Alaska's Fireweed

Alaskan Fireweed plant. Named for the striking blooms on tall stalks, Fireweed is probably the best known wildflower in Alaska. Patches of fireweed can be seen growing throughout Alaska's more temperate regions.

In mid to late summer fireweed begins blooming in the middle of the stalk, with each successive flower blooming just above the one before it. As the last flowers are blooming at the top of the stalk, the earliest blooms seed and turn to cotton. When the fireweed turns to cotton, Alaskans say there are about six weeks until winter begins.

All photo's taken by Nancy Stull-Stewart

A Hike up Flat Top Mountain

Flattop Mountain is a 3,510-foot (1,070 m) mountain in the U.S. state of Alaska, located in Chugach State Park just east of urban Anchorage. It is the most climbed mountain in the state.
It is usually reached by driving to the Glen Alps trailhead and following a well-maintained 1.5-mile (2.4-km) trail, with an elevation gain of 1280 feet (390 m) from the parking lot to the summit. Since it is the most accessible mountain to Anchorage, Flattop is a very popular location for hiking, climbing, berry picking, paragliding, and backcountry skiing. Campouts are held on the summit at the summer and winter solstices.
Flattop is known for its panoramic views of Anchorage and the surrounding area, including Denali, Mount Foraker, and Mount Spurr.

Summary: The trail starts with a wooden staircase and switchbacks through hemlock until reaching the alpine tundra at Blueberry hill. The last few hundred feet are steep & rocky. The views are great from the top of the 3550 ft peak. On clear days Mt. McKinley and Mt Redoubt can easily be seen. If so desired a person can continue along the ridge to the southeast to the next two peaks, elevations 3658 ft. and 4111 ft. During the summer and winter solstice the Mountaineering Club of Alaska holds overnight camp-outs on the summit, despite the lack of water.
Rated easy-moderate due to the elevation gain in the short distance and bad trail conditions near the top. The trail holds several potential hazards. Exercise extreme caution as you approach the summit. Several hikers have been seriously injured after slipping on the loose rocks and falling off the side. Stay between the markers that are set near the summit.
Novices may have problems. Not recommended for small children.

All photo's taken by Nancy Stull-Stewart

This was one of the hardest hikes I have ever done and made it to the top of the mountain.

Fun Facts about Alaska

General
We have areas that get

• 24 hours of daylight
• 24 hours of night
• 3 million lakes

How big are we? Very big!

• 586,400 Square Miles
• We are 2 times the size of Texas
• We have 29 volcanoes
• 33,000 miles of coastline!
• 1,400 miles North to South
• 2,700 miles East to West
• Over 1/2 the world's Glaciers
• 55 miles east of Russia
• We are the only state to have coastlines on three different seas.
  Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea.