Glen Alps
Saturday 12PM by devo
Deep soft snow at Glen Alps, ~20". Classic skied on Powerline Pass Trail. Not packed down, except for a very narrow trough from the walkers/skiers. Backcountry skis be a better choice than classic. A pass with a groomer and skiing would be awesome, but I don't know if CSP goes for that.
Government Peak Recreation Area
Saturday 11AM by Susan
Hiked up to Blue Berry Knoll today. The trail was slushy with slick mud underneath. Pretty slippery on the steep parts. Snow is fine up by the knoll. Gorgeous views. Really pretty with the fall colors and snow.
Kincaid Park
Saturday 9AM by Jeremy
Thursday (Sep 23) evening my daughter left a light blue APU top in the trees between the Kincaid "soccer" ball and the roundabout by the Chalet. When she returned after practice to pick it up, someone had taken it. If you have it, we'd like to arrange to get it back. Thanks!
Hillside
Friday 5PM by Cory Smith
To update my earlier post... with a bit more snow on the ground and less on the trees now, Hillside is very skiable. It's slushy, so waxless rock skis are the way to go. But if you want a true September WTF (winter's truly fantastic) experience, head up a little higher. There is about 2 feet of snow and a nice skied-in track from Upper O'Malley trailhead to Glen Alps. Roads to Upper O'Malley are not bad now, just wet and slushy, but could get worse this evening.
Russian Jack
Friday 2PM by Gil Carr
First of the season Russian Jack fresh tracks! Get some! The hill was in with some sweet sticky icky! Just fun (slow) enough for a group of first-time-ever-skiing-teens who played around like it was their first time seeing snow. Y'all prolly want to go to Hillside for real tho.
Hillside
Friday 12PM by HN
Some of the best fish scale skiing I’ve ever had today despite the slush. The higher you climb the better it gets. Spencer loop up top was prime. A few down trees but I found none (when I skied) that fully obstructed a downhill. Go get it while you can!
Hillside
Friday 9AM by Cory Smith
About 4 inches on the ground near Hillside. About 2 inches of slush with 2 inches of wet snow on top. Still coming down. My guess is that skis would squish through the slush to the ground, rather than pack it down. There's also lots of trees and branches continuing to snap and fall, so probably not a good time to be out on the trails at Hillside.
Hillside
Friday 7AM by HN
Wondering if anyone who lives near hillside can comment on the quantity of snow that fell overnight? Is it enough to rock ski at hillside? New to Anchorage and not familiar with the amount of snow needed to slide around at hillside. Thanks!
Arctic Valley Ski Area
Wednesday 4PM by Gavin Kentch
Variable, early-season, and awesome. Variable: at its best (on the main trail to the left where others had previously walked), cold and firm snow, 4-5 inches, skier-set classic tracks not hitting the ground, and it felt like real skiing (for like a km total, probably much less). At its worst (on the Marston overlook trail to the right where I was the first one through), 3 inches moist snow, most of which clumped up on my fishscales on every third stride, and random scraping through to gravel underneath. Early-season: rock skis, obviously. Awesome: skiing is awesome! I was skiing today! It was awesome!
(Road was fine, effectively clear all the way up, though that could change by this weekend. Many thanks for the road intel earlier today on this forum.)
Arctic Valley Ski Area
Wednesday 9AM by Gavin Kentch
Anyone have post-snowfall intel on the status/driving safety of the road up to Arctic Valley?
Eklutna Lake
Saturday Sep 18 by Caroline
Erin Board I found your glove last Saturday evening & left it on a paver rock near the outhouse in the central parking lot. Just seeing this message now after the snow so it might require a bit of digging but it should be there! Not sure if I can send a DM through this site but happy to provide more details.
Eklutna Lake
Saturday Sep 18 by Erin Board
Beautiful day on Bold Ridge Trail. Dropped my black and brown Hestra leather glove on the trail coming down. If anyone was out there and saw it would be stoked to get it back and reunite it with it's other half!
Hatcher Pass
Tuesday Sep 14 by Kruser
It begins. Several inches of fresh at pass. Road still open.
Kincaid Park
Friday Sep 3 by davenginger
Runners, hikers! Smash those squeeze outs! Being a runner who loves the single track trails in Kincaid and up on Hillside I see the conflicted urges of the bikers... trails mostly hard and dryish yet with spots of mud holes and dips. When I run I make a point of doing quick side steps and smashing down flat the squeeze outs from the bike tires in those muddy spots...hopefully helping to keep the trails useable longer by both those of us on foot as well as for the Bikers.
