineral Creek.

The northernmost point of the coastal Pacific temperate rain forest is in Valdez, on Blueberry Hill, not too far from Mineral Creek Canyon. You can tell from the lush, 6 foot fern growth, that Valdez has a rain forest climate. It's so temperate and wet.

My mom used to hike back here, when she was ready to go into labor. It seemed to work! I loved seeing the steep mountain walls and the "Avalanche Area" signs! There is still snow on the mountains in July!

The best part of Mineral Creek Canyon is the Salmonberry bushes. Profuse, if you can get to them before the bears, and not a thorn on the stalk. The fruit is mouth watering and makes great jelly.

This was a really rainy year in Alaska and not much fireweed was blooming. I did see a bit, covered in raindrops, that made my day, but it was nothing like last year's "Crop." I spent one summer, between college semesters, digging up Wild Iris's back Mineral Creek Canyon. I then transplanted them to my yard.

This is what they looked like, although they weren't in bloom when I was there 2 months ago (maybe because I removed them ALL, 20 years ago??!!)

It was so comforting to visit places I'd love to explore as a child, places I frequented as a teen-ager. Of course, Emily (my Best Friend) and I didn't go back TOO far into the canyon. The bridge was washed out and we didn't want to be reminded of our 4-wheeling accident back there. I'll post about that someday, when I get up my nerve!!