The Willow Creek Valley is a gorgeous glacier-sculpted valley with the Little Susitna River running down it -- beautiful turquoise blue because it's fed by the glaciers.

When we pulled over for a picture of the river, there just happened to be a black bear pulling a huge salmon out across the river from us. In the first shot Neil happened to catch the moment when the fish broke free and glinted in the sunlight making it look fake. This is not a Photoshop enhanced picture!  A moment later, the bear clamped down on it and dragged it to the bushes.

Independence Mine was a working and productive gold mine until 1943 when the war department closed it down as being non-essential to the war effort. There is a self guided tour with informative signs and good descriptions of life at the mine. (another information link at Independence Mine.) Neil put together a nice photo panorama.

 

We climbed up for a view of the mine and the valley stretching out below. Magnificent. And there was a little ground squirrel that came out for the view too.

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