The Eklutna Lakeside trail

The Eklutna Lakeside trail is 13 miles long with its designation, Eklutna Glacier. You can go beyond this point for longer hikes or whitewater rafting. Around 1995 I decided to hike the trail to the glacier. I also decided to carry as little as possible so I left my sleeping bag and tent at home and took a small pack with survival basics such as food, water and rain gear, though water was plentiful since the trail follows the lake for seven miles.

I had two days to do his hike even though it is recommended for almost twice that. I started out early Saturday morning walking briskly enjoying the warm (60 degrees) summer day and loving the back country with the mountains and lake near by.

Many bicyclists passed me as they scampered down the trail but I don’t recall seeing many hikers. Certainly I did not see any hikers near the end of the trail a half marathon away.

A half day later I was making excellent time though time was rather irrelevant to me at this at this moment. I was enjoying my time hiking in the state I loved and also enjoying my time alone away from the job at The Frameworks were I was a professional picture framer.

I didn’t stop much for breaks and come nightfall, if you can call it that at this time of the year in the land of the midnight sun, I decided to sleep for a while. As I said, I didn’t have a sleeping bag or a tent. I built a fire near the lake and heated up a bunch of large rocks which I buried in the sandy, rocky soil. I put on my rain jacket and pants and then laid on top of my warm bed to catch some much needed zzzzz’s.

I don’t remember how long I slept but I think it was just 3 or 4 hours. So since I wasn’t sleeping, I could be walking and that I did. Now it’s early in the am and I’m the only one on the trail. I didn’t see any large animals such as moose or bear- Just me, myself and I.

I finally made it to the glacier and boy was it worth it. Beautiful! I was also dead tired and my feet hurt. About a quarter mile from the glacier was a large bolder about 10 feet long and just as high. I decided that this was a great place for a nap and to break the morning chill. I built a small fire and lay between it and the boulder. It was nice and warm and evidently cozy because I feel fast asleep with my head on my backpack as a pillow. I think I got another four hours of sleep. I’m sure any approaching bikers may have thought that there was a bear beside that bolder growling because I’m known to be a loud snorer, especially when I’m very tired, and I was very tired.

I woke and ate a meal and decided it was time to head back to complete my marathon hike. My feet began to hurt a lot. I think I bought them a half size too small and with the swelling from the hike my puppies were barking. In desperation I tried walking barefoot. Nope, these wimpy feet couldn’t take that. I then tried with just socks-better but still a no go. I then stuffed my socks with leaves which helped but the leaves would not stay on the bottom of my feet and would work their way to the top.

I knew I would just have to tough it out so I put my boots back on. I’m sure my pace was half what it was the day previous not only from sore feet but from pushing myself so hard the day before. I was all but running the first day and back then I had a fast pace for walking and since this trail was mostly flat the whole way it was easy terrain.

I finally made it back to my car and was glad to be off my feet but not off the trail. I would have liked to go on like this for another week (with better boots) but responsibilities at home prevented that. I had a great time though and would recommend this hike or bike ride to anyone.