Fun With Cross Country Skiing
Photos & Story by Kyla
Lately I've been feeling like: "If you can't beat winter, join it!" And as a lot of Alaskans know, cross-country skiing is a fun, inexpensive way to get outside and play. Over the last three weekends I have visited three different areas, each unique in its own way.
Initially, my friends and I had wanted to go visit the trails near Chugiak High School, about 20 minutes north from downtown Anchorage. It would have been helpful if we had visited the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage website, which offers valuable information such as trail maps, tips, and an events schedule, because a large high school meet was taking place that day. We decided to try the Eagle River Nature Center, which is located 12 miles up the Eagle River valley from the Parks Highway. While the day was clear and bright, the mountains majestic, the river frozen in time, and the company joyous and fun, there was one thing missing: SNOW! There was only a light dusting of snow on top of the solid ice trails. It was more like ice skiing and there were several places we had to de-ski and walk to avoid gashes from the rocks poking through the ice. We had the most fun checking out the cabins/yurts you can rent and playing on the frozen river.
The following weekend was the Annual Ski for Women at Kincaid Park. It is the largest women-only cross-country ski event in North America. It is a costumed event that benefits local organizations that help stop domestic abuse against women and children. My friends and I dressed up in our finest 70's garb and braved the single digit temperatures. The 2.4 mile trail only took us about a 1/2 hour, but socializing and checking out all the costumes was our main goal. I especially liked the jellyfish team, monkey sock puppets, and birch tree ladies.
And finally, the last TWO weekends actually, we skied the Middle Fork Loop in the Hillside Trail System. We parked one car at Prospect Heights trailhead and then drove another up to the Glen Alps trailhead (Flattop). The trail begins following Powerline Pass and you head east into the sunrise. Looking west, you could see Sleeping Lady floating above low clouds across Cook Inlet and downtown Anchorage. Both Saturdays were cold and beautiful, but the warm sun on our backs and constant motion kept the chill away. The dogs loved running around in the snow, and I loved crashing into the deep powder when I got going too fast to make a turn. This loop takes about 2.5 hours and is a good mixture of back-country and groomed trail skiing. Also, the direction we go is mostly downhill. :)
