Alaska Outdoor Reports

Independence Mine Today 12PM by Ed Strabel

Light dusting of snow last night.Trails still in good condition. Mat-Su Ski Club will re-groom all trails Friday night. Support grooming. Go to matsuski.org and donate.

Independence Mine Monday 8PM by Samson

Snuck out to Hatcher for a after work skijor and both my dog and I couldn't be happier with the snow. Great skiing, classic track gets better as you get closer to the mines. Skate lane is fast and 7/9 smooth.

Independence Mine Sunday 11PM by Jerry Hupp

Mat-Su Ski Club groomed the skate lane and reset tracks on all loops at Independence Mine on Sunday evening (Oct 13). Skate lane is in pretty good shape with some cobbles in places. Tracks in good condition. Show your love for early season grooming by donating to the Mat-Su Ski Club! Support grooming by the Mat-Su Ski Club

Independence Mine Saturday 11PM by Ed Strabel

Mat-Su Ski Club re-groomed all trails for classic and skating. Road is in great shape. Support grooming, donate to the Mat-Su Ski Club.

Independence Mine Saturday 1AM by Ed Strabel

This report is for 13 October at 1 AM. (Wouldn't let me put in correct date). Mat-Su Ski Club packed and groomed all loops for classic and skating. Firm base but some kibbles and track marks. Classic track quality ok but not great. The road up the mountain was sanded and in good shape. A bit icy in the parking lot.

Independence Mine Saturday 1AM by Ed Strabel

MY MISTAKE ON THE DATE. It is the 12th for my previous post. Need more sleep.

Independence Mine Friday 1PM by AK Trailbreaker

Most early season snow this century?! Wet and heavy as advertised. Trails are well packed and wide, although wet snow got caught on the groomer tracks and left, well, groomer tracks. So there were ungroomed, packed 24" wide lines between the tracks, like maybe two to three, with 4 to 6 of these tracks (2 to 3 passes of the groomer). Sorry about the ambiguity; the light was crazy flat, with snow coming down, and cloud bands moving in and out making visibility pretty bad. But! no pole punches thru to the ground like in previous years early seasons. Wish I had brought my skate skis; either those or waxless were the best option. Road above Archangel has not frozen yet and has lots of meltwater and clumps of snow on it; when it freezes (maybe tonight?) it's going to get icy and cars/rigs without AWD/4WD are going to be getting stuck (unless DOT plows and sands again, like they did recently--thanks!) Keep away from below steep roofs up at the mine; most of the big stuff has already slid, but there's still some left here and there.

Independence Mine Friday 10AM by redwop

Lots of snow! Flat light but much better than yesterday, not as dense.
Special thanks to DOT for doing an awesome job keeping the road open!

Independence Mine Thursday 11PM by Mark Strabel

Hopefully you have your new skis that you bought from a local store, because there is ALOT of snow. I would say there is about 32â of snow around the buildings.
I was only able to pack the trails again, hopefully tomorrow night we will groom them and set tracks.
The road was slushy from archangel up to the snowmachine parking lot, then a little more snow from there up to the parking lot. Support grooming by the Mat-Su Ski Club

Taku Lake Thursday 3PM by Loraine

ADF&G sign at Taku Lake stating that a dog was attacked by otters while swimming in the lake. Five otters seen in the lake on Saturday, Oct. 12.

Independence Mine Thursday 10AM by Dave Musgrave

Update from Josh at Independence: 6-10 inches of new snow on top of the groomed trails from last night. Fish scales are best. Support grooming by the Mat-Su Ski Club

Independence Mine Thursday 9AM by Dave Musgrave

Correction to last post. The date stated yesterday (Oct 9) at 3 pm. However, I posted today (Oct 10) and the report reflects what happened overnight between Oct 9 and 10. Support grooming by the Mat-Su Ski Club

Independence Mine Wednesday Oct 9 by Mark Strabel

Lots of new heavy wet snow. Just packed the trails tonight, as it was still snowing ALOT! It was raining about 100ft below hatcher pass lodge, but snowing on the trails. We will groom Thursday night fully.
To see pictures of the packing, check mat su ski club on facebook.