Glen Alps
Thursday Sep 2 by Dan
Lost my sunglasses while riding Glen Alps to Indian on Sunday. Fairly sure it was somewhere in the alders on the rutted steep downhills on the Indian side. If found please email flatfishfool@gmail.comBtw Glen Alps side good as usual, Indian side was pretty bad, rutted and eroding in steep areas and wet and muddy down low. I understand now this is probably as usual too but hadn’t ridden it in 10+ years.
Kincaid Park
Thursday Aug 26 by ipickupmydogspoo
It has been appalling to note the number of people riding wet singletrack during or after rain in the past month. Every little divot is turning into a mud pit that subsequently requires even more time to dry out. I helped build these trails and sometimes do some volunteer work on them to maintain them. STOP riding wet trails folks!
Chester Creek Trail
Wednesday Aug 25 by Dave Mcfadden
Please..check on that 'research'. Ringing bells when the bears come down the path past your blind is not the same as a bear hearing bells approaching his position.Bears hear birds all day.. they darn well can distinguish between familiar bird sounds and approaching bells. As a runner year round on the trails around here I constantly, when things leaf out, have my bear bells in my hand, tinkeling as visibility requires, along with my bear spray. As I run through the tall grass and green walls surrounding our trails I do not for one minute believe that any critter is not aware of my approach. Yes I also talk to my dog as I run but certainly do not hold lengthy loud conversations with her for the course of our run. BTW.. I have observed a moose a quarter of a mile away lift up his head and look my way on hearing my bear bell. Please do not discourage the use of bear bells...
Chester Creek Trail
Friday Aug 20 by Terri
Dave and All, -- WARNING! -- Bear researchers have said that bears ignore those little jingle bells that are sold as supposed "bear bells" -- apparently they sound too similar to bird song. The researchers tested different sounds around bears. When they simply broke a twig, bears nearby immediately turned and looked for what critter was heavy enough to break a twig. Bears want to avoid humans, so in order to alert bears from a distance, be a LOUD HUMAN -- talk loudly with companions, or if alone, call out loudly and often. Save the word "bear" for when there's actually a bear, so as not to confuse other people who hear you. Music from a cell phone or even a speaker does not travel far enough to be effective and diminishes the natural outdoor experience of others. I hope that REI, Amazon, and others have permanently stopped labeling the little jingle bells as a way to alert bears -- that dangerously gives people a false sense of security. (and, of course, always have your bear spray out and ready to use... and be aware that each can has an expiration date)
Hillside
Friday Aug 20 by Terri P.
Saw black bear sow walking in empty Hilltop Parking area as I descended Hilltop hiking trail. She went into woods at north end of fence at caretaker house. Emerged in meadow to north followed by one... two... three cubs, headed toward xc ski trailhead (no one there at that time). Continued toward NSAA grooming machine garage. Several minutes later they were in grass near woods on top of the first rise of Hilltop Ski Area. Perhaps those four were the source of the multiple fresh piles of scat on the latter portion of the Spencer Loop recently? From what I've learned from bear researchers, a black bear sow with cubs who feels threatened by a human might make quite a fuss and false-charge, but will rarely risk making contact with a human because she needs to avoid injury and focus on protecting her cubs from grizzly bears -- especially with 3 lil' rascals to keep track of!
walmart
Thursday Aug 19 by Dave
FYI....Bear Bells......Walmart has a bunch of the Coghlans Bear bells.REI, Amazon do not have them now.
Chester Creek Trail
Monday Aug 2 by John
6:13 pm, adult black bear on trail between Bragaw and N. Lights crosswalk. The bear saw (?) a person blast by on a bike but didn't react.
Campbell Creek Trail
Saturday Jul 31 by John
7pm: 2 black bear cubs east of park at Lake Otis
Chester Creek Trail
Tuesday Jul 27 by John
Just seen: black bear sow and cubs in tunnel under Lake Otis.
Hillside
Monday Jul 26 by Bart
I met a black bear on the Besh Lighted Loop before it joins up with the Hillside Lighted Loop (proceeding in the normal ski direction). This was just beyond the light pole marked "216". The bear looked like a full-sized adult in good condition and didn't have much interest in me. I talked to it somewhat loudly from where I spotted it, maybe 30 meters away, and it wandered back into the woods. I took a different route back the way I came.
Kincaid Park
Saturday Jul 17 by MaineiAK
Thanks for the info, Gavin. We have checked in at the Chalet lost-and-found, but no one has turned them in there. I wouldn’t be searching quite so hard, except that one was a $300 whitewater racing paddle. I think they’re probably gone for good at this point, though.
Kincaid Park
Thursday Jul 15 by Gavin Kentch
@Maine - there is a lost and found in the Kincaid chalet (which is now open again) that would be worth checking. They keep large and valuable items behind the counter; if you wandered in asking about paddles, that’s where they would be.
