Independence Mine
Today 12AM by Jeff
Spent some time plowing out the road up to the mine to try and fix the off camber skiing that make one really good at V1 Left. The skate lane going up has been improved but the classic tracks leave something to be desired. Once you get to the mine area all the trails are in good condition for skate and classic with double tracks on Broadway, Outhouse, and going through the mine. Water Tunnel hill also got some attention with the plow and is prime. Support grooming by the Mat-Su Ski Club
Government Peak Recreation Area
Yesterday 11PM by Ed Strabel
Mat-Su Ski Club freshened up the skate lane on the Mat-Su loops and most of the Denali loops. Also set classic tracks on the Denali loops and reset the classic tracks on the Mat-Su loops.Trails are plenty wide enough to maintain physical distance while still being social. Support grooming by the Mat-Su Ski Club
Archangel Road
Yesterday 10PM by Zack Steer
Awesome conditions up at Archangel, a couple inches fresh snow on top of a hard packed base = great skiing. Groomed the skate and classic lanes up to the motorized intersection. Temps were falling to the single digits as I wrapped up under clear skies and darn near full moon. Will make for great late night skiing under moonlight the next week or so. Support grooming by the Mat-Su Ski Club
Moose Range
Yesterday 8PM by Robert Wright(Rocky)
yarrow area narrow trails connect to Southern Traverse to between the gates.CAUTION !Sombody dumped dead moose near Wendt trail head.Grizzly has been spoted a couple of times in different areas.Not safe in that area right now.Troopers have been notified
Moose Range
Yesterday 8PM by Pat P
Add to Rockyâs report. The moose is along the connector trail between Southern Traverse and Linguini (closer to Linguini). It is in a draw and someone marked the location with an orange flag/cone. Part of the carcass has been moved and looks like consumed. It is off the connector trail just past the turn onto Linguini as heading from the main motor trail to the southern traverse.
Kincaid Park
Yesterday 7PM by Amber McD
Skate skied Margaux and Mize loops and found 97% fast & fun; like skiing on a giant shave ice cone. Only a few grabby ruts to beware. Overall fantastic job groomers!!!
APU and UAA
Yesterday 7PM by steve cleary
great biking on the singletrack through the woods from goose lake to UAA and APU. Thought it might be soft after a warmish day but really good, solid fun. happy to live so close to such great trails
Kincaid Park
Yesterday 5PM by Alison
Skijored the Raspberry multiuse on some of the best conditions of the year (on April 6th!!!). Thanks to the NSAA groomers for going extra-wide in this age of physical distancing- so helpful.
Beach Lake Trails - Chugiak
Yesterday 4PM by Eric Skis
Hmmm, I read the trail signs differently than Chuck. Closed Oct-Apr means just that. No use other than skiers during those months. Now, October is a bit aggressive as I donât recall skiing groomed trails anywhere other than Hatcher Pass in October. However, April is very doable many years, like this one. I even skied the Hillside on April 30, 2013, and it was pretty good! People just need to use common sense. Unfortunately, many people donât realize how fast nordic skiers can be traveling, and those skiers expect only same direction traffic on one way trails while there is still NSAA grooming. On multiuse trails, there needs to be much more caution by skiers and all potentially high velocity users.
Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
Yesterday 4PM by Greg V
Biked from the sewer plant to the former blue bridge and back. Conditions ranged from firm pack to mashed potatoes. Lots of debris, lots of boot prints but still a few hardy skate skiers giving it a go. There are better places to ski for sure.
Hillside
Yesterday 4PM by JPG
Cheap Thrills skate skiing today. Nice and fast with a solid track. Thanks to the extra efforts this season going out to the groomers. That piston bully earned its pay! As far as the winter only trails go, certain people are always going to buck the system in pure spite. Thereâs a word for that but Iâll keep it civil. I highly doubt other countries have this issue. Hell of a season none the less!
Hillside
Yesterday 3PM by C. Crawford
Apparently there is a dispute about what "winter" means on trails designated as "winter use skiing only." I have first hand knowledge of some signage (not at Hillside) and I know some of the history of the more recent Hillside signage. The signage I am familiar with does have regulatory force and was put in place with the knowledge and approval of Parks and Rec. Some signage at Kincaid includes the muni logo. The phrase "ski only in winter" appeals to common sense and the presence of grooming. No signage can accommodate quibbles about when the first day of spring arrives, etc. The phrasing must be concise and users must act with good will. This year NSAA also added some additional clearly phrased signage that is hard to misunderstand.
