Alaska Outdoor Reports

Turnagain Pass Yesterday 12AM by David Miller

Any crust or BC reports?

Independence Mine Friday 10PM by Ben

Groomed everything! X-country tracks in! Couple of skiers and dogs and non skiing bi pedals out enjoying the 34 degree weather in the late evening sun. Ski tracks looked to not be penetrating the groom. Not so much with the bi and quadrapeds. Should ski good though. As always look out for hazards. The snow was collapsing on the edges of the trail so there may be some death cookies out there. Let’s go ski it!!! Support grooming by the Mat-Su Ski Club

Independence Mine Wednesday 2PM by Chris

Fine mid-afternoon skating! Firm smooth corduroy with a bit of fresh on top. Footprints not an issue. Off trail, the snow is still supportive, but under the corn, the solid crust of just a few days ago is trending towards mush.

Be watchful skiing downhill on Renshaw's road - there are some trip hazards melting out in the middle of the trail.

Independence Mine Wednesday 7AM by Lori

Skied the Mine this morning only to be disappointed that the fresh groom was ruined by 1 or 2 ignorant walkers. I greatly appreciate the efforts of our volunteer groomers. But is there any chance to groom later in the evening to avoid the potential evening walkers ruining the fresh groom before it has a chance to set up?

Independence Mine Wednesday 7AM by Lori

Independence Mine Tuesday 10PM by Ed Strabel

Grooming schedule for Independence Mine trails. Tuesday and Friday nights if conditions permit up until DOT decides to plow the road to the visitor center. Plowing tentatively scheduled to start the week of 17 or 24 May. Support grooming by the Mat-Su Ski Club

Independence Mine Tuesday 8PM by Justin

Groomed everything while the snow came down. The trails definitely have some weeble wobble to them. 32 degrees when I left so hopefully it sets up good, otherwise pretty mooshy. Still worth a trip up. Support grooming by the Mat-Su Ski Club

Independence Mine Tuesday 2PM by Randal Bladel

Skied the mine. The path up is bumpy but was soft enough to skate without a problem. Also classic track worked well, though I needed warmer klister. Some of the downhill corners on the trail were a bit hairy due to the softening snow and ruts. Crust cruising on the east side of the valley was nice, with a group of young elites whooping it up using a gully as a half pipe on skate skis. Beautiful sun. Bring bigger baskets to avoid punching through, especially on the west side of the valley as the sun warms it.

Independence Mine Tuesday 9AM by Dave

Does the ski club have a schedule for grooming Independence, or is it random days?

Archangel Road Monday 11AM by Dave

Went for a midday hike on Archangel Road. Snow is still several feet deep, but we didn't posthole at all. Supportive but pretty bumpy surface, although somebody skated it earlier in the day. The old classic ski tracks are kinda still there and people are using them.

Independence Mine Sunday May 2 by Jeff

Yes I did groom the skate lane last night so conditions should be good today. Not sure why last nights message didn’t post? Support grooming by the Mat-Su Ski Club

Eklutna Lake Saturday May 1 by JF

Biked Eklutna Lakeside trail to Kanchee CG. Trail is nearly, but not entirely snow free. The non-motorized sections along the lake continue to erode. Hiked to Tulchina Falls; trail was about half snow.

Turnagain Pass Saturday May 1 by Eric McCallum

Skate Skied Wednesday the 28th (before the rain on Thursday) and it was still good, getting rolley polley but so much snow this winter that many of the creeks were still covered.

Government Peak Recreation Area Saturday May 1 by Susan

Hiked Blue Berry Knoll trail to just above the first picnic table at about 9:30am. Trail was still firm from cooler night temps, with a few snow patches here and there. Easy walking in the morning, but will be muddy and slushy later in the day. Ski trails I crossed still had enough snow that you could easily walk them with spikes in the cool mornings, but they're definitely starting to show patches of ground, so skiing is history.

Independence Mine Friday Apr 30 by Justin

Colder temps up high are keeping this beautiful place alive. Everything seemed to layout nice and tight. The edges are soft, but the trails are solid, enjoy.

Turnagain Pass Thursday Apr 29 by Randy Bladel

Does anyone have any info on the possible crust skiing at Turnagain Pass? Thanks.

Glen Alps Thursday Apr 29 by devo

Snow/rain, 35F. Tried to hike out Powerline Pass Trail. Mostly covered in snow. After going down the first slope, the trail became very punchy - kept post holing and gave up before too long. Looks like a few folks had skied it - snow is fairly dirty and there is a long section on the first slope where the snow is gone completely.

Government Peak Recreation Area Thursday Apr 29 by Carl

Looks all over from the parking lot. But Denali is still hanging in there (barely) and the portages on the Mat-Su are short and grassy, although the steeper legs of the Su should be skipped. Have to disregard the official trail layout to best follow the snowy segments.

