Alaska 2025 – 16

Yes, this is the Mt. Marathon hiking trail. Away I go!

The hike up the mountain quickly turned into a quest. Which way did the trail go? It started out as a Jeep trail, but it hasn’t been maintained for years. There were rain runoff ruts that were up to three feet deep. I really don’t believe ANY jeep can climb this! There didn’t appear to be any clear trails so I chose different routes going down from those I took going up. In the pictures of the stream, I took the left side going up and came down the right side. The sign marks the END of the Jeep road and the start of the hiking trail. The fields of blackberry ahead gave me the jitters. BEAR country. The stories are real! See the trail?

This waterfall is off-trail. I avoided it on the way up because it was quite a climb in itself. I planned to save it for the way down IF I still had the energy.

This is the Jeep trail. All loose, sharp rock! And very steep!

At times I found myself chest high in these evil plants. I got in deep before I realized it and had no choice but to keep going. Over and over it seemed.

Once I reentered treeline the view disappeared but the trees and the moss and the ferns made up for it. Some of trees were larger than three feet in diameter.

Hiking 101: ALWAYS READ THE SIGN!

I read the yellow squares on the sign at the start of the trail UPON RETURNING.

• Use of this non-designated trail system by the general public in NOT recommended. Persons requiring rescue may be billed for rescue services.
• These trails are not maintained. There are no trail markers. There is NO safe route. It is even more dangerous going down!
• Due to the extreme terrain and weather, help may take a long time to arrive. Be prepared to wait, even overnight.
• DANGEROUS TERRAIN LOOSE ROCKS STEEP SLOPES CLIFFS MUD SLIPPERY SHARP SHALE DUST LANDSLIDES SNOWFIELDS ICE AVALANCHES
• Watch out for falling rocks and boulders. If you can’t safely stop it yell “ROCK” to alert hikers below you.
• WEATHER DANGER UNPREDICTABLE CHANGEABLE HIGH WINDS DENSE FOG COLD HEAT RAIN SNOW SLEET
• Avoid dehydration, bring plenty of water to drink. There is no safe water along the trail.
• Unpredictable wildfires, black and brown bears, moose, porcupine.
• Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.

Hike first, read later?