Susitna Float, or, Riding Alaska's Train

Somehow Jess and I have both managed to live in Alaska and, more specifically, Anchorage, for several years without figuring out the Alaska Railroad whistlestop train.  After hearing about it from a couple of people in a row, we decided to get some experience with it first-hand.

 
We had a truly incredible few weeks of weather.  There are many outdoorsy things that won't get Alaskans excited (moose, for example).  Great views of Denali always will, though.


The Hurricane Gulch whistlestop train runs out of Talkeetna up to Hurricane Gulch.  Less than $25 gets you a ride on the train, and you can hop off where ever you want.  If your adventure requires you take a ride on the train back, you can also flag the train down where ever you want.  Pretty sweet deal.


We got off at Gold Creek for a float back to Talkeetna on the Susitna River.  We were delayed a couple of hours on the train (turns out the Princess trains carrying the tourists bring in more money for the railroad and thus get priority on the track), so we floated for a couple of hours the first night, then set up camp on a gravel bar.


Blue skies, few bugs, and a soft gravel bar to camp on.  Doesn't get much better than that.


Jess gets artsy with the camera.


Jess on the float out.  It was another five hours or so on the river before we hit Talkeetna, all in weather like in the photo.  Pretty awesome.