JHONY WINTER O SOLOMON LAKE TRAIL - KENAI FJORDS NATIONAL PARK - VALDEZ - ALASKA
near Old Valdez, Alaska (United States)
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Trail photos
March held on Wednesday, July 29, 2015
NOTICE: It is understood that anyone who wants to do this same route assumes the responsibility that an activity entails that is not exempt from possible risks or incidents, in an environment in which common sense and circumstances can make the difference between having a good day or the opposite.
You have to leave Valdez in the direction of the capital Anchorage, and after a few miles take Dayville Rd. to the right, which borders this bay and passes to the other side, in front of Valdez and next to the oil refinery. Leave this behind and after five minutes on the left you will find a small car park, where you will have to leave your car. An information post indicates the reason why this Solomon trail is also known as Jhony Winter, a deceased character from this area, and whose memory is recognized in this simple way.
Of course, in said informative post, they once again remind us of the recommendations to follow in the event of a fortuitous encounter with bears (which in this area, at least would be black and not grizzly bears). We, after the encounter on the Exit Glacier trek with the black bear, have decided to do what many people do, and now we are equipped with a pepper spray, which almost looks like a weapon of mass destruction, because according to the instructions it reaches ten meters, producing the same effects as the tear gas used by riot police. Of course we prefer not to have to use it, although surely by suggestion, it seems to give us a plus of security; and it is that three or four years ago, a geologist who was touring the area was attacked by a female black bear, apparently quite large and angry, which would later be killed, but which ate an arm of the young researcher and destroyed part of the other. Once the route has started, it runs on a steep slope, and with a couple of curves that turn this beautiful section that does not reach a kilometer into a pleasant path, in which the thick vegetation on both sides would not allow us to see our friend plantigrade until we had it on top. To take into account, that in a group of eight people and quite noisy by the way, it is difficult for any type of bear to want to approach. Upon reaching the first elevated and flat part, there is a fork, where you have to ignore the branch to the right, to continue straight ahead, now with a steep descent until you reach a gate for vehicles and the ever-present manhole with the log book, which you should especially use if you are going alone or with little company. Again, another stretch of ascent before descending again somewhat abruptly to a wooden bridge, which over the Solomon River also allows the passage of those in charge of the maintenance of the Solomon Lake that supplies water to the population of Valdez. A little further on you can see the elevated pipes, which transport the water to the town. Up to here we have traveled a little over two kilometers and we have headed southeast, but at this fork instead of continuing straight ahead, we take to the right along a path that has narrowed slightly, and that with a couple of curves in a gentle ascent, first to the right and then to the left, and after crossing another small wooden bridge, you end up reaching a waterfall of the same river that we crossed a while ago. From the previous bridge to this other one and Solomon Lake, the course changed to the south, and you have to go a little steeper, to the three or four crossings that you find and that you are not interested in taking. In fact, from the waterfall and after passing the second wooden bridge, there are about three hundred meters before reaching another detour to the left, which if you take you will reach the small lagoon right next to the lake-reservoir. We continue straight another two hundred meters, until the same dam that contains the water of Solomon Lake. To the right from the dam, there is another branch of this same path that we continue for a few meters, but that we abandon without being able to investigate, due to lack of time. The return is made by the same route as in the first leg.
Waypoints
Intersection
363 ft
g. primer cruce
29-JUL-15 21:56:47
Intersection
426 ft
i. tercer cruce
29-JUL-15 22:00:31
Intersection
432 ft
j. cuarto cruce
29-JUL-15 22:01:36
Intersection
622 ft
m. cruce por la izda. a la laguna y de frente al Solomon Lake
29-JUL-15 22:17:18
Intersection
365 ft
h. segundo cruce al mirador, al Solomon Gulch Trail y conducción de agua
29-JUL-15 21:57:19
Information point
428 ft
e. poste informativo
29-JUL-15 21:50:51
Photo
643 ft
ñ. mirador a laguna
29-JUL-15 22:21:59
Bridge
559 ft
l. segundo puente de madera
29-JUL-15 22:12:49
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