Friday, October 31, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Happy Birthday Christopher Columbus!!!!
Despite being responsible for the death of tens of thousands, maybe even hundreds of thousands of "Native Americans", we still celebrate Christopher Columbus's discovery of the Americas, or is it his Birthday? Who cares, all I know is we get a federal holiday, so I went backcountry snowboarding!!!
Matt skinning in towards Hatcher Peak.
More skinning, Hatcher Peak face in the background. It was a "bluebird" day.
First signs of Avalanche #1 we saw, possible skier triggered within the last 48 hours.
Second Avalanche we saw on the face of Hatch Peak, certainly looks to be skier triggered within the last 24 hours.
Shot from half way up Hatch Peak
Jack and Labeda passed out on the drive home.
Matt skinning in towards Hatcher Peak.
More skinning, Hatcher Peak face in the background. It was a "bluebird" day.
First signs of Avalanche #1 we saw, possible skier triggered within the last 48 hours.
Second Avalanche we saw on the face of Hatch Peak, certainly looks to be skier triggered within the last 24 hours.
Shot from half way up Hatch PeakJack and Labeda passed out on the drive home.Sunday, October 5, 2008
First Days of BC Downhill; tearing it up on the Lane Glacier
October 5th, the kids haven't even picked out their trick or treat costumes yet, in most parts of the country people haven't even begun to think about ole' man winter coming, or even pulled their wool sweaters off the top back shelf in the closet, but NOT IN ALASKA! We're barely even out of September, less then three weeks into Autumn, and we're ripping it up in the snow in Alaska. Maybe that's why I love this place...
So for our first tracks/first turns of the season, we set out with friends Matt and Jessica, plus four dogs, Hannah, Jack, Jasper, and Labeda, to play on the Lane Glacier, located at the end of the Archangel road in Hatchers Pass.
About a 3-4 mile hike from the car, the snow quickly moved in after pulling up to the parking lot, and continually dumped while we climbed towards the glacier.
Summit shots before beginning the descent in knee deep fresh powder!
We peaked at about 6100ft, before heading down.
The gorgeous granite rock outcroppings are the norm in the Talkeetna Mountains.
Matt tears it up.
All in all it was an amazing day, hopefully the start of a great ski/snowboard season.
So for our first tracks/first turns of the season, we set out with friends Matt and Jessica, plus four dogs, Hannah, Jack, Jasper, and Labeda, to play on the Lane Glacier, located at the end of the Archangel road in Hatchers Pass.
About a 3-4 mile hike from the car, the snow quickly moved in after pulling up to the parking lot, and continually dumped while we climbed towards the glacier.Summit shots before beginning the descent in knee deep fresh powder!
We peaked at about 6100ft, before heading down.
The gorgeous granite rock outcroppings are the norm in the Talkeetna Mountains.
Matt tears it up.Self portrait, Gretchen in the background making final turns of the run.
All in all it was an amazing day, hopefully the start of a great ski/snowboard season. When we left Eagle River it was in the 40's and sunny, but we returned to blowing snow and an accumulation on the ground, with a forecast of more to come!
October 4th, South Suicide Peak
October is a different time of year in Alaska. It's not quite full fledged winter, but fall is certainly over. Each day we slowly watch the snow levels creep down the Chugach Front Range, getting closer and closer to Anchorage.
Just another Saturday hike, this time we decided to tackle South Suicide Peak. A promoninent peak situated at the end of Rabbit Creek Valley, adjacent to North Suicide, Ptmargin, and McHugh Peaks. Coming in at 5005ft, South is about 500ft shorter then North Suicide Peak.
We chose to access this peak by way of the Falls Creek trail, along the Seward Highway.
Gretchen hiking with the 4000ft Indianhouse Mountain in the background.
"Postholing" up the slopes of South Suicide Peak.
Shot taken approximately 500ft below the summit, in the midst of a nice October "blizzard"...
Just another Saturday hike, this time we decided to tackle South Suicide Peak. A promoninent peak situated at the end of Rabbit Creek Valley, adjacent to North Suicide, Ptmargin, and McHugh Peaks. Coming in at 5005ft, South is about 500ft shorter then North Suicide Peak.
We chose to access this peak by way of the Falls Creek trail, along the Seward Highway.
Gretchen hiking with the 4000ft Indianhouse Mountain in the background.
"Postholing" up the slopes of South Suicide Peak.Shot taken approximately 500ft below the summit, in the midst of a nice October "blizzard"... Jasper enjoying the arrival of winter!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Autumn's almost over; Ascent of Bold Peak, "First Attempt", 7522 feet
Bold Peak, looming over Eklutna Lake, has been on the top of my list of Chugach Peaks to climb since the first time I saw this peak in 2006. 
These panoramics were taken of Bold Peak in May, July, and December.
Resting at 7,522 feet, most routes up Bold Peak are technical in nature, the only "non-technical" route is to flank around the South East face, and approach the upper reaches of the summit by way of the Stivers Gully. A 2,000ft chute full of scree.