Kincaid Park
Thursday Jul 15 by MaineiAK
Little Campbell Lake - after canoeing with the family on Tuesday, we packed up and left, forgetting our three paddles on the shore. We did not find them when we realized they were missing and went back to check today. Any suggestions where else to try tracking them down other than this site?
Hillside
Thursday Jul 15 by Jeremy Littell
It's become clear in our household that a pair of black and orange Yoko nordic ski poles (~125cm, with snow baskets) and a purple hooded APU wind jacket are missing. They were last seen where the Gasline heads up the steep hill just south of Chicken Run. Any info appreciated....
Hillside
Wednesday Jul 14 by Gilia
Found new looking wind layer jacket on Spencer Loop - let me know the brand and color and I’ll happily get it back to you. degange.gilia@gmail.com
Glen Alps
Thursday Jul 1 by Gretchen
Lost cell phone -IPhone 11 in blue case. Parked at Glen Alps and hiked up to Flatop. Went back up ton look for it. Please call 907 351-2286 if found.
Kincaid Park
Saturday Jun 26 by wayne
Black bear hanging out at the bottom of Change of Pace on the Raspberry multiuse trail. Fat and happy, he didn’t seem interested in folks.
Chester Creek Trail
Thursday Jun 24 by Nathan
There was a large black bear on the connecter between Takishla park and E 20th hanging around the trail.
Glen Alps
Thursday Jun 24 by wayne
Saw a sign about a moose carcass and bear activity on the Williwaw Lakes Trail, didn't read thoroughly enough to recall where the carcass was located...1.5 miles from somewhere. Regardless, the trail is currently "closed".
Campbell Creek Trail
Tuesday Jun 22 by Randal Bladel
I recall seeing a tree down all the way over the Campbell Creek a few weeks ago. It was somewhere south of Dowling, but I don’t know the exact location. (I was biking at the time.)
Turnagain Pass
Monday Jun 21 by GregV
Floated from the first Seward Hwy bridge over Granite Creek to the Six Mile whitewater put-in. Fast flow with numerous sweepers to avoid. I was in a 15’ round raft with 10’ oars without issues but be ready to maneuver at every corner. Fast float…1:45 with a lunch stop.
Campbell Creek Trail
Monday Jun 21 by MaineiAK
Any recent reports from paddling Campbell Creek? Is it clear? If not, are there just a few blockages or a lot? Thanks!
Crow Pass
Friday Jun 18 by Dede
Girdwood up to the cabin we hiked the upper trail. Quite a few snow fields. Footing generally good but was glad to have poles. Pass fully snow covered. Glissaded a short section then returned on the old trail which was snow free.
Bird to Gird Trail
Tuesday Jun 15 by Randal Blael
More bear scat on the trail than I have ever seen before, especially up high on the hill. I think I startled one in the brush, judging from the crashing going on as I passed. One couple on bikes said they had seen a bear earlier. Saw a bear spray canister trigger safety lock on the trail, so I’m guessing someone used their spray. I won’t go back without my spray and a horn.
Bird to Gird Trail
Friday Jun 11 by devo
Rode from Indian to Girdwood RT. Beautiful day, but lots of bears on the big hill south of Bird Point. On the way to Girdwood, on the downhill a (brown?) bear ran out of the woods in front of me. Slammed on the brakes, then I backed up, waited, then eventually got past it. Then after going to Girdwood I headed back to Indian. I started the climb of the same slope and within a 1/2 mile came up on four black bears walking on and near the path. I gave up, did a u-turn and went back to where the highway comes near the trail and rode the highway north to get around them. A nice ride, but keep your eyes open.
Kincaid Park
Tuesday Jun 8 by J and K
Found an eCollar on the side of the single track trail along Tower Power. It has blue straps on it. Left it at the Kitchen Sink.
Glen Alps
Sunday Jun 6 by Jeremy
Found a micro SD card on the south (right hand, outbound from trailhead) side of Powerline trail, maybe a mile up from the middle fork trail junction, last Sunday, 06/06. Amazingly, it is intact and works. Tell me what's on it and I can arrange to get it back to you!
Kincaid Park
Saturday Jun 5 by Gavin Kentch
Large black bear in the woods, hanging out in the shade amongst the junked cars, on the official trail from the motocross area down to the beach. We all know there are bears at Kincaid, and presumably it won’t be in the same place tomorrow, but I was absolutely guilty of paying less attention than I should because it was near the parking lot on a sunny/busy day and I’d convinced myself there wouldn’t be any bears there, so I wanted to put that out there. If my mom reads this, I was very safe. The bear loped away from me as soon as it saw me.
