Slaughter Gulch - Cooper Landing, Alaska

Brought my own shade - a tremendous help to protect from the sun’s blaze.

I attempted to climb Slaughter Mountain the summer after my surgery in 2016. I hiked just over a mile on the trail to a lookout at 1500’ where I stopped and, instead, picnicked with my companion. I then turned back down the mountain. We spent the afternoon canoeing and swimming in a nearby lake.

Needless to say, this climb has been on my To Do List for some time.

August 3, 2019 friends drive the two hour trip down from Anchorage to Cooper Landing to meet up and climb the Slaughter Gulch Trail with me.

According to a topographical map, at 500’, we begin our ascent toward the peak at 3200’ - for a total gain in elevation of 2700’. The information we read online indicates the length of this hike is 4 miles in distance. However, we each confer, at the beginning and at the end of the climb, with our Fitbit and Health Apps - all of which log in at 6 miles and just over.

Rated at difficult, we spend a total of six hours enjoying this brutally vertical experience; photographing, chatting, picnicking, blueberry picking and lounging atop the mountain. The panoramic view inspires and makes the heat of the day, the muscle burn, the pounding of the heart and the catching of breath worth every painstaking step.

The descent is as arduous as the ascent. Footing is precarious and two of us forget our trekking poles. So, we use our hands and hinders to scale down rocky, narrow areas that have long, alpine drop-offs to one side of the trail. We run out of water, one of us suffers blisters and a knee sprain and another of us a foot strain. We reach the trailhead wobbly and parched. We congratulate one another on our feat before we depart north and south to, no doubt, long, hot showers awaiting at each destination.

Today . . . we check in with one another via text - the report? Tired, sore . . . and ever the conquerers! Life is good.

photos compliments of Almita.

Dirt encrusted ankles - even after a rinse off in the lake. Awesome hike

Sitting on the steps of Wildman after the hike powering up on cheese and chocolate milk. Trail dust coat my legs