{"id":7999,"date":"2017-03-30T08:10:38","date_gmt":"2017-03-30T14:10:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=7999"},"modified":"2019-04-10T07:47:49","modified_gmt":"2019-04-10T13:47:49","slug":"lupes-last-mile-west-anchor-point-alaska-8-27-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=7999","title":{"rendered":"Lupe’s Last Mile West, Anchor Point, Alaska (8-27-16)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 29, Part 1, of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska<\/em><\/p>\n

No sign along the Sterling Highway (Alaska Route 1) mentioned beach access.\u00a0 There had to be a way to get there, though, didn’t there?\u00a0 The first road W that\u00a0SPHP tried in the small community of Anchor Point led to a housing subdivision on a bluff overlooking Cook Inlet.\u00a0 No way down.\u00a0 This couldn’t be right.\u00a0 Back to the Sterling Highway.<\/p>\n

There had been a sign a little S of here for the Anchor River State Recreation Area<\/strong><\/a><\/span>.\u00a0 SPHP\u00a0drove back\u00a0to try that.\u00a0 This was it!\u00a0 The road wound downhill, crossed the Anchor River, and ended a\u00a0mile or so\u00a0later at a parking lot next to Cook Inlet.\u00a0 SPHP parked the G6 (8:10 AM), and Lupe\u00a0jumped out.<\/p>\n

It was a beautiful morning –\u00a0bright, mostly sunny, with a cool fresh ocean breeze.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP headed down to the beach.\u00a0\u00a0A little to the N, a tractor was busy launching a boat into the ocean.\u00a0 Across Cook Inlet of the North Pacific Ocean, two massive volcanoes, Iliamna and Redoubt, white with ice and snow, stood out as giants among lesser peaks on the far shore.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe arrives at Anchor Point on the shore of Cook Inlet, a huge bay of the North Pacific Ocean. Iliamna Volcano is visible on the far shore. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A tractor was busy launching boats, one by one, into Cook Inlet.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Iliamna Volcano<\/a><\/span> (10,016 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>. Photo looks NW using the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Redoubt Volcano<\/a><\/span> (10,197 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, the highest mountain of the Aleutian Range, is less than 200 feet higher than Iliamna. Photo looks NNW using the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to legend, Anchor Point got its name in 1778\u00a0when famous explorer Captain James Cook of the British Navy lost an anchor somewhere near the mouth of the Anchor River.<\/p>\n

Lupe wasn’t here to search for Captain Cook’s anchor.\u00a0 She was here to reach a personal milestone, one that would likely endure the rest of her life.\u00a0 No road connected to the\u00a0North American highway system goes any farther W than the road she had just taken to Anchor Point.\u00a0 Somewhere along the gently curving stretch of beach to the S, a mile away or less, was the westernmost point on earth Lupe would ever reach.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Somewhere less than a mile beyond Lupe, this beach reaches its westernmost point and starts curving slightly back toward the E. At that point, Lupe would be as far W as she will likely ever be in her whole life. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Despite having had a huge adventure yesterday crossing Kachemak Bay aboard the water taxi XtraTuff to climb Grace Ridge<\/a><\/span> (3,136 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, Lupe was energized!\u00a0 She raced along the deserted\u00a0sand and mud flats exposed by low tide, seagulls swirling overhead.\u00a0 SPHP plodded along after her, enjoying every moment of the exhilarating\u00a0seaside stroll.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe streaks away over sand and mud exposed by low tide, seagulls swirling overhead. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Whee! Lupe was energized!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The shoreline headed only slightly W of S from where Lupe and SPHP started.\u00a0 It would\u00a0gradually curve back to true S, and then slightly E of S.\u00a0 SPHP had no way of knowing which particular spot was the farthest point W along Lupe’s route.\u00a0 It would hardly matter, since the entire beach was only marginally farther E than the exact westernmost point.<\/p>\n

Lupe posed nicely in the sun for a couple of shots looking W toward the open ocean.\u00a0 If Lupe wasn’t at her westernmost point here, she was very close to it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe on the shore of Cook Inlet very nearly as far W as she will likely ever be. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP continued S, and perhaps a bit farther W along the shore.\u00a0 Seagulls took flight whenever Lupe or\u00a0SPHP got too close, only to land again a short distance away to resume strutting about the beach.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Seagulls liked to strut about the beach picking at whatever they found of interest. Whenever Lupe or SPHP got too close, they took off, only to land again a short distance away. Another part of the Kenai Peninsula is seen in the distance, beyond Kachemak Bay. Some of it is farther W than Anchor Point, but access is limited. There are no roads over there. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The exposed beach was very flat.\u00a0 Most of it was quite damp.\u00a0 In some places it was simply muddy.\u00a0 Lupe passed over large patches of seaweed left stranded by the ocean.\u00a0 Strange odors arose from the seaweed.\u00a0 Lupe sniffed to her heart’s content, learning about life in and near the ocean.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe sniffs the strange odors given off by seaweed. Large stretches of the beach were completely covered with it.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Far to the SW,\u00a0barely visible\u00a0on the horizon, was another volcano.\u00a0 It was much smaller than Iliamna or Redoubt, and looked blue instead of white.\u00a0 This was\u00a0Augustine Volcano<\/a><\/span> (4,025 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, which sits on an island presumably of its own making, in Cook Inlet.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Augustine Volcano was barely visible on the far horizon. Photo looks SW using the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Not a soul was around.\u00a0 The shoreline was deserted, except for the seagulls.\u00a0 The fresh ocean breeze blew.\u00a0 Waves rolled endlessly ashore.\u00a0 Lupe explored and sniffed.\u00a0 SPHP continued S.\u00a0 Finally, a long straight stretch of beach was ahead.\u00a0 To the E was a bluff.\u00a0 To the W, several large rocks could be seen\u00a0at or\u00a0near the edge of the water.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
A busy Carolina Dog explores the shoreline along Cook Inlet. A long stretch of beach was ahead, with a bluff to the E. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Over near the end of the bluff, a few large rocks could be seen close to the shoreline. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Beyond the bluff, the beach made a more noticeable turn E.\u00a0 If Lupe hadn’t already\u00a0passed by\u00a0her actual farthest point W, it was\u00a0almost certainly near\u00a0one of those big rocks W of the bluff.\u00a0 That was as far as Lupe needed to go.\u00a0\u00a0SPHP christened the\u00a0largest, most distant rock\u00a0as the “Rock of the West”.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Approaching the “Rock of the West” (R of Center).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although the Rock of the West had appeared to be on shore when SPHP first spotted it, by the time Lupe reached it, the tide had come in further.\u00a0 The Rock of the West was now a small island.<\/p>\n

