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Introduction to Crust
and Winter Trail Skiing ... Where to go
near Anchorage, Alaska
Last updated: 2012
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Crust Skiing 101 : Popular Crust Skiing Spots
Near Anchorage |
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Portage Lake
A Crust Skiing Classic |
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Glen Alps - Powerline Pass
Valley
Easy Access to Great Crust
Skiing |
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How to
get there: From the Seward Highway and O'Malley
Road intersection, go east on O'Malley towards the mountains.
Go left on Hillside Drive and then right on Upper Huffman Road.
Follow Chugach State Park signs and go right up Toilsome Hill
Road to the Glen Alps parking lot. If you don't have an
Alaska State Parks parking pass, you have to pay $5.00 to park
here.
Best
time to go: Practically every day of the year that there
is ski-able snow in the Powerline Pass Valley - someone will be
skiing there. This is Anchorage's favorite backyard and
Glen Alps is the number one local backcountry take-off point.
Depending on storm activity and freeze and thaw cycles, crust
skiing can occur in this valley anytime. But the best
times to crust ski here is
between mid-March and mid-May on clear mornings. Skiing is
usually best before noon, before the sun causes the snow surface
to soften.
Tips:
This is a popular cross country skiing location, so you may be
able to find current skiing conditions for Glen Alps on the
Cross
Country Alaska trails forum.
Length:
If you want to ski the entire length of the Powerline Pass
Valley, it is approximately 11 miles from Glen Alps to Green
Lake at the base of Powerline Pass and back. Of course,
you don't have to ski all the way back to the end of the valley
for fine crust skiing if conditions are good. Other
popular destinations are Ship Pass (11 miles RT from Glen Alps)
and Williwaw Lakes (13 miles RT from Glen Alps). |
Google
Maps link |
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Skookum Glacier
Cruising Through a Majestic
Valley |
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How to
get there: Drive 40 miles south of Anchorage on the
Seward Highway (AK-1) to Portage. At Portage turn left on
the Portage Glacier Road, cross the railroad tracks and park on
the right (south) side of the road past the Alaska Railroad
buildings. Make sure you don't park in the way of the
Alaska Railroad workers.
Best
time to go: Crust skiing to Skookum Glacier is often the
best from mid-April to mid-May on clear mornings. Skiing is
usually best before noon, before the sun causes the snow surface
to soften.
Tips:
Some years see snow bridges on Skookum Creek and its tributaries
breaking up early, so you may have to detour out towards the
railroad tracks and cross the creek on the small railroad
bridge. Crossing this bridge is illegal per Alaska
Railroad rules. So be careful and look long and hard both
ways before you trespass your way across this bridge. Also
watch for thin ice while crossing the swampy area 1/2 mile from
the start. You want to be careful you don't find the thin ice
and go swimming in "Benji's Pond". ;-)
This is a popular crust
skiing location, so you may be able to find current skiing
conditions for Skookum Valley on the
Cross
Country Alaska trails forum.
Length:
12 to 13 miles round trip to the glacier and back. |
Google
Maps link |
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Turnagain Pass
Wide Open Terrain is Worth
the Climb |
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Winter Trail Skiing 101: Good Backcountry Trail
Skiing Venues Near Anchorage |
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Far North Bicentennial Park
A Taste of Primitive Trails
in the Big City |
How to
get there: In Anchorage, AK drive east on East Tudor
Road, turn right on Baxter Road and drive about 2 miles to the
North Bivouac parking lot and trailhead of the Far North Bicentennial
Park.
Summary:
This is a good location for sampling non-groomed winter trails.
These trails are popular and well marked. Trails are shown
in magenta on the map to the right (click on the map to enlarge
it).
Best
time to go: During or after snowstorms when trails
are powdery. These trails are somewhat narrow and windy, so going
when the trails are skied into powder snow is often more
enjoyable. If these trails become hard, icy and rutted due
to freeze and thaw cycles ... the fun factor of these trails
goes down. This area gets little wind compared to other parts of
Anchorage, so trees here are often picturesquely cake-frosted
with snow.
Tips:
If you want a break from groomed xc skiing highways and want to
try some rustic trails in Anchorage - this is a good area to go
to. If the snow is not too deep, it is fun to ski tour off
of these trails and explore this large park.
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Google
Maps link |
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The Anchorage Coast
Surprisingly Unique Skiing
On the Edge of Town |
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Nancy Lakes
Great Trails in a Unique
State Park |
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Eagle River
When Eagle River Freezes,
Good Skiing Options Open up Near Anchorage |
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How to
get there: Drive to the Chugach State Park parking
lot at Mile 7 of the Eagle River Road in Eagle River, AK (see
red arrow on the map to the right).
Or go to the Eagle River Nature Center at the end of the Eagle
River Road.
Best
time to go: When Eagle River freezes so that snowmobile
traffic is possible, then it is often safe and fun for skiing on
the river and trails that intersect with the river.
Tips:
Listen for snowmobilers when skiing on Eagle River. Stay
away from cutbanks where the ice is likely thinner. The
South Fork Eagle River Valley is known for both good winter trail
skiing and spring crust skiing.
Length:
Varies. Short loops on trails can be done out of the Eagle
River Nature Center. Longer out and back ski treks on the
river between the Eagle River Bypass Bridge and upstream
to Echo Bend (and beyond) can be done. |
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Willow West Gateway Trails
Now THIS is a Winter Trail
System! |
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For more ideas of unique places
to ski near Anchorage, Alaska, check out the
Anchorage Urban-Backcountry Cross Country
Skiing web page. |
Page last updated: 9/21/2012 |
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