28th day - 217 miles

Sometimes you find the best things in the most unlikely places. I found the best burger today. Period! Where? At the end of the McCarthy Road, an 80 mile long unimproved single lane dirt road in the middle of the Wrangell Mountains.

I ventured down this road to see the Kennecott mine, a deserted cooper mine that once was known as the richest known concentration of copper in the world. It was abandoned in 1938 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986. Definitely one of the highlights on this trip!

But back to the burger or to be more specific Texas Style Burger. Perfect size, a hint of pink in the center, lightly charred on the outside, juicy inside, accompanied by two slices of grilled bacon, crispy lettuce and a perfectly melted slice of cheddar. But what put it over the top was the homemade barbecue sauce. Sweet and tangy with a nice little kick, perfectly balanced.

I’ll be back someday. Definitely!

Below are two interesting links about the mine:

The Kennecott Story

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kennecott,_Alaska

Mount Drum, a 12000ft high volcano in the Wrangell Mountains.

It's Sunday morning in Kenny Lake, Alaska. Here you come to church any way you can. Car, work truck, with or without equipment or your ultra light plane.

Chitna River Valley.

Bridge crossing over the Kuskulana river 238 feet below. This is the same bridge build 1910 for the railroad that connected Kennecott mine with Cordova.

Oh no! Wooden deck again. But this time dry. Good! (Not on the way back!!)

The McCarthy Road was build by putting gravel over the old rail bed. Sometimes you still see the rails and wood beams peeking through.

Along the McCarthy Road...

Old trestle bridge used by the railroad. Fortunately I did not have to pass over this one!

Wild Thing!

Kennecott smelter house.

Inside the smelter.

The 27 story tall Kennecott mill. Here the ore that came from the mines high up in the mountains by cable buckets was ground and processed.

Kennicott Glacier with moraines below Kennecott mine. The mine got the name from the Glacier but the founders misspelled the name.