This point on the beach was the end for Lupe.\u00a0 She must have been at least a mile\u00a0from the Anchor Point parking lot by now.\u00a0 More of the Kenai Peninsula across Kachemak Bay to the S was gradually coming into view as Lupe had approached the Rock of the West.\u00a0 Either this was it, or Lupe had already completed her last mile W somewhere along the way.<\/p>\n

Here,\u00a0a few\u00a0feet\u00a0from\u00a0the Rock of the West, Lupe was as far W as she would ever be in her whole life.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe as far W as she will ever be, a few feet away from the Rock of the West at Anchor Point, Alaska. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Only 13 days ago, Lupe had reached her farthest point N along the Dietrich River nearly 90 miles N of the Arctic Circle.\u00a0 Now she had reached another\u00a0milestone in life.\u00a0 Both moments were beautiful and wonderful, but also bittersweet.<\/p>\n

It was wonderful that Lupe had journeyed so far, and expanded her world so much.\u00a0 She had seen so many new places, and had so many memorable experiences.\u00a0 Yet it was sad to think that this was also an end, a boundary beyond which she would never go.<\/p>\n

For a while, Lupe and SPHP stayed together, looking out to sea near the Rock of the West.\u00a0 The same sea encircles the globe.\u00a0 Far beyond the horizon was a world of exotic lands, entire continents to explore.\u00a0 Lupe would never see them.<\/p>\n

So, Looper, if you had a ship like Captain James Cook did so long ago, where would you sail?\u00a0 What distant, exotic lands would you explore?<\/em><\/p>\n

Squirrel island!<\/em><\/p>\n

Oh, for Pete’s sake!\u00a0 Come on, let’s go!<\/em><\/p>\n

The return trip along the beach was every bit as relaxing and beautiful as Lupe’s journey to the Rock of the West had been.\u00a0 Sea and sky were blue.\u00a0 Seagulls and mighty volcanoes were white.\u00a0 Boats bobbed on the water or zoomed away over the waves, no doubt in a rush to reach Squirrel Island.\u00a0 Surf exhausted itself uselessly against the edge of North America, but made the most calming, relaxing sound on earth doing so.<\/p>\n

Right here, right now, was a glorious place to be!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Iliamna Volcano across Cook Inlet. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Redoubt Volcano(L) on the way back. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Blue sky, blue sea. White seagulls, white volcano.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Seagulls with a grand view of Iliamna Volcano. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Augustine Volcano(L). Wouldn’t it have been fun, if Lupe had only had a ship that would have taken her over to the island it’s on? Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
American Dingoes are known to roam as far W as Anchor Point, Alaska. They seem to like it here! Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Another boat launched by the tractor gets underway. Redoubt Volcano in the background. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Someone sets off in search of fabled Squirrel Island.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Despite an unrushed, easy pace, Lupe’s last mile West hadn’t taken long.\u00a0 By 9:35 AM, she was back at the G6.\u00a0 A major milestone was now behind her, but more adventures were in store, this very day!\u00a0 This afternoon she would be on the Skyline Trail to the Mystery Hills, which certainly sounded like fun.<\/p>\n

Yet it would be a long time before Lupe and SPHP would forget the Rock of the West and\u00a0being here together\u00a0at beautiful Anchor Point, the farthest W Lupe ever went, standing at the edge of the sea, gazing out toward the world of possibilities that lay beyond the restless waves.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Links:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Next Adventure<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Prior Adventure<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose\u00a0from Lupe’s 2016 Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, <\/span><\/em>Dingo Vacations Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a> or Master Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/a><\/span><\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Day 29, Part 1, of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska No sign along the Sterling Highway (Alaska Route 1) mentioned beach access.\u00a0 There had to be a way to get there, though, didn’t there?\u00a0 The first road W that\u00a0SPHP tried in the small community of Anchor Point … Continue reading Lupe’s Last Mile West, Anchor Point, Alaska (8-27-16)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7988,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[726],"tags":[704,105,752,106,26,104,753],"class_list":["post-7999","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2016-canadian-rockies-yukon-alaska","tag-alaska","tag-american-dingo","tag-anchor-point","tag-carolina-dog","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-lupe","tag-lupes-last-mile-west"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/IMG_2426.jpg?fit=1651%2C1238&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7999","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7999"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7999\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21777,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7999\/revisions\/21777"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7988"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7999"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7999"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7999"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}