Pioneer Peak 2016

this is on the south peak, with our backs against a little edge and thankful for a moment of peace/view

What an amazing day we had up Pioneer Peak (the south one).  Our friend, Stephen was about to leave, so we hiked it earlier than we normally do.  But, I liked it better.  The trail was not as overgrown.

You can see the places we hiked by clicking here.  My phone died, so the trail says 5 hours 35, but actually, it took us 8 1/2 hours.  We did a bit longer because of avoiding some snow patches.




The trail is fun and climbs, and climbs.  At the ridge, you still climb but about 1 hour of steep incline, we did get a breather and AMAZING VIEWS.
The trail earlier on can be muddy, but we only had a few shimmies around some muddier sections.

This is my second summit. It is high and has some epic steps that you must take, but it is worth it.  I spent four times not brave enough to go father.  I am thankful for a husband who coaches me and allows me to stop if I feel unsure.  I really recommend taking someone who has done it before when hiking this mountain (if at all possible).  However, a few tips.

1) Most dogs have trouble at the top because of the various "sheep trails" that lead to shale slides. Don't take dogs :)
2) Stay to the top of the ridge or to the right unless it is clearly goes left.  Many, Many, trails lead off to the left tends to end into dangerous sections.  Try to keep at the top of the ridge.

needed all the layers at the top, we even had a dusting of snow flurries

Newlyweds Annie and Stephen at the summit!

Rodgers Lake Trail at Knik River Lodge

Length:  1.57 miles to the lake

Time:  It took us 2 hour 11 minutes round trip.  

A short 11 miles towards Knik Glacier, the gracious host at Knik River Lodge would love guest to come and enjoy this clearly marked trail.

Finding the Trailhead:  After parking, walk quietly through the private cabins that will most likely have guest to a newly build retaining wall.

Turn right and walk along the wall toward the mountain and come to a nice trail marker sign.

Pro's:  The trail is clearly marked.  There are opportunities to be deceived by game trails that go over the trail, but the nice stakes with orange and orange electrical tape is clearly marked every few 50 feet to make sure you keep your eyes on the trail.  

Nice rope to cross a creek and to have a hand hold up a steep gorge.  

A few great vistas for great overlook of the valley.

Perfect Lake to cool off at the end.  

Con's:  It soon can be overgrown because of the terrain. So, would recommend it for spring/fall hiking.  

Poles would be helpful for those timid of the steep sections coming up or down.  

Fun trip

Name:		Rodgers Lake Trail
Date:		Apr 17, 2016 2:56 pm
Map: (valid until Oct 14, 2016)		View on Map
Distance:		3.14 miles
Elapsed Time:		2:12:06
Avg Speed:		1.4 mph
Max Speed:		7.3 mph
Avg Pace:		42' 07" per mile
Min Altitude:		330 ft
Max Altitude:		717 ft
Start Time:		2016-04-17T22:56:01Z
Start Location:
	Latitude:	61º 26' 02" N
	Longitude:	148º 45' 57" W
End Location:
	Latitude:	61º 26' 00" N
	Longitude:	148º 45' 50" W

Beach Lake, Birchwood

Finding this trail in December 2015 on a blog, I finally tried it with a few friends.  And it worked.  It was a nice easy flat hike with amazing views.  We even saw Denali!


Directions from Palmer, AK.  Take the South Birchwood Loop Exit from the Glenn Highway. Turn right pass the Chugach High School.   After a chalet on your left, take a left onto Beach Lake Road and follow it over railroad tracks to the where it ends at a large parking lot. There is NO FEE, and restrooms (thank you).

The trail to the inlet starts to the left of the lake and follows close to the lake weaving in and out of the trees.  It is quite close to the lake at times, so watch your children when it bends back towards the water.

You can go inland away from the Lake and catch the mushing trail that is wider.  At the far end, there is a sign on the ground pointing the way to the inlet.  From this trail, you can take your pick of trails towards the inlet. 

 
Typically, there is a small stream that you can follow towards the beach.



Currently it was frozen with nice mud/icebergs floating in the inlet!

I was thankful a little extra hiking and exploring to the grassy area but was definitely too wet to sit.

 Please bring a change of clothes or something to protect the seats for the ride home.  That mud is soooo fun to play in.

The way back was easy to find a fun for all.


Our stats says 2.20 miles round trip, 238 ascent and 238 decent. We were very casual and took over an hour.