Road was wet and sloppy, parking lot was slick. Support grooming by the Mat-Su Ski Club

Independence Mine Wednesday Oct 9 by Dave Musgrave

The road was plowed Wednesday at 3pm. I don't know what it is like since then, but looking at the webcam at the lodge, not much snow accumulated since then. However, there was about 6 inches more snow at the mine buildings. Support grooming by the Mat-Su Ski Club

Archangel Road Wednesday Oct 9 by Red8wop

Nice Xc, warm. Better the farther you go, 3 fresh inches where I turned around
Couldnât make it to Independence, road wasnât plowed and 8 fresh

Independence Mine Sunday Oct 6 by Mark Strabel

Well, the ski season begins. Chewed up the crust and set full depth tracks. Although they will more than likely be covered by all the new snow that was falling. Pictures can be found on the mat ski club facebook page Support grooming by the Mat-Su Ski Club

Independence Mine Saturday Oct 5 by Red8wop

Crust- like snow, 6-8 inches. Walkers breaking through. Stayed on top on skis. Hope groomers can penetrate it

Independence Mine Thursday Oct 3 by Mark Strabel

The Mat-Su Ski Club is planning on grooming Saturday night, as long as the projected storm dumps enough snow. We will post Saturday afternoon about if we are grooming, and after grooming if we do groom. Please donate to the Mat-Su Ski Club. Www.matsuski.org Support grooming by the Mat-Su Ski Club

Kincaid Park Thursday Oct 3 by KVP

Encountered large black bear with 1 or 2 cubs at the intersection of Tower Power and Jodhpur Loop (intersection #20, north end of Jodhpur Loop). Was not scared of me and stood its ground

Campbell Creek Trail Friday Sep 27 by Cody

Lost dog, please help keep an eye out. Medium size golden mix with bright blue eyes named Powder.

Independence Mine Wednesday Sep 25 by Kruser

Just enough to ski to mine and back, a couple of inches. Gate closed and no tire tracks. Road to parking lot plowed and sanded. Not sure how long it will last. 33 degrees and still flurrying

Independence Mine Friday Sep 20 by Ed Strabel

Mat-Su ski Club did all their pre-season work at the Independence Mine ski trails. Grooming equipment in place, the trail was brushed ,where needed,wands have been em-placed, and hay bales placed at the bottom of Dan Renshaw's Rd. Thanks to Jeff Kase, Chris Gierymski, George Ferry, Dave Werner, Chris Jones, and Tom Smayda. The snow this Friday AM was down to about the 5000 foot level. Time to wax those skis! Think SNOW!

BLM Campbell Tract Tuesday Sep 17 by Cheryl Johnson

It looks like the Old Rondy trail from the mlk overpass to the Buckner bridge is being paved does anyone know anything about this?

Far North Bicentennial Park Friday Aug 23 by Patrick Whitesell

Hey all - how about we use this site to share info on what areas (Hatcher Pass, Lazy Mtn, Anchorage Bowl, Gird, Portage) are or are not smoky? Seems like we're all hunting around trying to figure out where to recreate without hacking out a lung.

Chester Creek Trail Monday Aug 5 by John McCormick

A black bear spotted on trails between RJS (last night) and Chester Creek Trail (this morning) east of Goose Lake. It left the trail shortly after I started talking to it and putting my arms overhead to appeal bigger.

Prospect Heights trailhead Tuesday Jul 30 by Meg

Found today a pair of hiking poles in the Prospect Heights parking lot. If they are yours let me know. Email: mkurtagh@hotmail.com

Bird to Gird Trail Tuesday Jul 9 by devo

Cycled Indian to Girdwood. 82F, moderate smoke. Few cyclists.

Far North Bicentennial Park Sunday Jul 7 by amie

FOUND KEY
Subaru car key with star medallion keychain on Homestead trail. Email: mseima@hotmail.com

Crow Pass from Girdwood Side Saturday Jul 6 by Loraine

Trail in very good condition today; the usual swarms of black flies at the parking lot and some during the first mile. Trail has not yet been brushed in anticipation of the Crow Pass Crossing trail race, but no problems encountered. Eight goats seen resting in a small patch of snow about 2 miles (?) in -- look for them to your left as you ascend. We went only as far as the toe of Raven Glacier a short distance past the Pass high point.

Crow Pass Trailhead Saturday Jun 29 by Loraine

Linda, the following was posted on the Crow Pass Facebook page about 1 p.m. today, Sat., 6/29/19:

6/29/19 Trail Update: just a heads up that Eagle River water levels are high right now. Water height at ford site is pretty much waist high on most people. Use caution, take your time crossing, cross in the morning if you can (water levels tend to be a little lower then). If you arenât comfortable crossing, then turn around and go back the way you came. Be safe everyone!

Raven Glacier Saturday Jun 29 by Linda

Does anyone know what the trail conditions are to Raven Glacier?