Kincaid Park
Yesterday 1PM by Jay Peabody
Trails super fast with good edging. I'm with Eric: Oct to April means October 1 through April 30. Bikers, walkers, dogs, and wrong way skiers are all a danger to themselves and the skiers. Collisions do happen and can have significant consequences, especially this time of year when condition make for some very fast skiing. I know first hand - broken bones, several surgeries, and multiple years to fully recover. Signage is a big problem. Most people will do the right thing but some need it clearly spelled out for them. The new Winter Operations signs, and the new signs placed on the large posts are nice but are too detailed or too cryptic. It needs to be spelled out clearly: NO WALKING, NO DOGS, NO BIKES ON SKI TRAILS DURING WINTER. The SKI ONLY IN WINTER signs don't cut it either. Non skiers don't understand and think it's a sort of saying, as if skiing isn't allowed in summer. We can do better than these ineffective signs.
Moose Range
Yesterday 12PM by Gene
Groomed from Sunshine across the big swamp to linguini, horseshoe , low traverse ,Yarrow to Murphy Corner, Murphy Bypass, Grizzly Partly sunny 30 deg Support Mat Su Ski Club
Moose Range
Yesterday 10AM by Karen
Breaking up frozen ruts on Meadow, Middle Corridor to Campsite Xanders 1st to 2nd Bridge.. ouch. Gene is out there as well on outer loop from Wendt. Freezing temperatures all week hopefully will keep trail hard and fast. Social distancing on trails - stay healthy Mat Su Ski Club
Kincaid Park
Yesterday 10AM by Jim
Amazing and fast condition on the freshly groomed trails at Kincaid this morning. The fresh tracks were almost dangerously fast in some places (watch for moose and people on the downhills). Tracks were also much cleaner than they were yesterday due to the winds. Lekish and the classic only trails (Lake Loop and Horseshoe) were newly groomed but hard, fast, and icy. Sunny areas were softening up by around noon. Klister (Swix KX40s) worked for the first 10K or so until it came off. Skate skiing should be great, too.
Government Peak Recreation Area
Yesterday 9AM by Ed Strabel
Mat-Su Ski Club groomed the Mat, Su and Pioneer Loops for skating and classic. The Denali Loops have been groomed for skating. Flattop is being groomed now.
Hillside
Yesterday 9AM by DaveM
Skated lighted loops. Nice fresh corduroy, very fast and edgeable.
Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage
Yesterday 8AM by Friendly Report Bot [?]
Kincaid Park: After yesterday’s sunshine and warm wind and last night’s temperature drop, the trails were rock hard. Craig made two passes on the Lighted Loops, Stadium Loop, Play Hill and SML and set new track. He groomed the skate lane on the Multi-Use and Matt groomed the Lake and Horseshoe Loops. Have a great day!Hillside: The Lighted Loops, Gasline, Richter/Ridge and Bog trails have been groomed. Watch for dirt spots developing on tops of hills here and there. Have a great Monday!
Beach Lake Trails - Chugiak: Bill said there is about 1″ of new snow on the trails so he put it down as he groomed and set new track on the whole park except Serpentine, Meander, Coach’s and Executioner. He said to watch for a little water on the Christy and the far end of the Stadium and reduced the oval in the Stadium to avoid the water. Have fun out there!
Support grooming by the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage
Beach Lake Trails - Chugiak
Yesterday 8AM by Chuck Kase
If you read the fine print on the sign at the Beach Lake Chalet trailhead, it says closed to all but skiing Oct-April. That means pedestrians, dogs, bikes, ?horses? can now uses the trails. As a skier, I find this unfortunate and would like to see the trails restricted to skiing only until grooming ends for the season.
