Above: Kennicott Cottage is located on Silk Stocking Loop. When I first visited Silk Stocking in the 1980s, it was overgrown with alders. The house was in disrepair with hanging doors and porcupine-chewed door frames. The wood shed doubled as an out-house with a two-seater honey bucket set up where the hot showers now are.
Below: Located deep within the heart of Wrangell St. Elias National Park, getting to Kennicott is an adventure in itself. Some say the McCarthy Road is the worst in the State, it can be if you don't take the time to notice the flowers, wildlife, incredible wilderness scenery and views such as the one below - frequented by pairs of migrating swans on their way to nesting sites in quiet areas of the Preserve. The recommended speed limit if driving is no greater than 35 mph, less on blind curves.
Above: The view of the Kennicott Mine Buildings is from an extension of the Silk Stocking Row trail where you can hike across National Creek, above the waterfall, near the top of the 10 story mill processing buidling. Tours of the mill building are provided by the Naitonal Park Service and/or one of the local guide services in Kennicott. You can learn about the copper extraction and ammonia processing as well as some of the history of the area.
Below: The mining town of Kennicott in its heydey, 1901-1938, had bunk houses for most employees. Only a few Managers were allowed to live in the Kennicott Millsite with their families. Kennicott Cottage is one of those facilities and one of the only ones open to the public.
Above: The government and community has worked together in in planning process for non-motorized access but at the sametime allows non-discrimination for disabilities. There are usually carts available to carry luggage across and wait for a shuttle to Kennicott. Or, you can hike about a half mile into McCarthy to catch a shuttle. Shuttle services end by 8 pm and may run hourly or less frequently depending on the time of the season
Below: Before the footbridge, we had a hand operated tram to all building supplies, food and fuel, including our 160 lb propane tanks... over the two rivers near the foot bridge.
When you get to Kennicott Cottage, you will find many original features and cozy amenities, including propane cooking facilities and refridgerator, hot showers. The showerhouse is about 10 to 15 feet from the back door and used to double as the wood shed.
Above: The view from Kennicott is the glacier "toe" or forefront of the Root and Kennicott Glaciers, as well as Mt. Blackburn one of the tallest peaks in north America (in the clouds to the left here). In the center of the Root and Kennicott Glacier is Donahoe, here in the foreground. It is a nice day hike or overnight camp trip. For assistance crossing the glacier and finding the bear safe boxes, contact Kennicott Wilderness Guides at 554-4444 in town, or stop by the National Park Service Ranger Station for some information.
Below: Also in town, you can see a local citizen and National Park Service partnership project - the Kennicott Recreation Hall. Through the assistance of the Friends of Kennicott, a registered non-profit, locals were hired and grants obtained for cost effective grass roots rennovation projects. The hall is used for Park Service presentations, music and dance events as well as yoga classes summer long. It is also available for conferences and weddings. Contact the Meghan Richotte at the National Park Service or Thea@AgnewBeck.com for more information.
Above: One of the most fun things to do in Kennicott is hike to Bonanza Ridge to see the area wide view. It is beyond words. Make sure it is a sunny day to get the most out of it. The last part of the hike is steep and slipperly shale. It is about 7 miles uphill from Kennicott, partly above the treeline. You will get to see another ghost town at the Bonanza mine, or what is left of it. In the picture above you can see the Chugach Mountains beyond the Wrangell mountains that we are hiking in.
Below: Easier hikes or hikes for all ages are hiking through the town of Kennicott. You don't need a tour guide to be fascinated and wonder what life would have been like in the old days living on the glacier connected to the rest of the world only by a railroad to a steamboat in Cordova on Prince William Sound. Independent travelers or mountain bikers may enjoy a half day hike up the glacier, a gentle trail with a few foot bridge stream crossings to Eire Mine. On a sunny day, the mountain air and glacier breezes are joyful.
Above: The National Park Service is rennovating some of the buildings in town to preserve and protect the history and culture of the townsite. These buildings display the differing roof styles in evidence during the years of operation fo the mill, shingle, tarpaper and metal.
Below: Kennicott Mill was the hub for Eire, Bonanza and Jumbo Mines on ridges to the north and east of the mill. The steep and inaccessible terrain was overcome by bringing the ore down on aerial trams, faintly visible on the right side of th is picture of Bonaza Mine.
Above: The tall stacks of the power building mark the spot across from our other house, Lot 78 an unrestored cottage that has collapsed since this picture. Surrounding the cottage are other private homes. Originally, the boardwalks in front of the homes were kept ice free by steam heated pipes from the power house when the mine was in operation.
Below: in the early days, before our propane refridgerator, we harvested glacier ice to keep the drinks cold. Some local year-round residents use root cellars over the winter to stop produce from freezing.
Above: McCarthy airstrip is one mile long and a gravel runway. The mailplane comes twice a week and can take two passengers with up to 40 lbs of gear. Contact Gulkana Ellis Aviation for information. Flight services are also available from Chitina if you really don't want to drive the McCarthy Road.
Below: The fun is in getting there, stop at Liberty Falls off the road between Edgerton Cuttoff and Chitina for a refreshing break.
