Adventure found in the seat of a Jeep

Where can you find gold, alpine vistas, breathtaking views of Mount McKinley, wildlife and even the location of a murder mystery? All of these and more can be found along Petersville Road, just outside of Trapper Creek.

Petersville Road is a rugged mining road and the southern gateway to Denali -- perfect for those who love adventure. This road and other surrounding landmarks were named after Henry Peters, who was one of the first prospectors in the area. For some time now I've wanted to travel down this road through Alaska's backcountry, but feared my little car would never make it through the dips, creek crossings and mud. Although the first 10 miles are paved, the road becomes progressively rough and narrow the further you travel. So instead of taking my own vehicle, I reserved a seat on one of the newest tours offered in the Valley -- the Denali Jeep Backcountry Tour.

Operated by Alaska Travel Adventures, the Denali Jeep Backcountry Tour allows visitors to the area an opportunity to travel more than 30 miles along Petersville Road in the comfort of a Jeep Wrangler. Complimentary shuttle service is provided from the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge and Mount McKinley Princess Lodge or you can meet the group at the Trapper Creek Trading Post -- the staging area for the Jeep tours. As long as you are at least 25 years old and have a valid driver's license, you can sit in the driver's seat and caravan along with the guide Jeep leading in front. Each vehicle can seat up to four passengers and if there is more than one person who wants to drive in the group, taking turns is allowed.

Our tour started off with a mini orientation session designed for the drivers to become familiarized with the Jeep and how it handles. Each vehicle is equipped with an interactive two-way radio system, allowing the guides to communicate directions and give tour narration as well as opening dialog between the passengers in each Jeep. As we started our driving adventure, our guides Jeff and John did a great job explaining the history of the area, landmarks and making the trip fun. We called each other by code names like "Night Rider' and "Mr. Big" which created a more relaxed atmosphere and helped us track who was speaking to whom.

Some incredible views of Denali appeared early on our trip and we could see Mount McKinley, Mount Hunter and Mount Foraker in plain sight. Thankfully, the weather was fantastic and skies were clear that day. We passed long-standing establishments like the Forks Roadhouse and the town of Petersville and learned about the people who lived and mined in the area. As we approached the canyon, Jeff and John cautioned the drivers to take it slow and steady, avoiding the soft shoulders. As we neared the end of the canyon, we turned right at the fork in the road, crossed Peters Creek and stopped to stretch our legs and take in the inspiring views of the Peters Hills, Dutch Hills with McKinley in the background. Jeff unloaded the gold pans and we tried our luck at striking it rich. Some of the visitors actually found flecks of gold while others were more enamored by the salmon swimming by. The tour included a hearty snack of beef stew, buttermilk biscuits, and apple pie and topped off with a cold beverage.

On our way back we were told that if we turned left at the fork in the road, we would be heading toward the area where Sydney Laurence captured spectacular views of McKinley as seen today in some of his famous paintings. If we turned left we would have also been in the area known as Cache Creek -- infamously known as the location of the Cache Creek Murder. Check out The Mystery of the Cache Creek Murders by Roberta Sheldon to read about this event in history. As an Alaskan, one of the things I was impressed with the tour is its effort to minimize impact to the area as much as possible -- packing out what has been taken in and communicating the importance of this to the clients.

I'm glad I had the opportunity to travel down one of Alaska's spectacular roadways -- rich in history, beauty and unforgettable scenery. For more information about the area, driving tips and what to bring, visit www.alaskavisit.com and go to "Featured Tours."

This is one you won't want to miss.

Important Petersville phone numbers

Here are some phone numbers you don't want to forget when exploring the Petersville area -- Trapper Creek/Petersville Area Services Blue Ribbon Mine, Hstart. at/alaska_gold; Cache Creek Lodge, 733-2401; Denali Backcountry Jeep Tours, (800) 791-2673; Dollar Creek Ventures, 733-3000; Forks Roadhouse, 733-1851; Gate Creek Cabins, 733-1393; Mount McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, 733-2900; North Country Bed & Breakfast, 733-3981; Trapper Creek Bed & Breakfast, 733-2234; and Trapper Creek inn & General Store, 733-1002.