Join us for this post-Thanksgiving shake-off ski for our first tour of the season. Travel under the rugged and beautiful peaks of the Archangel Valley and past old mining ruins in Hatcher Pass for a spectacular day of skiing on the Archangel Road. This is a great opportunity for those who want to learn about ski touring in the mountains, or start skiing for the season. The first portion of the trail, to the Reed Lakes trailhead, is flat, gaining only 300 feet in 2 ½ miles. This is a great turnaround spot for beginning skiers. The trail to the gate is another 1 ½ miles, gaining 500 feet and will be a great downhill run for those with more experience. We expect to ski about 8 miles round trip.
Alternatively (depending on snow conditions), we will ski through Independence Mine (likely off the groomed trails) and continue up the hill past Gold Cord Mine. We will ski beyond into the flatter upper bowl below Granite Peak and Friendship Pass, where we will have lunch. We will descend the hill at our own pace and, if conditions allow, cross the creek to find our way back to the trailhead. This tour would be appropriate for an advanced beginner to intermediate skier who can travel about 6 miles round trip on terrain with short climbs and downhills under various snow conditions.
Registration will open Saturday, November 12th at 10am. All day tours are $25/person.
Please check the following weather information before you prepare for this ski tour.
Hatcher Pass area weather forecast: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=61.79480994425425&lon=-149.27061629638672#.WA1w5q8zWUk
Independence Mine area temps and snow depth (but a few miles from our trailhead: http://ambcs.org/cgi-bin/siteCurrent.cgi?site=INDEPENDENCE_M
Point forecast for Archangel Road:
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-149.22049&lat=61.77503#.VI4003u2WI0
Marmot weather station operated by the Friends of the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center (besides weather information this has a web cam)
http://www.cnfaic.org/wx/wx_site.php?site=marmot
All NSAA tours are accompanied by the Anchorage Nordic Ski Patrol. If needed, they provide first aid and safety for tour participants. We thank them for their valuable help.