Denali National Park - Alaska and Points North: Tips and Tales from the Road - page 122

As you leave the mine and head higher into the hills, there is plenty of evidence of contin-
uedmining-dirtroadswithbig“DoNotTrespass”signs.Lookhighupintothehillsabove
these roads and you'll see ledges cut into the sides of the mountains with tenuous-looking
wood scaffolding clinging to the rock face. These are the mines of today. Prospectors al-
ways hope for the big strike but in the meantime, eek out a living because there is still gold
in them thar hills.
The total loop - Wasilla to mine and back to Willow on the Park Hwy is about 100 km /60
mi. The road to the mine is paved and easy. Rich green-clad hills fold down into sweeping
valleys punctuated by the reflective ponds created by so many industrious beavers dam-
ming the creeks. Reminded me of the luscious rolling greens of New Zealand.