Uploaded September 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
We have ventured north of Anchorage to a GORGEOUS area called Hatcher Pass! And for the first two days in the area, we backpacked to the Mint Hut, which was a grueling trail full of mud, water, and wasps, but led us to some of the most EPIC views we have ever seen. We hiked to some striking blue lakes and spent a beautiful night tent camping, surrounded by mountains. It was one of our favorite Alaska memories yet!
Driving the Alaska Highway to Alaska? Check out our eBook with everything you need to know to drive the Alaska Highway: adventuresofaplusk.com/alaska-highway-ebook
🔗Links
See our backpacking gear & packing list: adventuresofaplusk.com/ultimate-backpacking-packing-list
Follow our Adventures in Alaska: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZKRTK1yCEM5XwFFPSYE6Ifj_KdXL5UwM
Missed our drive to Alaska? See the journey here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZKRTK1yCEM5UxLKP3MI17m-syJkqYABj
Our camera + hiking gear: adventuresofaplusk.com/gear
⌚Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
00:42 Driving to Hatcher Pass
01:26 Starting the Gold Mint Trail
02:45 Let the wet, muddy trail begin!
04:32 The final climb to the hut
05:17 We made it to the Mint Hut!
06:21 Tour of the Mint Hut
07:57 Our tent site for the night
09:35 Hiking to Moonstone Lake
11:13 Trying new backpacking meals
13:30 Coffee + Packing up
14:02 Hiking back down
14:43 I got stung by wasps
17:28 We made it back!
📍Locations in this vlog
Gold Mint Trail to the Mint Hut: alltrails.com/trail/us/alaska/gold-mint-trail
__________
📷 See ALL of our gear: adventuresofaplusk.com/gear
🚐 Our Van Life products: adventuresofaplusk.com/blog/van-conversion-cost-tour-mistakes
💻 Follow us on social media!
Instagram instagram.com/adventuresofaplusk
Facebook: facebook.com/adventuresofaplusk
Pinterest: pinterest.com/adventuresofaplusk
🌎 See everywhere we have been + view our blogs and travel guides:
adventuresofaplusk.com
__________
👋🏼 About us
Hi y’all! We’re Adam, Kathryn, and Kona, an adventurous married couple (+ pup!) living on the road in our self-converted sprinter van! You can often find us driving all around the US and Canada, scoping out the best coffee shops, eating tacos and ice cream (we're a 5+ taco and 2+ scoop household), and enjoying nature.
We help travelers spend less time (and stress!) planning their trip and more time enjoying it! Our detailed travel guides, YouTube videos, and travel resources share the must-visit local eats, popular and off the beaten path sights, and tons of tips to make planning your next adventure a whole lot easier.
Note: We’ve linked a handful of items so you can see exactly which products we take with us. Full disclosure--if you click on these links and make a purchase, we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. We will only ever recommend products we truly love, actually use during our adventures, and think you can benefit from too!
We have ventured north of Anchorage to a GORGEOUS area called Hatcher Pass! And for the first two days in the area, we backpacked to the Mint Hut, which was a grueling trail full of mud, water, and wasps, but led us to some of the most EPIC views we have ever seen. We hiked to some striking blue lakes and spent a beautiful night tent camping, surrounded by mountains. It was one of our favorite Alaska memories yet!
Driving the Alaska Highway to Alaska? Check out our eBook with everything you need to know to drive the Alaska Highway: adventuresofaplusk.com/alaska-highway-ebook
🔗Links
See our backpacking gear & packing list: adventuresofaplusk.com/ultimate-backpacking-packing-list
Follow our Adventures in Alaska: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZKRTK1yCEM5XwFFPSYE6Ifj_KdXL5UwM
Missed our drive to Alaska? See the journey here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZKRTK1yCEM5UxLKP3MI17m-syJkqYABj
Our camera + hiking gear: adventuresofaplusk.com/gear
⌚Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
00:42 Driving to Hatcher Pass
01:26 Starting the Gold Mint Trail
02:45 Let the wet, muddy trail begin!
04:32 The final climb to the hut
05:17 We made it to the Mint Hut!
06:21 Tour of the Mint Hut
07:57 Our tent site for the night
09:35 Hiking to Moonstone Lake
11:13 Trying new backpacking meals
13:30 Coffee + Packing up
14:02 Hiking back down
14:43 I got stung by wasps
17:28 We made it back!
📍Locations in this vlog
Gold Mint Trail to the Mint Hut: alltrails.com/trail/us/alaska/gold-mint-trail
__________
📷 See ALL of our gear: adventuresofaplusk.com/gear
🚐 Our Van Life products: adventuresofaplusk.com/blog/van-conversion-cost-tour-mistakes
💻 Follow us on social media!
Instagram instagram.com/adventuresofaplusk
Facebook: facebook.com/adventuresofaplusk
Pinterest: pinterest.com/adventuresofaplusk
🌎 See everywhere we have been + view our blogs and travel guides:
adventuresofaplusk.com
__________
👋🏼 About us
Hi y’all! We’re Adam, Kathryn, and Kona, an adventurous married couple (+ pup!) living on the road in our self-converted sprinter van! You can often find us driving all around the US and Canada, scoping out the best coffee shops, eating tacos and ice cream (we're a 5+ taco and 2+ scoop household), and enjoying nature.
We help travelers spend less time (and stress!) planning their trip and more time enjoying it! Our detailed travel guides, YouTube videos, and travel resources share the must-visit local eats, popular and off the beaten path sights, and tons of tips to make planning your next adventure a whole lot easier.
Note: We’ve linked a handful of items so you can see exactly which products we take with us. Full disclosure--if you click on these links and make a purchase, we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. We will only ever recommend products we truly love, actually use during our adventures, and think you can benefit from too!
