Reddit reviews 55 Ways to the Wilderness in Southcentral Alaska
We found 5 Reddit comments about 55 Ways to the Wilderness in Southcentral Alaska. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
We found 5 Reddit comments about 55 Ways to the Wilderness in Southcentral Alaska. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
For your mornings, there's a few options for shorter hikes in the front range. Flattop mountain from Glen Alps Trailhead might be tolerable in the morning (crazy crowded on a nice summer evening). Near Point is another good, relatively quick hike.
For your several days free, I'd recommend shelling out a few bucks for 55 Ways (Amazon link), it will save me typing and the inevitable omission of good suggestions.
I will say, if you're on a moto, you pretty much gotta head out toward Glennallen, past the Matanuska Glacier and Lion's Head.
You may find this book useful. Or you can do some research here, here, or here.
Here are some hikes that fit what you're looking for. I'm going to assume "mild" elevation means under 1500 feet of gain.
Local Alaskan here. Mid-May can vary a lot in terms of weather so you need to be prepared for winter-summer hiking. We've had multiple feet of snowfall at sea level in May, so you can imagine how it is at elevation. Here's the most popular local guide for Southcentral Alaska:
http://www.amazon.com/55-Ways-Wilderness-Southcentral-Alaska/dp/0898867916
My favorite spring hike is Crow Pass but it's not really a full week trip, more like 3-4 days tops depending on how slow you take it. Spring is good for that one because you ford a river and the height should be low.
Crow Pass is a pretty awesome trail. There's a cabin you can rent for one night (book it as soon as possible, it fills up fast) and it's one of the hallmark trails of the park. 26 miles, a few glacier views, an alpine lake, stream crossings, likely bear and moose sightings.
Also, I see someone recommended the "55 ways..." book. There's another book called "50 hikes in Alaska's Chugach State Park". I would recommend the latter as well as this map. If you are well versed in backpacking, those three things will get you a loooong way.
Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions about Anchorage or the Chugach (or if you need a ride somewhere). Make sure to eat at the Moose's Tooth as well. I would feel like a shitty Alaskan if I didn't at least try to send you there.
Fly into Anchorage armed with this book: http://www.amazon.com/55-Ways-Wilderness-Southcentral-Alaska/dp/0898867916