But first, we had to get to the peak. I guess you could consider Bold, off the "Beaten Path". Eklutna Park is 12 miles off the Glen Highway. We then rode 10.5 miles around Eklutna Lake on the Lakeside Trail. Ditching our bikes in the woods, we hiked 2 miles to the base of the Stivers Gully.
Due to the distance to reach the peak, and the elevation change to reach the summit, we had to start early, making for a gorgeous mystic sunrise above the lake.
Bold Peak, sunrising behind it.
Gretchen hiking along the East Fork of the Eklutna River. 
The base of Stivers Gully.
The Mitre, Bellicose Peak, Benign Peak, and Ovis Peak, all between 6-7000feet. With termination dust accumulating between 3-4ooofeet.
Gretchen hiking up the Stivers Gully. It was sort of like a never ending StairMaster, except two steps up and one step down as the scree slides out from underneath you.
Sam and Jack enjoying the beautiful fall day.
The top of the gully, around 3,200 feet; here we had to use two fixed ropes to "climb" up the loose 4th class slope.
Once above the gully we broke out into a steep grassy slope, we continued up this slope, until just below "Gods Palace". At approximately 4,000feet, visibility dropped to zero, the wind picked up, and snow started dumping on us. The peak was completely obscured in the snow clouds, the ground was becoming increasingly slippery from the snow; so we decided to turn back, saving the summit of Bold Peak for another day. 
Sam and Jack enjoying lunch in the Gully, after turning back from the summit, 3500feet short... We will return.
These panoramics were taken of Bold Peak in May, July, and December.
Resting at 7,522 feet, most routes up Bold Peak are technical in nature, the only "non-technical" route is to flank around the South East face, and approach the upper reaches of the summit by way of the Stivers Gully. A 2,000ft chute full of scree.
But first, we had to get to the peak. I guess you could consider Bold, off the "Beaten Path". Eklutna Park is 12 miles off the Glen Highway. We then rode 10.5 miles around Eklutna Lake on the Lakeside Trail. Ditching our bikes in the woods, we hiked 2 miles to the base of the Stivers Gully.
Due to the distance to reach the peak, and the elevation change to reach the summit, we had to start early, making for a gorgeous mystic sunrise above the lake.
Bold Peak, sunrising behind it.Gretchen hiking along the East Fork of the Eklutna River. The base of Stivers Gully.
The Mitre, Bellicose Peak, Benign Peak, and Ovis Peak, all between 6-7000feet. With termination dust accumulating between 3-4ooofeet.
Gretchen hiking up the Stivers Gully. It was sort of like a never ending StairMaster, except two steps up and one step down as the scree slides out from underneath you.
Sam and Jack enjoying the beautiful fall day.The top of the gully, around 3,200 feet; here we had to use two fixed ropes to "climb" up the loose 4th class slope.
Once above the gully we broke out into a steep grassy slope, we continued up this slope, until just below "Gods Palace". At approximately 4,000feet, visibility dropped to zero, the wind picked up, and snow started dumping on us. The peak was completely obscured in the snow clouds, the ground was becoming increasingly slippery from the snow; so we decided to turn back, saving the summit of Bold Peak for another day. Sam and Jack enjoying lunch in the Gully, after turning back from the summit, 3500feet short... We will return.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Labor Day Weekend in McCarthy; the town at the end of the Road.
This past Labor Day weekend we decided to pack up the station wagon (aka the Escape) and head for McCarthy, Alaska; a small old mining town located 60 miles down the gravel McCarthy Road.
The road ends at the Kenicott River, running off the nearby Kenicott & Root Glaciers. Locals are able to access the town by a small bridge to the south, all other traffic is by foot, bike, or paw only.
The quaint little town of McCarthy has since re-faced itself for tourists and Alaskan adventurerers alike. Mining here ended in the 1930's, leaving the area as a ghost town until it was rediscovered by travelers in the 1970's.
The nearby Kenicott Copper Mines, a landmark within the Wrangell-St.Elias National Park
Jasper and Jack had fun playing on the Root Glacier.
The following photo's were taken on the Mccarthy Road monday morning on our drive out.
The confluence of the Copper River and the Chitna River.
The road ends at the Kenicott River, running off the nearby Kenicott & Root Glaciers. Locals are able to access the town by a small bridge to the south, all other traffic is by foot, bike, or paw only.
The quaint little town of McCarthy has since re-faced itself for tourists and Alaskan adventurerers alike. Mining here ended in the 1930's, leaving the area as a ghost town until it was rediscovered by travelers in the 1970's.The nearby Kenicott Copper Mines, a landmark within the Wrangell-St.Elias National Park
Jasper and Jack had fun playing on the Root Glacier.
The following photo's were taken on the Mccarthy Road monday morning on our drive out.
The confluence of the Copper River and the Chitna River.
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