The Savage Alpine Trail is to be a newly constructed trail in the summer of 2010. The trail will be approximately 4 miles in length and will connect the Savage River Campground (mile 12) with the Savage Rock Trail (mile 15) on the Denali Park Road. The National Park Service crew working on this trail will be doing lots of rock work. This job isn’t for the meek, but for those who want to embrace the art of building rock steps and the like, this job will come with a million dollar view!
This crew will work 10 hour days, sometimes 4 days at a time (i.e. 3 day weekends), perhaps 8 days (6 day weekends) at a time. We start early around here and stretching at 7:00 AM will be followed by a short commute to the worksite and hard work until 5:30 PM. The park service crew working on this trail will consist of 10 members who will live at Savage River Campground.
Life at a Campground?
That’s right… there will be no red carpet rolled out at the Savage River Campground. You’ll have to let go of daily Facebook updates, flushing toilets, cellular access, and a hard-sided roof, but on the other hand, life at the Savage River Campground will come with some enticing amenities. The camp will boast a shower house with hot running water, a weatherport with a cozy wood burning stove for hanging out, a view of Mt. McKinley, and easy access to 6 million acres of wilderness. Crew members will each have a canvas wall tent to live in, with shared kitchen and food storage facilities.
Transportation
Crew members will be responsible for their own transportation to Alaska. Once living at the campground, crews will have access to a free shuttle that services the entrance area of the park. Otherwise, parking for personal vehicles will be available.
Weather
Nearly guaranteed – snowflakes will fly during the course of the summer and days that make a dip in the glacial Savage River seem possible will come around as well – this might all happen in the same day.
Hope to see you here!
(Photos above: Savage River Campground from above - the campground is at the far edge of the forest on the right hand side; The second photo is taken looking up at the worksite. Below: a map of Denali National Park - look for the Savage River Campground. Home Sweet Home).