Girdwood Berry Pass Trail Saturday Jun 22 by TC

We encountered a black bear sow and cub in the subalpine zone about 2 miles from Berry Pass over the weekend. This is the same location that another hiker reported seeing the bears the day before. My guess is they are hot and staying close to the large fan of snow below the waterfall and enjoying the foraging in the adjacent meadow.

Kincaid Park Thursday Jun 20 by Red8wop

Very aggressive cow moose w newborn calf Good Greff Nw section. Charged

Hillside Thursday Jun 20 by HCB

Found a Car key on Spencerâs around 2:30pm today. We left it by the Hilltop xc ski TH, on the sign board.

Hillside Wednesday Jun 19 by TC

There have been a number of black bear sightings in the mid-Hillside neighborhoods adjacent to the Hillside ski trails over the past four weeks. Everything from a large lone black bear tearing down bee boxes in a neighbors yard, to subadults playing in somebodies yard, and to a juvenile licking a neighbors outdoor patio table, and a recreationist getting bluff charged by a subadult black bear adjacent to the pedestrian bridge on the multi-use trail that runs adjacent to Abbott. This is a tough time of year for all wildlife. Travel in groups, make noise, don't listen to your headphones, and always carry a bear deterrent in a readily available place on your person (belt or chest harness).

Hillside Singletrack Trails Wednesday Jun 19 by Julian Mason

Someone has been putting anti-Pebble stickers on the STA signs. It is a mistake to use the STA signs as political billboards, so I removed the stickers. I will continue to remove political stickers, regardless of the message.

The very low tree on the Jive has been removed. Lower Llama has started featuring daily very fresh black bear scat. I recommend singing country songs. I do, and don't see people or bears.

Rabbit Creek Valley Friday Jun 14 by Bear

Anyone have data on the Rabbit Lake trail? Still snow or not?

Reed lakes Friday Jun 14 by andrew

Lost toddler patagonia fleece jacket blue and white. The3880@gmail.com.

Bird to Gird Trail Thursday Jun 13 by devo

Perfect bluebird day - did Indian to Girdwood Trail RT. Few bikers, no bears or moose.

Rabbit Creek Valley Monday Jun 10 by Helen

Road to the backside of Flattop and Rabbit Creek is closed during the week before 5pm due to road construction.

Archangel Road Sunday Jun 9 by redwop

open and in beautiful shape to the bridge

Far North Bicentennial Park Sunday Jun 9 by TC

Two black bears (what appeared to be a large sow and one second year cub) crossed O'Malley at Homestead Trail Rd into Far North Bicentennial Park. They entered the park at the short link trail by the road culvert just east of the pedestrian bridge. They then followed the Abbott trail east towards the Hillside nordic trail parking lot.

South Fork Eagle River Friday Jun 7 by Elizabeth

Looking for information on trail conditions to Symphony Lakes

Archangel Road Thursday Jun 6 by Sandy

Looking for info on Reed Lakes trail. Is Archangel road/trailhead snow free?

McHugh Peak Sunday Jun 2 by devo

Did McHugh Peak - accessed from Bear Valley. Scored one of the 5 legal parking spaces in the cul-de-sac - limited public access to Chugach State Park in South Anch. In the clouds most of the time, but a nice hike.

Prospect Heights trailhead Sunday Jun 2 by Randy

Fresh blood, bear scat, and bones, thought to be of a dog, seen on the gasline maybe 2k from the Prospect Heights trailhead. State park rangers are aware.

Willow Creek Saturday Jun 1 by paul

Lost and found on Willow Creek
I was on the old guardrail trail down to willow creek and found a Stihl chainsaw cover. Someone had cleared a notch through the fallen spruce. I placed the cover on top of the old road gate at trail head.
Paul

Turnagain Arm Trail Friday May 31 by devo

Did TAT with small group from Rainbow to McHugh. Lots of bear scat, some prints on trail. Signs posted about incident on Thursday w/ aggressive black bear. Boulders that came down from above and across the trail in the 30Nov earthquake - very impressive size, splintered trees, etc. ~Halfway between McHugh and Rainbow.

Portage Creek. Friday May 31 by Greg V

Floated Portage Creek today. The level was high enough to start at the bridge and float easily through the boulder garden just below by staying river right. No sweepers or other major hazards. We took out near the road and did not float to the highway.

Turnagain Pass Monday May 27 by Paul

Lyon Creek / Granite Creek water levels up. Had to pull around 3 or 4 trees, much as it was last year.
Photos / video
https://youtu.be/G21P7jpU8yc