Girdwood, AK

Girdwood like so many cities here in alaska got their start as a mining town with stakes on Crow Creek, Virgin and California Creeks.  Girdwood was originally named Glacier City but later re-named after James Girdwood who was an Irish immigrant and linen merchant with four gold claims on Crow Creek.

Like Vladez, AK when the earthquake of 1964 hit with a magnitude of 9.2 the city had to be moved because it was built on unstable ground but in the case of Girdwood the earthquake caused the coastal edges along the Turnagain Arm 8-10 feet!  The town now sites 2.5 miles up the valley.


A little more history can be found by clicking on this link.  GIRDWOOD HISTORY

This is just going to just be a little day trip to hike the Winner Trail.



The parking area for the Winner Creek Trail is at the Alyeska Resort and a walk through the main lobby, up the stairs and out the back door.











The trail is wide and easily walked by anyone taking you through a mature forest of spruce-hemlock, extensive boardwaks over bogs.








This is Winner Creek Gorge












The most interesting part of this trip is the hand tram car over Glacier Creek

This is the view down from the hand tram, quite a ways down and yes the tram does shake and sway a little.

 This is the trail head at Crow Pass Road where we had bikes stashed in the woods for a easy ride back into town and a little lunch at Chair 5.  Next time I want to try their pizza.