Hillside
Yesterday 6AM by Eric Skis
It is very dangerous for runners and bikers to be on ski only trails, not just for them but also the skiers. Anchorage is blessed with such a wonderful variety of trails. The multi use trail system is massive from the coastal trail all the way up to the mountains and everywhere in between. There is no reason for hikers (to include dogs), runners, and bikers to be on ski only, groomed trails. It is selfish and ignorant for them to be there except at the natural crossing points where we all need to be on high alert for one another. Please politely direct them towards the nearby multi use options when you see them out there. Spring (which started two weeks ago), longer days, and warmer temperatures do not change anything. When the groomers stop, so do the exclusions. In this regard, I wish Alaskans were just a bit more into rule following.
Hillside
Sunday 10PM by Julian Mason
People are now running and a few are biking on the trails. The signs say "ski only in winter" which certainly suggests that they are open to other users when winter is over. The NSAA has long had the view that the trails are ski trails as long as they can be groomed, but I am not aware of any statute or regulation or ordinance that supports that. I am a skier and have been an NSAA member since roughly 1975. My only point was to suggest why people think the trails are now, after winter is over, open to all users.
Hillside
Sunday 4PM by Larry Rundquist
Julian... BRM did not ask about the end of winter, he asked about the skier only designation. As long as NSAA is able to groom the trails for skiing using the funding from donations of trail pin donors, they are still ski trails.
Hillside
Sunday 3PM by Julian Mason
On Friday, BRM asked when winter ends. March 20th.
Beach Lake Trails - Chugiak
Sunday 2PM by TP
Subaru keys found, Left at chalet parking lot on large rock.
Government Peak Recreation Area
Sunday 10AM by C
At 10 am the ski trails are kind of rutted and frozen. Stiff breeze. Maybe there will be an afternoon window where the trails soften, without turning to mush.
Kincaid Park
Sunday 9AM by Redwop
Great grooming firm and fast. Even a bit scritchy in shaded and breezy areas but softening
Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage
Sunday 8AM by Friendly Report Bot [?]
Kincaid Park: 39 degrees all night at the park. The Stadium loop, Play Hill, SML, Lighted Loops, Mize’s Folley/Wall, Stairway, Compression and Moose Hill have all been groomed. Enjoy!Hillside: The Tour Trail to Tudor Bridge and the Lighted Loops, except Randy’s, have been groomed with track. Enjoy!
Support grooming by the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage
Hillside
Sunday 8AM by DaveM
Super icy corduroy and brisk wind. Advise waiting a few hours for softening.
Kincaid Park
Saturday 4PM by Russell
What Bear said below is accurate. Super slow....With spring weather there are lots of walkers and bikers (yes, them too) on the ski trails. I'm politely reminding them that the ski trails are for skiers only but at least please stay to the side of the trail. The snow is slow enough that you can't really have any high speed accidents. Remind them, but be polite about it.
Kincaid Park
Saturday 3PM by Bear
Gorgeous weather, super-slow snow. Even with Swix CH10 yellow it was some of the slowest skiing I've done for quite a while. I think the grooming report for Kincaid that said "except a few trails on the dark side" was maybe overselling it a bit - seemed like most of the stuff we tried between Jodhpur and the stadium was ungroomed. Stairway to Heaven with 3" of mushy wet snow on it was pretty intense. Icebox *was* groomed.
That said, get out and enjoy it. Even while puffing away it was still just good fun.
Government Peak Recreation Area
Saturday 1PM by Sam
Great fresh morning groom on everything except Marmot, Arkose, and Flattop. A tad on the soft side, more so on Denali. Flattop was groomed yesterday and is still totally skiable.Singletrack looked smooth, grippy, and solid.
Hillside
Saturday 1PM by ron
Found I-Phone on ski trails by ServiceCall 346-2005 and identify
Kincaid Park
Saturday 1PM by Janna
Kincaid was beautiful today! Lots of people out there, including some who look like newbies so beware of people going any direction on the loops. :) Also some walkers on the trails. We're at that crossover time of year.
Government Peak Recreation Area
Saturday 12PM by j
Groomed all trails early this morning for classic and skating. Still cool enough for some great skiing, John.
Eklutna Lake
Saturday 11AM by W Karl
Lake solid with considerable dense snow pack layered with around 3 inches of soft crust if not tracked. Nice for classic ski.
Beach Lake Trails - Chugiak
Saturday 9AM by red8wop
Superb!! Great job NSAA! You're helping us all get through the spring lockdown!
Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage
Saturday 8AM by Friendly Report Bot [?]
Kincaid Park: Craig groomed and set new track on the majority of the park except a few trails on the dark side. Have a great day!Hillside: All the Lighted Loops, Gasline, Double Bubble, Spencer and Multi-Use have been groomed with new track. Should be fun out there!
Beach Lake Trails - Chugiak: Bill groomed all the skate lanes and set new track everywhere except Lower Lot, Serpentine and Meander. Have a great Saturday!
Support grooming by the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage
Independence Mine
Saturday 2AM by Chris Smith
Groomed Independence Mine tonight with the PistenBully. I groomed the main road, upper parking lot, Water Tunnel Hill, and Outhouse Loop. Laid double tracks on the main road as well as in a few other spots, everything is wide and ready to be enjoyed by all! Please keep all walking traffic to the left so that our multi use areas can be enjoyed by all. Have a great morning and enjoy the outdoors during these trying times. Support grooming by the Mat-Su Ski Club
Archangel Road
Friday 8PM by Ashley Wise
The non-motorized section was groomed for skate and classic tonight. The trail is in excellent shape with the 3+ new inches of snow erasing the week of rock hard kibbles and bits. Support grooming by the Mat-Su Ski Club
Government Peak Recreation Area
Friday 7PM by Bill Mohrwinkel
All single track groomed at GPRA. Trails are riding great, be even better if it freezes tonight. I think we are heading into that time of year that it will be best to ride in the mornings. Thanks again to the grooming team; Larry Dreese and David Kosik. Enjoy, be safe and stay healthy! Like the grooming? Support Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers.
Far North Bicentennial Park
Friday 6PM by Becca
Lost glasses while on a walk in north bicentennial from the trailhead near the bridge (off Campbell airstrip road), down the viewpoint trail and back. If found, please text 775-419-7374. Thank you!
Moose Range
Friday 1PM by Gene
Groomed Meadows 1st to 2nd bridge Murphy to Grizzly to Linguini to Southern traverse to Yarrow's multiple unnamed trails. (if you are heading east take all lefts, if heading west take all rights (on todays groom) - otherwise you will be going in circles! - which if very good for more miles support MSSC groomers! but keep your social distancing
Government Peak Recreation Area
Friday 1PM by MSSC
Just finished grooming Denali (as far as bottom of Castle), Castle, Denali (from the top of Castle to the Matanuska), Twin Peaks, Microdot, and Bold. No classic tracks. (Watch out for the pit near the top of Castle - had a traction issue.) Refreshed Pioneer too.Skiers were passing me, it looked like fun. Still snowing.
Government Peak Recreation Area
Friday 10AM by Ed Strabel
Just groomed (classic/skating) Mat-Su and Pioneer Loops. 4" of new snow. Beautiful trails today. Denali Loop is being groomed right now and so is Flattop trail.
Moose Range
Friday 9AM by Karen
Gene is out there packing the 3 in new snow - filling in moose tracks and covering debris. Beautiful classic glide! He seemed to be heading towards Linguini? follow the cordoroy. Social distance required - bikers practice those face plants trailside! support MSSC
Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage
Friday 8AM by Friendly Report Bot [?]
Kincaid Park: Craig groomed the entire park while it was snowing last night, so the trails will have 1-2″ accumulation on them. Have fun out there!Hillside: There’s 2-4″ of new snow on the trails. Jack groomed the Lighted Loops and Spencer. Enjoy!
Beach Lake Trails - Chugiak: Bill groomed all the trails on the Chalet side of Main St., the Christy Loop and CHS Stadium…with new track. The park received 4″ of dense snow last night and there will be about an inch on what Bill groomed last night. Have fun out there!
Support grooming by the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage
Hillside
Friday 8AM by BRM
Can anyone please clarify the timeframe for "skiing only" restrictions on groomed ski trails? I told a skier with 2 dogs on the Spencer Loop yesterday that it's a no-dog trail, to which she responded, "It's April. It's OK." My understanding is that as long as the trails are groom-able, they are skiing only. Just looking for clarification. Thank you to the groomers for keeping our trails in excellent shape well into spring!
