Day of Sun #3: Mt. Baldy

On our way back to Tok we stopped by Eagle River to hike Mt. Baldy, a short but brutal climb to a little knob from which you can continue to follow the ridge line to a series of cliffs called Blackwell Rocks. For the past three days, we had deliberately chosen hikes on south-facing slopes. It worked out well.

The summit of Mt. Baldy is in the background. The climb was short (30 min hike) and steep.

The sunset was just as colorful today.

The weather had cooled down a lot recently, so there was steam-fog on the Knik river. Denali and Foraker are in the background again.

The ridge top was very windblown, which sculpted drifts around the grasses and rocks.

Knik Arm, with Eagle River in the valley immediately below us and Anchorage off to the left of the frame.

It was so clear, we could see the mountains on the other side of the inlet!

We kept hiking until it began to get too dark to see, then turned around and retraced our steps.

Day of Sun #2: Eklutna Peak

The clouds are no where in sight and the sun is bright! Eklutna peak, our goal, is the triangular one in the middle background. I forgot to bring my hiking boots, and luckily Dash was willing to wear his sneakers (with gaiters) while I used his winter boots. Luckily, it worked out and we both had warm feet!

It was so clear you could see Denali and Foraker, 200 miles away

After some deceptively mellow ridge-walking, we had a steep descent to a saddle before we could climb the peak.

At the saddle before we started our ascent, we got another glimpse of Denali 

Looking back towards Knik Arm

The climb was really steep. We were on a scree field, and though there was little snow the rocks would slide out from underfoot from time to time.  

We got to the top just as the alpenglow began to settle over the mountains

The full moon rose early enough for us to catch it from the summit! Pioneer Peak looks like a tooth in the alpenglow

One last look at the peak as we head back down - a nice symmetrical, triangular peak. We followed the valley starting from the saddle below Eklutna back down to the Peter's Creek trail, which looped us back to where we began our hike.

We had a fun descent! Running downhill in snowshoes almost feels like skiing, because if you keep your toes up you can feel some glide.

Another great day of hiking in the beautiful Chugach!

Penguin Peak

After a week of gray skies and rain in Anchorage, the clouds broke and we had incredibly clear skies. Time to head up into the mountains! We chose to climb Penguin Peak first. It rises right out from Turnagain Arm, and is one valley west from Girdwood.

The trail was very steep, which was made more difficult by snow and ice on the rocks. We climbed up through thick alders for about 45 minutes before breaking treelike, to be greeted by the debris from a recent avalanche. Somewhat ominous, but the snow seemed stable enough today.

Looking back over Turnagain Arm at sunset, around 3:30 pm

The pitch became so steep at the base of the peak that it felt more like climbing than snowshoeing! We could not have done it without the grippy metal cleats on our snowshoes. 

There was a beautiful cornice on the opposite ridge. Even though the sun sets early, there is enough glow to see by (with help of the snow) that we didn't need headlamps until about 5 pm.

Hatchers Hiking

There was no snow in Palmer, and just a few dirty remnants in Anchorage. So we continued higher into the mountains. Hatcher's pass had about a foot of fluffy powder - not much for this time of year, but plenty for snowshoeing!

I found a snowman with the artist's fingerprints.

Even at midday, if there are clouds it can feel quite dim.

It's a loooong way down

At the top of the ridge, we found an Alaska state flag!

and a weather station

We continued all the way to the farthest point.

We retraced our steps, hoping to get a quick ski in after our hike.

This was around 2 pm in late December.

Tok impressions

Tok has mountains just a few miles away, but in town you are buried in trees and snow.

When it's -20 F, you have to gear up in some hot pants.

Checking hare snares in the trapline outside the duplex. The idea is that the bunny runs through the wire loop and snags it's neck, trapping it. However, this bunny saw the trap and turned around before running in to it - lucky for him!

Setting traps can be cold when you can't use gloves!

The streets of Tok are miles long with no turns and very few intersections, and you never see people's homes from the road because they are tucked away in the trees.

Hay Field Stalker, watercolor and pen

Sasquatch, watercolor and pen

A spruce tree bent into a full arch under the weight of the snow!

 Driving to Anchorage in December along the Glenn Highway, just east of Sheep Mountain area.

Snowy streams in winter

Swift stream in snow, watercolor and ink

Snowy stream with ice, watercolor and ink

Snowy stream with branches, watercolor and ink

Allihavelostisnow… gone, watercolor and ink