Chester Creek Trail Wednesday Apr 28 by Larry

A black bear with two tiny cubs used the Northern Lights overpass to cross from the Goose Lake area into the Chester greenbelt. They can cover ground fast, so be bear aware all along the Chester Creek Trail and surrounding neighborhoods.

Independence Mine Tuesday Apr 27 by Jeff

Tricky soft snow conditions made for a challenging groom. The product turned out good and had already frozen after first lap. Skiing should be good if you time the warm up right. Look out for PB trenches in a few spots next to trail. The next groom is planned for Friday night. Support grooming by the Mat-Su Ski Club

Government Peak Recreation Area Tuesday Apr 27 by Carl

Noontime ski is still a fun thing, but it is far different than just a few days ago, the last day can't be far off. Multiple full trail width grassy meltouts to walk across (with skis on), and some funky local snow surfaces to deal with. The calendar is catching up with GPRA. (Or is it the other way?)

Kincaid Park Tuesday Apr 27 by HN

Thanks for a great season groomers!! Enjoyed the last day of groomed skiing until the fall!

Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage Tuesday Apr 27 by Friendly Report Bot [?]

Kincaid Park: This is it, the last groom of the season. One final pass on the Black, Green, some of the Yellow, Purple and a few small loops in the Stadium. Everything has dirt spots. Have a wonderful summer!

Support grooming by the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage

Campbell Creek Trail Monday Apr 26 by Alison

Road biking was fine on Campbell Creek trail between Taku Lake and Victor; had to get off the bike for one icy underpass but it was otherwise totally acceptable. Nothing too hazardous gravel-wise, either.

Hillside Monday Apr 26 by Heidi

NSAA is done grooming, but there was a wee bit of skiing left. More ski tracks than footprints indicated that I was not the only fool out there. Besh, Hillside, and Jr. Nordic Loops were mostly continuous skiing with a few short portages on sunny downhills. Stay to the right, and watch for mud patches on rollovers. Snow conditions resembled good crust skiing at 7pm. Still more fun than running.

Independence Mine Monday Apr 26 by Kruser

Great crust skiing, still fully supportable at 11am. The avalanche debris across the road is humbling and worth the drive up.

Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage Monday Apr 26 by Friendly Report Bot [?]

Kincaid Park: The skate lanes on the SML have been groomed, no track, even though it’s looking grim. Tomorrow will be the last day for grooming. Still plowing and peeling snow off the Multi-Use. Keep a look out for an angry/curious bull moose on the Black and Green loops. Have a great day!

Support grooming by the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage

Government Peak Recreation Area Sunday Apr 25 by Carl

Excellent ski conditions. 10:30 am to 12:30. No ice, no smush. Very first little bare spots, not a factor yet. Will probably last like this as long as the clear-sky nights continue.

Hillside Sunday Apr 25 by skisteelhead

Great conditions for skate skiing on Apr 25th. Didn't have to take the skis off once on all of the groomed sections, though had to step through a couple of mud sections. Puddle just past Train to Ride is growing. Thanks for the wonderful groom this season NSAA!!!

Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage Sunday Apr 25 by Friendly Report Bot [?]

Kincaid Park: Refreshed the skate lanes on the SML. Watch for dirt spots and slush. Enjoy the sunshine!

Hillside: This is it! The last groom of the season on Gasline, Spencer, Besh, Hillside and Jr. Nordic Loops. Have a great summer and we’ll see you on the trails next winter!

Support grooming by the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage

Independence Mine Saturday Apr 24 by Kelly

Conditions are awesome! We
Skate skied with no problems-snow
Softening by 12:30-1:00 yet plenty of great snow to ski. Folks were skate skiing off trial on the crust on right of hill as you ski up to the mine. . Some folks were backcountry skiing down the side near the pass road, large groups gathering to play in the sun with sledding and badminton. The temp registered 43F but the sun was hot and the sky bright blue. Amazing to drive past the avalanche debris. Bring sunglasses and sunscreen!

Government Peak Recreation Area Saturday Apr 24 by Michael Funke

Denali Loop at Government Peak was a thing of beauty Saturday morning! Skate skiing was firm and fast at 11:30 AM and still good by 1:30 PM. A great snow pack, good grooming and a nice crust forming overnight made for great skiing. I think the trails will hold up for another 4 or 5 days if it continues to freeze overnight.

Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage Saturday Apr 24 by Friendly Report Bot [?]

Kincaid Park: The skate lanes on the SML have been touched up and the Multi-Use is still being plowed. Happy Saturday!

Hillside: The skate lanes were refreshed on the Gasline and Double Bubble and “new” shallow track on the Spencer, Besh, Hillside and Jr. Nordic. More dirt showing up. Have a great weekend!

