Croc, good thread concept. I have the good fortune to live in Anchorage AK, which is pretty depressing this time of year (since I don't ski or snowmobile) but incredible in summer. I'm in a city of 250,000 but in 15 minutes I'm in complete wilderness.
My favorite hike is up Flattop Mtn, which is about 3,000' elevation and starts at about 1,000' at the parking lot (I think that's right, if it sounds off I'll double check it). It's a climb, no equipment needed, well-worn trail and takes about an hour and a half up and down at a steady pace. I took my daughters up it last summer, ages 10 and 9, and they had no problems. Unfortunately on sunny summer weekends it seems half of Anchorage is climbing it.
For more solitude one of my favorites is the South Gulley trail, starting from the same parking lot but across the small valley. Because the first part of the trail is quite steep (although again, no equipment needed) few people go this way. Once the top of the gulley is crested, maybe half an hour's hard climb from the parking lot, you're in wilderness heaven, back in the mountains and far from civilization or even other hikers. It does give the calves a workout, with a lot of valleys to climb through if you spend the day.
I know that was long and none of you will likely make it up here anytime soon, but just describing it chased away my winter blues. Thanks for the opportunity, Ken |
