Arrival by Train at Laughton Glacier Trail
The team began the journey with a scenic train ride along the historic White Pass & Yukon Route Railway, offering an awe-inspiring approach to the Laughton Glacier Trail. This initial leg of the journey set the stage for the day’s exploration of Alaska’s majestic glacial landscapes.
Beginning the Hike on Laughton Glacier Trail
The group embarked on the hike, ready to delve into the pristine wilderness that surrounds the Laughton Glacier. Weather conditions were favorable, with cool temperatures and excellent visibility enhancing the hiking experience.
Trailhead Weather Conditions
At the trailhead, the expedition faced overcast skies with no precipitation, and a comfortable temperature of 10°C. The humidity was at 57.2%, with a gentle breeze ensuring an excellent day in the Warm Pass Valley.
Weather Observations at the Meadows
The meadows presented slightly warmer conditions at 12.7°C with an increase in moisture, indicated by a drizzle and overcast skies. The cloud coverage did not detract from the stunning alpine scenery.
Rest Stop at the First River
The team took a well-deserved break by the first river stop, allowing everyone to rejuvenate while absorbing the impactful presence of flowing waters cutting through the terrain.
Midday Weather Conditions at Overlook
Approaching the overlook, temperatures dipped slightly to 9.4°C under broken clouds. This vantage point delivered uninterrupted views of the surrounding peaks, embodying the raw beauty of Alaska.
Using Drone Technology for Laughton Lookout Scan
Utilizing a DJI Mini 4 Pro at Laughton Lookout enabled the team to collect expansive geographical data, offering our first look at the Laughton Valley from a photogrammetry perspective.
Geological Features along Laughton Glacier Trail
While exploring to the East of the Laughton Glacier Cabin and Skagway River, the team encountered a prominent boulder featuring flat sides and right-angle breaks, this will make a great reference to compare our drone scan to.
Weather Summary Back at Trailhead
Returning to the trailhead, the day concluded under a tranquil climate with cloud cover persisting. The temperature held at a manageable 10.2°C, wrapping up a successful day of field research.
Successful Completion of Laughton Glacier Trail Maintenance
The day concluded with the group’s safe return, marking a fruitful day of train maintenance and drone mapping test, giving us a great start to the Summer season!
Processing Photogrammetry. Relative Accuracy.
After processing the Laughton Overlook area scan, I’m very pleased with the output’s relative accuracy. Relative accuracy means that the output is accurate to itself but not necessarily accurate to the real world. This becomes obvious when looking at the “slant” of the output, where in the real world the terrain should “slant” the other direction. If we took the output as absolutely accurate, then the water in the Skagway river would be flowing uphill, which is obviously untrue. So even though the output does not have “absolute accuracy” it is still “relatively accurate” demonstrated by comparing the output of the distinct granite structure with the in person observations.
