11/23/2023 – Thanksgiving Day Epic

"When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around." Willie Nelson

E. Marquez will lead "Thanksgiving Day Epic" with an estimated duration of 2.5 hours.

Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the McHugh Creek trailhead (gravel lot to the south if the trailhead parking is not open). We will complete an out and back to Potter along the scenic Turnagain arm trail.

The Chugach Front Range

11/16/2023 – You Are Not Forgotten

"Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding" ~Albert Einstein

Jesse Gobeli will lead "You Are Not Forgotten" with an estimated duration of 3 hours.

Our 11th Annual Pow/MIA ascent.

Meet at 6:15pm in the parking area at the start of Eklutna Lake road. Due to limited space we will carpool to a 4ish car gravel pullout at about mile 4.5 on Eklutna Lake Road by electric pole 74. We will then hike up the road to electric pole 85 where we will depart the road and head up to Gold Star Peak then head over to Mount POW/MIA, pay homage, and return. Micro-spikes recommended. Please allow extra time for traffic delays.

Note:

Avy danger my be higher than normal.

Previous Years:

Eklutna

11/09/2023 – Snow Turtling

"Oh shit, it snowed a lot" ~by Lee Helzer

Lee Helzer will lead "Snow Turtling" with an estimated duration of 2 hours.

Note change of location due to record snow fall.  

Meet at the Kincaid chalet for a 6:30 departure.  We will snow turtle around the bluff and dunes.  Snowshoes suggested.

West Anchorage

11/02/2023 – Tour de Football Field

"What time is it? No time to look back" ~David Byrne

Josh A. will lead "Tour de Football Field" with an estimated duration of 4 hours.

Meet at the Glen Alps parking lot for a 6:30 pm departure.

We will head to the Football Field and visit Deep Lake. We will then hit the Football Field high point (just north of Deep Lake), and follow the ridge west to a suitable location to head down to the Williwaw Lakes trail. We will return via Middle Fork.

Post Report

The Chugach Front Range

10/26/2023 – No Disco on this Route

"This ain't no party, this ain't no disco, this ain't no fooling around...I might not ever get home." Talking Heads

Jesse Gobeli will lead "No Disco on this Route" with an estimated duration of 3.5 hours.

Meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Rainbow trailhead. We will be taking the lower (No Disco) trail towards the headwaters of Rainbow Creek. Past the creek, we will change direction and traverse steep slopes to the bowl below Hole in the Wall. From there we will complete a loop back to the trailhead.

The Chugach Front Range

10/19/2023 – Rough on the Edges

“All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” Blaise Pascal

E. Marquez will lead "Rough on the Edges" with an estimated duration of 3 hours.

Meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Prospect Heights trailhead. We will take the main trail to the cairn below Wolverine, then head across country to the saddle below Rusty Point, then down to the Middle Fork trail and return.

Post Report

The Chugach Front Range

10/13/2023 – Wolvernear

"Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up." ~Dean Karnazes

Josh A. will lead "Wolvernear" with an estimated duration of 4 hours.

Meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Prospect Heights trailhead. We will take the main trail to Wolverine Peak. We will then head to Near Point and return the via the main trail.

Post Report

The Chugach Front Range

10/05/2023 – Upper Highway Spring Loop

"I do not live for what the world thinks of me, but for what I think of myself." ~by Jack London

Lee Helzer will lead "Upper Highway Spring Loop" with an estimated duration of 3.5 hours.

Meet at the Rainbow trailhead for a 6:30 departure.

We will review The Upper Highway trail progress and make and make minor adjustments if required on the way to the highpoint near Tortilla Chip Rock.  We will then follow the ridge north-east for a short distance and take the gully north-west down to the lower trail and return.

Turnagain Arm

09/28/2023 – Chasing Sunsets

"A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you." ~by Brigitte Bardot

Lee Helzer will lead "Chasing Sunsets" with an estimated duration of 4 hours.

Meet at the South Side Flattop trailhead for a 6:30 departure.  We will head up the southside direct trail to Flattop and then follow the ridge back as far as Ptarmigan Pass and return via Rabbit Lake trail.

Epic photo opportunities will hopefully present themselves.

The Chugach Front Range

09/21/2023 – The Hidden Williwaw Ramp Cirque

"Some People want a Big House and Fancy Cars; Others just Want a Tiny Cabin in the Woods away from those kinds of people"

Lee Helzer will lead "The Hidden Williwaw Ramp Cirque" with an estimated duration of 4.5 hours.

Note the earlier time to try for an optimal sunset.

Meet at the Glen Alps parking lot for a 6:00pm departure.  We will head up Nintendo Hill and cross the Ballfield to access the Williwaw Lakes Trail.  After a short time on the trail we will break off and explore a small body of water in the picturesque Hidden Williwaw Ramp Cirque.  We will return via the same path or a slightly longer alternative with less elevation.

This will be a re-attempt of the 6/24/2021 Epic that was thwarted by a moose kill on the trail.

The Chugach Front Range

09/14/2023 – Ship Lake Pass

"You can keep going and your legs might hurt for a week, or you can quit and your mind will hurt for a lifetime." ~Mark Allen

Josh A. will lead "Ship Lake Pass" with an estimated duration of 3.5 hours.

Meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Glen Alps trailhead. We will take the trail towards Hidden Lake and to Ship Lake Pass. We will pass behind the Wedge on sheep trails, drop back down towards Powerline Pass trail and return.

Post Report

The Chugach Front Range

09/07/2023 – Rusty Point

“All grown-ups were once children... but only few of them remember it.” ― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

E. Marquez will lead "Rusty Point" with an estimated duration of 3 hours.

Meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Prospect Heights trailhead. We will head up the standard Wolverine trail to the 1st ridge, then turn off and head to Rusty Point. We will return via the same route.

The Chugach Front Range