Support grooming by the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage

Independence Mine Friday Apr 23 by Valley Orange

I am looking forward to the GRAND-REOPENING of the historical Independence Mine Ski trails this weekend...this future ski report includes at least one re-application of sunscreen, potential 'off-piste' crust skiing, enjoying the parking lot vibe, and a world-class athlete sighting.

Independence Mine Friday Apr 23 by Justin

Fresh! World Class! Enjoy the trails and possible world class athlete sightings!! Support grooming by the Mat-Su Ski Club

Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage Friday Apr 23 by Friendly Report Bot [?]

Kincaid Park: The trails on the SML have been groomed with new track…all other trails are finished for the season. The Multi-Use is being plowed and it may take a few days to remove the snow and ice. Also, the Stadium and Bunker tunnels are still holding up but watch for slush at the entrances. Enjoy!

Hillside: Made a few passes on the skate lanes on Gasline and Double Bubble and set new/shallow track on Hillside, Besh and Jr. Nordic Loops. It was a bit hard and icy with some dirt spots showing up. Have a fun Friday!

Support grooming by the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage

Independence Mine Thursday Apr 22 by Jeff and Chris

We packed and did some plowing on all the trails at IM in preparation for a Friday night groom and Saturday grand re opening. Conditions are skiable with rare obstacles and some classic tracks. Support grooming by the Mat-Su Ski Club

Glen Alps Thursday Apr 22 by Melanie B

Classic skied powerline pass on fish scales, holding up well enough into the late afternoon for good fun! Walkers post-holing, may want snowshoes for soft spots.

Independence Mine Thursday Apr 22 by Carl

Crust skiing. Corn on crust, doesn't get better. Groomers can holiday for a while.

Government Peak Recreation Area Thursday Apr 22 by Chris

Midday at GPRA. Still 100% snow coverage. No bare spots, no ice, no water; just newly fluffed corduroy. The PB cleaned it up very nicely with it's rototiller. Great skiing.

Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage Thursday Apr 22 by Friendly Report Bot [?]

Hillside: Squished in a skate lane on Spencer, Double Bubble, Besh, Hillside and Jr. Nordic Loops. More burn marks on south facing slopes with significant water flow on final descent off Spencer. Use caution through there and watch for expanding water holes throughout. Also, now is a good time to take down any remaining tree decorations. Thanks and have a great day!

Support grooming by the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage

Turnagain Pass Thursday Apr 22 by wayne

Folks will need a new access strategy: halfway across the snow on the bridge, both of my feet plunged through and I had to scoot and crawl my way to the other side like a Happy Cowboy. Would not recommend trying to cross it anymore.
Crust in the valley looked great for bikes until 8:30 or so; highly recommend exiting the Kickstep valley before noon!

Hillside Thursday Apr 22 by earlybird

A big thanks to the awesome groomers on the Hillside Trails! They continue to work miracles on the trails in these spring freezes and thaws...it's great to still be able to ski in late April! Thanks also to all the walkers and bikers who have continued to stay off of the tempting groomed trails. Frozen footprints are a safety hazard for skiers...

Anchorage Parks and Recreation Thursday Apr 22 by Friendly Report Bot [?]

Russian Jack Springs Park:
- Russian Jack Springs North Trails Trail scraping in progress use caution , Tracks set
- Russian Jack Springs Park Partial Lit Trails Trail scraping in progress, use caution

Government Peak Recreation Area Wednesday Apr 21 by Mark Strabel

Groomed Pioneer, Matanuska, Susitna, Bold, Lazy, Eska, and did 1 lap around Denali, Marmot, Arkose with the PistenBully. The last groom with the PistenBully at GPRA. Maybe a couple more days left of skiing at GPRA. Support grooming by the Mat-Su Ski Club

Government Peak Recreation Area Wednesday Apr 21 by Dave L.

8am: White, hard, fast, scary.
4pm: Soft, slippery, solid, fun. So surprising - not at all the mush gouge I expected so late in the day.
(Maybe a foot less snow depth than just a day or two ago.)

Archangel Road Wednesday Apr 21 by Dave L.

10 to 11am: Corn on crust. Delightful. The avy debris is nice and smooth and skis well, so no problem there.

Independence Mine Wednesday Apr 21 by Dave L.

11am to 1pm: Bomber crust. Go everywhere. Corn on the sunniest aspects, probably better skiing a little later when more widespread.

Moose Range Wednesday Apr 21 by Dave L.

5pm: Hard to believe, but quite nice soft but firm skating on the Powder Loops. Still full coverage. Swamp is open water.

Chester Creek Trail Wednesday Apr 21 by DJT

Plowed and snowfree pavement last night from Sullivan Arena to Valley of the Moon! Still slushy and icy beyond that on both ends. Looking forward for endless bike rides soon!