Rob DeVelice will lead "Electric Ladyland" with a duration of 2 hours somewwhere in East Anchorage.
Join Anne Ver Hoef and Rob DeVelice at 6:30 pm at The Alaska Club East (5201 East Tudor Road). Swimming, stationary biking, and conversation are planned. No bushwacking.
Rob DeVelice will lead "Buzzard" with a duration of 3 hours somewwhere in Turnagain Arm.
Meet at 6:30 pm at the Bird Creek trailhead at the end of Konikson Road in Bird. We will proceed on trails along Penguin Creek for a ways and then head strait up the Northwest Ridge of Penguin Peak via forest bushwhack. We may go to the summit of Penguin Peak but will definitely descend the Penguin Peak Trail. Expect a potentially difficult stream crossing, uncertain terrain, and hungry brown bears.
Rob DeVelice will lead "McScrambler" with a duration of 2 hours somewwhere in Turnagain Arm.
Meet at 6:30 pm outside the gate in the McHugh parking area. We will proceed via trails and bushwacks in search of scrambling opportunities.
Rob DeVelice will lead "Lazo Negro Mesa" with a duration of 3 hours somewwhere in Turnagain Arm.
Meet at 6:30 pm in the Telephone Pole Rock parking area (on left just after Beluga Point) on the Seward Highway. We will crank up to the Turnagain Arm Trail which we will follow for a piece and then take a steep and rocky route leading to Black Mesa. From there we will loop back to the motor cars via bushwacking and trails.
Rob DeVelice will lead "Bird Flew" with a duration of 3 hours somewwhere in Turnagain Arm.
Meet at 6:30 pm in the Bird Ridge mega parking lot (not the small lot). We will start on the Bird Ridge Trail but will quickly diverge to hidden paths leading to Bird Creek Falls. From there our route will proceed to and up a steep, scrambly, and possibly icy climb to Bird Ridge where we will descend via the main trail. This is a monumental classic.
Rob DeVelice will lead "Feeling Good" with a duration of 2 hours somewwhere in Turnagain Arm.
Meet at 6:30 PM at the Falls Creek trailhead on the Seward Highway. The route will depend on the conditions of the day but will definitely include some steep ups and downs and a serving or two of bushwacking.
Rob DeVelice will lead "Paths Less Travelled" with a duration of 2 hours somewwhere in Turnagain Arm.
Rendezvous at 6:30 pm in the parking area on the left immediately after mile post 111 of the Seward Highway. This will be an out and back featuring steep terrain, bushwacking, and scrambling with minimal presence of human made paths.
Rob DeVelice will lead "Monochrome Pass" with a duration of 2 hours somewwhere in The Chugach Front Range.
Rendezvous at 6:30 pm at Goldenview Middle School on Goldenview Drive for carpooling to the start. We will explore miscellaneous slopes and ridges west of Potter Creek Ravine Park.
Traction devices for your shoes STRONGLY encouraged (LOTS of ice).
The photo composite below is from a January 20th field review of the route. On left, heading up. On right, selfie among stately mountain hemlock trees (protection against the ferocious winds).
Rob DeVelice will lead "More Hills to Climb" with a duration of 1 hour somewwhere in West Anchorage.
Rendezvous at 6:30 pm in the parking lot of the Kincaid Chalet. We will do a fun, hilly circuit mostly on single track trails with just a taste of bushwacking.
Afterwards, in celebration of 13 years of Epics, we will retreat to a dining establishment chosen by participants.
Rob DeVelice will lead "Thanksgiving Daytime Epic" with a duration of 3 hours somewwhere in Eklutna.
Rendezvous in the coffee shop area at Carrs in the Northway Mall at noon (note earlier time then usual). We will car pool to the start along the Eklutna Lake Road. Our destination will be the summit of Mount POW/MIA. This will be a daytime version of the 11/14/13 Epic.
Rob DeVelice will lead "Sheep Thrills Loop" with a duration of 2.5 hours somewwhere in Turnagain Arm.
Meet at 6:30 pm at the Falls Creek trailhead on the Seward Highway. We will proceed up to Sheep Thrills Ridge via bushwhacking and scrambling. We will then continue along the ridge to a logical point of descent to the Falls Creek Trail and the return to the trailhead. Depending on presence and abundance of snow, traction devices may be desirable.
Rob DeVelice will lead "McHugh Mixup" with a duration of 2 hours somewwhere in Turnagain Arm.
Meet at 6:30 pm in the lower parking lot (outside the gate) at McHugh Creek on the Seward Highway. We will proceed on trails up McHugh Creek, then scramble and bushwack up slopes and ridges towards McHugh Saddle (but not all the way to the saddle), and end by looping back to the start. About 65 percent of the route will be off trail.