With summer almost here again, Cordova, Alaska, draws me like a magnate. Displaying fresh wild salmon from the Copper River for sale at a local supermarket makes the desire to go there again even stronger.
A couple of summers ago, I spent several days on vacation there. I always remember my experiences below ….
My flight from Seattle had taken about three hours, including a brief stop in Anchorage flight time from Anchorage to Cordova was about 35 minutes. Like all visitors to Cordoba, who had to choose my mode of transport between only three possibilities: Cordoba visitors must travel by boat, ferry or plane. No roads or lanes to Cordoba.
On This time, I came to Cordoba in Cordoba that was a day very, very hot – over 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Everyone I met on my arrival, had something to say about the unusual heat. If the feared climate change arrived in Cordoba and the Copper River Delta?
My getting a good look in Cordoba was Ski Hill, overlooking Cordova, harbor, and the Sound of Orca to the west and east, Eyak Lake and the Copper River Highway (passing through the airport).
Blueberries were ready to gather in the mountainside. Bunchberry plants ubiquitous color of the slope with its bright red berries.
At the end of the day, I hiked along a nearby stream, which wound through the dense, moss-carpeted forest tropical. Spawning salmon filled the stream from bank to bank.
From my house overlooking the creek, I saw the sunset paint Heney Peak with warm orange-red tones to the music of salmon jumping in the water below.
The next day was again hot, so I spent the day with my friends picnic and swim at the Recreation Alaganic Slough site, located in the Copper River Delta. For children, there is nothing to beat a mixture of sand and water on a hot day, and liquorice, the Labrador Retriever who accompanied us, the only problem was persuading people to throw a stick water. Our arms tired tired long before recovering licorice stick another launch.
Later in the day, I hiked to Crater Lake. It is 2.4 miles to the crater lake and is a modest increase. The trail climbs quickly through a forest of fir and hemlock. Vegetation around the lake is varied and includes dwarf blueberry with sweet, delicious fruits. Crater Lake, the sight of Orca Bay and Orca entrance was spectacular.
Day three of my holiday was booked for a trip to Sheridan Lake and Glacier in the Alaska river rafters. A bus ride that brought us the walk would take us to the lake. The rafts were soon boarded for the trip to the water and the selected participants of waterproof boots.
Before Hiking to the lake, our guide gave us a lecture about what to do if they meet all the bears along the road. The mountain landscape visible since the road was impressive. We stopped on the road for a brief chat with our guide on the glacier and moraine. We soon reached the lake.
After to put on our survival gear and listening to the raft of safety instructions, we boarded the rafts, and were finally under way. From the lake, which were marveling at the flowered hillside, ice, glacier and high mountains.
On our way to the rapids of river ice obstructs the path had to be removed by our guides to allow barges to pass. Once in the clear water, we had to put our cameras in waterproof bags and hang on our trip through the rapids at the outlet of the pond ….
On the fourth day, our little family group traveled along the road to Childs Glacier Copper River.
While four out of five glaciers feeding the Copper River Delta were named after the Civil War generals – Sherman, Scott, Sheridan, and Miles – Childs Glacier was not.
In 1884, Lieutenant William R. Abercrombie, who led the first U.S. military exploration of the Copper River, called Childs, Childs Glacier George Washington in Philadelphia.
The glacier is 300 meters high and is possibly the most active glacier in Alaska. Visitors can often see the huge masses of ice Glacier calving into the river. "
On the way back to Cordova, I stopped to shoot two beautiful trumpeter swans, which were of standing on a beaver lodge. Later, I stopped again at the photograph of a swan family that included three pigeons.
On my last day in Cordoba, the fifth day, I put my camera, water, and some food and headed to the Power Creek Road.
The path is 4.2 kilometers long and ends at the Cabin Creek Power.
Along the way, I stopped to photograph the dam beavers and lodges – and the tasting of Alaskan wild blueberries.
The end of the trip was worthwhile walk. The cabin was beautiful, and met the high mountain peaks. From the deck of the roof of the cabin, could only sit and marvel at the mountain scenery.
After of returning to Cordoba, there is still enough time for a short hike along Trail Ridge Heney.
The trail begins at the edge of Orca Inlet and winds through dense forests. For the photographer, a tripod is a need to take sharp pictures in the dark. I was particularly interested in photographing mosses and mushrooms on the forest floor.
The walk ended my 5-day summer holiday in Cordoba.
Now that summer is almost here again, I long to return to Cordova and its water, forests, ice and mountains.
Copyright © 2007 Royce Tivela
Summer vacation in Cordova, Alaska, June 12, 2007
More information about Cordova, including images, can be found at
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