ASCEND & WANDER

  My first day hiking in Anchorage was a big horseshoe starting and ending in 2 different spots and using a bus plus Uber plus hitchhike combo. I had bought a map the day before from the visitor center in downtown Anchorage of Chugagh State Park having known that there was big terrain to the east of the city. I started at the main trailhead of Glen Alps to get a vibe of the area then hiked through the Willwaw Lakes Valley to Long Lake and up Nels to Basher Drive trailhead.    GPS Glen Alps trailhead on a busy Saturday morning You immediately get views over ANC and apparently flattop mountain is a common hike for locals in the evening Looking towards Pipeline Pass. This route was wide and had signs for snowmobiles. I know there is also a route that ditches you out at the ocean to the south at Indian Creek. Indian Creek has a valley mine nearby and apparently has cell service too for a ride out.  I still don't have a can of bear spray thanks to the airline and I really...

  The plan was to ascend Habrich ridge then make a loop connecting back to the road after traversing the ridge and descending on the climbers trail from Habrich Spur. Getting higher on Habrich ridge Last time I was here I definitely did not remember this boardwalk... Good view of Atwell Massive boulders in the forest Sky Pilot coming into view And our route to Habrich poking out at the end there Goat ridge Some fixed ropes were handy. I never like these parts  Almost slab walking  Pretty wild route Top notch way to cool off So is plugging in the fridge Exposure  Another party of 3 scrambling down from the summit. No thanks The climbers descent trail was in great shape and an efficient way to get down to the road. The road is much better as a ski though A great loop overall. I would be keen to do it again in reverse. It was HOT. 

The start of the logging road from the duffey  Walking the logging road. To my surprise, there were about 5 cars at the little trailhead maybe 1km from the highway and our car was the only one left on the highway. I must be used to accessing this area from the winter only! Definitely makes me want to do more in the summer months here too... Maybe possibility for a 1 way and duffey pick up somehow? Ascending through the forest from the trail junction  Viewpoint through the forest This boulder field is the route we skied when making our way to the hut  Boulder field The view towards the Wendy Thompson Hut area First view of the alpine lake. Crystal clear cold water. And the campsite to the right. It was a pretty common spot with 3 tents pitched when we arrived and another party of 10 coming up in the afternoon from the road on our way down. Above Rawr Lake  We turned around here. The GPS point I had saved was a little further ahead was where AB and I had stashed gear d...

  Sea to Sky trail is a great spot to bike especially the section south of the highway in Squamish and around Brandywine like we did here on this day. The Brandywine lot was full but we managed to pull off the side of the highway on a logging road with RMOW trucks (maybe they were working with the watershed nearby?) and way less traffic then just ride to the start of the Sea to Sky Trail by some powerlimes on a double track.  McGuire Forest Service Road Nice View of Daisy Lake Bungee Bridge The bridge crossing the Chekamus River Confluence of Callaghan and Cheakamus.  Some great camping here and it was near empty on this long weekend for Canada Day...