E. Marquez will lead "Sweat Lodge" with a duration of 3 hours somewwhere in Turnagain Arm.
Meet at 6:30 pm at the Falls Creek trailhead on the Seward Highway.
We will go a short distance on the Falls Creek trail, turn east on the
old TurnagainArm trail, and eventually bushwhack north and climb
towards the ridge. We will find a point to turn around and return by
the same route.
Rob DeVelice will lead "Caballo Blanco" with a duration of 3 hours somewwhere in Turnagain Arm.
Meet at 6:30 pm in the McHugh parking area on the Seward Highway. We will
head a ways up McHugh Creek valley on the new trail then proceed upslope off
trail via snow and scramble to the ridge (west of “McHugh Pass”) overlooking
Potter Creek valley. We will finish up by looping back down to the Turnagain
Arm Trail.
Rob DeVelice will lead "Rainbow Warriors" with a duration of 2.5 hours somewwhere in Turnagain Arm.
Meet at 6:30 pm in the pullout on the right (sea side) of the Seward Highway nearest to milepost 109. That’s the pullout immediately across the road from the spring fed water pipe and near the “Sky Pilot” rock climbing area. V/e will bushwack, scramble, and snow climb steeply up and down the slopes and ridges of Rainbow Peak.
Bring an ice ax and traction devices (such as micro spikes).
E. Marquez will lead "Ides of March" with a duration of 3 hours somewwhere in Turnagain Arm.
Meet at 6:30 pm at the Falls Creek Trailhead. We will go out on the main
trail for 1.5 hours, see how far we get and turn around. Trails may be icy.
Rob DeVelice will lead "Flipping the Bird" with a duration of 3 hours somewwhere in Turnagain Arm.
Rob DeVelice; Flipping the Bird; class 2+; 3 hours; 6:30 pm start; meet outside the Bird Ridge Cafe (in Bird on the Seward Highway); includes segments of paved bike path, steep uphill bushwacking, steep uphill scrambling, majestic tundra running, steep downhill trails, ATV trails and dirt roads; a Turnagain Arm tour de force.
Rob DeVelice will lead "Diet of Kryptonite" with a duration of 2.5 hours somewwhere in Turnagain Arm.
Rendezvous at 6:30 pm at the Windy Corner Trailhead on the Seward Highway (between Anchorage and Bird).
We will start on the Turnagain Arm Trail but will rapidly diverge off trail towards Sheep Thrills Ridge. This out and back route includes sections of technical scrambling, encounters with snow and ice, and bushwacking through roses.
Sticky rubber running shoes, gaiters, and traction devices are desirable.
Rob DeVelice will lead "Cellular disIntegration Lite" with a duration of 5.5 hours somewwhere in Turnagain Arm.
The start will be at 5:30 pm (note earlier start than normal) at the Falls Creek parking area on the Seward Highway between Anchorage and Girdwood.
This will be a reduced version of the Rainbow Rim Route (aka Cellular disIntegration). We will follow the extremely rocky and (potentially) acrophobia inducing Sheep Thrills Ridge to the summit of South Suicide Peak. From there we will return to the parking area via sheep trails and the Falls Creek Trail.
Warning: this is one of the more technically demanding routes in the Epic play list.
Rob DeVelice will lead "The Struggle at Potter Heights" with a duration of 3 hours somewwhere in Turnagain Arm.
The 6:30 p.m. start will be in the parking area by the mail boxes at the South end of Potter Marsh (New Seward Highway).
The plan is to follow the Turnagain Arm Trail to the Rabbit Lake Trail. We will then take the Rabbit Lake Trail a short ways and bushwhack to the ridge top between Potter Creek and Turnagain Arm. We will then follow this ridge over a summit (steep and potentially treacherous snow) and through alder before descending back to Potter Marsh.
Since big snows are expected prior to this Epic, be prepared for post holing. Devices to help you adhere to steep snow slopes will also be desirable. Also, the descent route features robust rose bushes and devils club.
Rob DeVelice will lead "Persistent Vegetative State (AKA The Beluga Bash)" with a duration of 2 hours somewwhere in Turnagain Arm.
Meet at 6:30 pm in the Beluga Point parking area on the Seward Highway.
This will be an out and back, off trail bash through brush, over rocks, and up steep snow slopes. Go out as far as you desire and consider bringing crampons and an ice ax for the central segment of the full out and back. Rose bush and devils club resistant gloves and leg protection are suggested.
Rob DeVelice will lead "Flipping the Bird" with a duration of 3 hours somewwhere in Turnagain Arm.
Meet at 6:00 pm in the parking lot in front of the Bird Ridge Cafe (on the Seward Highway between Anchorage and Girdwood).
NOTE: 6 pm rendezvous rather than 6:30
We will begin on the new paved trail towards Bird Point, bushwhack up the super steep slope to the antenna below Penguin Peak, and return to the cars via gnarly trails.