Page 37 - Richardson And Glenn Highways (East Alaska)

East Alaska 0 with Bearfoot
RICHARDSON HIGHWAY
SOUTH OF DELTA Wild country on the Richardson Highway.
ALASKA RANGE
About 60 miles south of Delta Junction the Richard- son Highway crosses the Alaska Range at Isabel Pass. Road grades are gentle, even at 3,000 feet. This is magnificent scenery, with closeup views of moun- tains and rivers.
The Richardson Highway follows the Delta River to Black Rapids and the take-out point (Mile 212) of the Delta Wild& Scenic Rivertrip. Afew miles to the south (Mile 198) is the summit of Isabel Pass with a pulloff and a great view of the Gulkana Glacier, which feeds streams to both the north and south. The road bor- ders Summit Lake, a wild tundra lake (Mile 195) and at its end, you can view spawning salmon, just north of Paxson (Mile 190). At Paxson (Mile 185), the Rich- ardson Highway intersects the Denali Highway, which heads off to the west and the Parks Highway. Contin- ue on the Richardson to reach Meiers Lake (Mile 170, Gakona Junction (Mile128) and Glennallen (Mile 115).
DENALI HIGHWAY
Turn at Paxson, Mile 185 of the Richardson, onto the Denali Highway. The first 20 miles are paved to Tan- gle Lakes. This is a quiet, remote campground site where you can go fishing, canoeing and berry picking. The entire Denali Highway is 135 miles long and links up with the Parks Highway to the west, at Cantwell. Past Tangle Lakes, the De- nali Highway is a gravel road that runs along the Alaska Range , with excel- lent grayling fly fishing, great views and big rivers.
SOUTH OF DELTA Wild country on the Richardson Highway.
ALASKA'S GUARDIANS
The lodges of roadside Alaska were like light- houses - guard towers - set at long intervals out on the lonely wilderness roads. They were a place to stumble into for help in the dead of night and freezing cold. Lodges provided safe- ty, food , shelter, and a helping hand. In Alaska , the term "lodge" is a very loose term. An Alaskan roadhouse was not usually scenic, or something you 'd take a picture of to send back home. But each and everyone of them was indispensable.