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The Butte - June 13, 2001 It takes about 10 minutes to drive to The Butte from Palmer. The climb is steep and strenuous. I walk to the top of The Butte and back in an hour. People run it much faster. There is some steep rock scrambling so care is needed in a couple of places. The reward for climbing The Butte is a terrific 360 degree view -- the Talkeetna Mountains, Chugach Range, Knik Glacier, Matanuska River and, on a clear day, Mount Susitna. click
on an image to see a larger view... |
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Much of
the climb up The Butte is steep and strenuous, depending on how
fast you go. The Butte is 881 feet above sea level.
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The first
part of the trail is steep and dusty, we climb through a grove of
small Aspens. There are many wild Serviceberry bushes and wild roses
(Prickly Rose).
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We climbed
through rose-perfumed air, marveling at the abundance of these delicate
wildflowers.
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The profusion
of blossoms are delicate shades of pink.
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After
passing through the Rose/Aspen regime, the south slope becomes more
desert-like with some small sagebrush, Oxytrope, and grasses. There
are one or two stretches of steep rock scrambling, depending on
the exact route taken. As we neared the top, the clouds began to
break up and it turned into a warm, sunny day. Still plenty of snow
on Pioneer Peak, visible to the south of The Butte.
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The summit
of The Butte is dry and rocky.
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More Flowers Seen on The Butte |
View to
the southwest overlooking the Matanuska River.
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Driving
Directions: From Palmer, drive south on the Old Glenn Highway.
From Anchorage, take the Old Glenn Highway exit towards Palmer.
There is a flashing traffic light at the Old Glenn Highway and the
south end of Bodenburg Loop. Turn on Bodenburg Loop. There is parking
on the right just before the first bend in Bodenburg Loop. There
is a fee of $5.00 for vans, $3.00 for cars, more for buses. There's
a portable toilet across the road from the parking area.
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And slightly
more south of southwest, overlooking the farm fields south of The
Butte.
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Looking
northeast towards the Knik Glacier from just north of the top of
The Butte. Blooming Mouse Ear Chickweed, a relative of the domestic
plant Snow-In-Summer.
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This page last updated July 24, 2006 |
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Digital photographic images are the property of Kathryn Eberhart. Image use info/contact us.
© 1997-2007 Kathryn Eberhart
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