Trail Reports

Updated on 05/12/08

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Hatcher Pass reported 4/24/08 by DNR	Closed
Turnagain Pass reported 5/9/08 by CNF	Good afternoon this is Carl Skustad with the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center on Friday, May 9th at 3pm. This notice will serve as a general backcountry update. Riding Areas still open: Turnagain Pass area beginning at Bertha Creek Campground and extending north into the Pass Lost Lake area as accessed by Snug Harbor Road Forest Service lands above Whittier. We will be measuring snow depths weekly and when they go under acceptable levels, the area will be closed.
Twenty Mile reported 4/24/08 by CNF	Closed
Johnson Pass reported 5/9/08 by CNF	Closed
Placer River reported 4/24/08 by CNF	Closed Skookum drainage closes to motorized use on Tuesday, April 1st
Seward Area reported 4/30/08 by CNF	April 30 will be the last day open to snowmachine use this winter season on the Seward District unless otherwise updated
Chugach State Park reported 3/20/08 by DNR	Area	Status	New Snow	Avg. Depth	Comments
	Hillside	Closed	0"	10"	Wind blown and bare ground in upper valley
	Big Peters Ck	Closed	0"	14"
	Eagle River MP 7.4 access	Closed	0"	6"
	Eklutna	Closed	0"	8"	Lake is frozen
	Ptarmigan	Closed	0"	22"	Wind blown and bare ground in upper valley
	Bird Valley	Closed	0"	6"	Snow fading fast due to rain
	Day use fees are $5/calendar day. You may self register at the trailhead or purchase a 2008 day use pass for $40 from any state park office, ranger, or online at www.alaskastateparks.org.
Nancy Lake/ Willow Area reported 4/8/08 by DNR	Willow area parks are now closed to motorized use due to insufficient snow cover. Temperatures this week have mostly been in the 40’s with rain on Thursday. Snowpack has diminished and area lakes are covered with melt water. Creeks are open or covered with very thin ice. Day use fees are $5/calendar day. You may self register at the trailhead or purchase a 2008 day use pass for $40 from any state park office, ranger, or online at www.alaskastateparks.org. A reminder that snowmachines are not permitted on the maintained road and must be registered with the Division of Motor Vehicles to legally operate on public land.
Denali State Park reported 5/9/08 by DNR	Closed
Maclaren Area Reported 3/7/08 by Denali Hwy Trail Club	2 weeks, that is right, we have not put a newsletter out in 2 weeks. Why you may ask: well, we had little changes. Just a string of beautiful days, then this week we began to get snow. That is right, snow, over a foot of new snow while everyone else was getting rain. The temperatures are hanging around 32 or a little higher, but we have not had rain!!! CAUTION: There are lots of caribou and moose in the area, please drive with care. Paxson to the Maclaren Valley The trail is in incredible shape, with the fresh snow from last week, the trail was groomed and then more snow on that. It will be groomed again this week we did get a bit of wind so the trail at the Maclaren Summit has a drift, but that will be taken care of with the groomer . Maclaren Valley to Cantwell This section of the Trail is in good shape, lots of mushers out for their last minute go before the Iditarod. There are some drifts around 50 – 60 mile so be aware of this if you come across the road before the groomer gets to it. However that area should be freshly groomed by this weekend. 7 Mile Trail This trail is in fantastic shape lots of new snow on this one. Beautiful and awesome riding, this has become a favorite of the novice to intermediate riders. Maclaren Glacier Trial Will be groomed this weekend as well. But until the groomer gets up to fix it, there is a break in one of the little channels crossing the Maclaren River. We have it marked very well, and you can go around it, but keep your eyes open for it. All the groups going out on this trail, have found lots and lots of powder is this area. The Mac-Su Loop No one has been on this trail for quit a while now. This is a rugged trail, not to be attempted by novice riders. The section through the canyon is getting really narrow so you might have to go around that spot. There is some overflow, not bad, but enough where you will need to be cautious. The Susitna is beginning to get large patches of overflow on it in places. Use EXTREME caution if using this trail. The Lake Louise/Maclaren Trial The trail is in, but with the exception of the groomer doing the first 24 miles, there has not been any work done on the trail. It is opened but don’t expect a very nice trail at this point as there still is not much snow between here and the Alphabet Hills.
Eureka Lodge Reported 3/11/08 by Eureka Lodge	All main trails are being groomed with the Tucker. The trail to Lake Louise is in, a bit rough in spots by John Lake. Riding on the south side of the street is great, but watch for slide areas. Riding behind the lodge is good lots of virgin snow out there to ride in.
Lake Louise Reported 5/7/08 by Lake Louise Snowmachine Club	This may be it--the last user-friendly weekend before Break-Up. The ice is still safe even though channels have open water. Overflow has largely bled through. Four-wheelers make as much sense as snowmachines. But the real treat is the small groups of pregnant caribou moving north toward calving grounds. There is one location, however, that you need to think twice before going. Matt Huttunen--traveling via airboat--reports open water on both ends of the Tyone Channel with slush-ice in between--ice that may be gone by the weekend. Tyone Lake itself appears safe. Predictions. You've been asking me to predict a date for Break-Up. You're kidding, right? We were all surprised by last year's June 1st date. This week's lake report, compliments of Victoria at The Point.