Wishbone Hill

A little hidden gem is Wishbone Hill.  You head Right on Jonesville Road in Sutton, AK.  Then you follow the road to a hard left to Slipper Lake where many RV and trailers with ATV are camped. At .4 mile on Slipper Lake Road (google map point) take a hard right down a road with lots of ATV traffic.  The road is curvy and gravel.  You will pass a large shooting/gravel pit on the right.  Then after the man made large ups and downs (caution go slow or bottom out) at 2.05 mile, park on the right off the main road.  there is a place that heads to more fire pits.  Lock your car and walk across the road to the trail.

There is a little flagging tape on the trees.  It is a trail but to discourage 4 wheelers it is a bit overgrown and NO trailhead marker.  I made a google point here if you want to check your gps/phone.

Then a few hundred of feet you will see the only tricky part.  You will cross a shale/fossil bed up toward the top the trail meanders in the woods.  If you need a break, pick up a rock and look at it.  It is the largest fossil treasure that I have seen.



Through the woods, it was a bit of a scramble at times.




The trail is  clearly marked (in orange tape)  and once on top of the ridge you will head left in the grassy almost prairie like terrain.

You will then go down into a valley with a mysteriously looking large rock shaped like a shoe (only from the top do you see it was a shoe) .  Then back up the hill.


The next section keep heading up but there is many game trails that will lead you in a variety of ways.  Keep hiking up and you will reach a nice overlook that is amazing. Great picnic spot but it can be windy.

Eska Falls Trail

Eska Creek Falls Trail: 4.1 miles one way.

This amazing trail has one problem, getting to the trail.  I will give my best attempt to explain how to get to the start the new non-motorized trail constructed by the borough two summers ago.  (The old trail, which is still there too, was used by off road vehicles and was a muddy mess.)

The road to the trailhead is not maintained and very rough.  I recommend a vehicle with high clearance so you can avoid a having a long walk on a road before you get to the actual trailhead.

At milepost 61 on the Glenn Highway, just as you are coming into the town of Sutton, turn north (left if coming from Palmer) onto Jonesville Road and follow it for approximately 2.25 miles, passing the road to Eska Mine for a huge parking lot of rv/atv and a lake  which is the main way the road goes to the left.  Continue a short way on Jonesville Road passing over a small bridge over Eska Creek. Just ahead will be some houses with two driveways.  After that the road gets narrower and much rougher.  Proceed up the road about 150 feet it will have a slight Y with a little road that will look like a large ATV trail to the left.  TAKE THAT ROAD TO THE LEFT UP THE HILL.  The other goes to Coyote Lake Park (abandoned) If you see a sign that says Coyote Lake Park you missed the turn to the left. 

The rest of the "road" is unmaintained extremely bumpy and very washed out in places.  But, if you continue taking this road you will get to a place that has a sign (finally) that says right ATV and Left Hikers.  Park near this sign wherever you can get off the road.  It is possible to turn left and drive a bit farther up the road, but it's basically tire tracks through the woods at that point.  So find a place to park along side the road/trail and hike left or northwest.  You will soon get to a kind of a turn around area of the road.  Look for the trailhead sign where you will see four stairs down  It is an amazing hike from here on out.  

Trail Conditions General description:
The Eska Creek Falls Trail is a moderately steep hiking trail traversing the south slope of Eska Peak. It roughly parallels Eska Creek, located west of the trail. The trail heads north, climbing 1300 feet in just over 2.5 miles. The hike to the falls can be completed in about 2 to 3 hours. The first half of the trail travels through a forest of spruce and aspen, and then breaks out into tall grasses and willow. At about the 1600-foot elevation the trail clears the forest and starts to traverse alpine tundra. At this point, there are grand views of the Matanuska River valley. At the 2000 foot level the trail begins to head up the nose of a ridge east of the creek. It can be challenging at times and tends to be muddy and slippery after a rain or frost. Caution is advised.Very nice switchbacks and clear marking on the trail.  

You will get to the wide open place on the top of the tundra.  You usually get a clear view of the falls.  The rest of the trail is just in partnership with the ATV.  Don't head toward the creek, but follow the ATV trail to the falls.  Very hilly.  

Butte Dusty Side

Adventure

Short and sweet, Bodenburg Butte offers easy access and spectacular scenery

Matt TunsethAlaska Dispatch News

June 2, 2015

Pioneer Peak as seen from atop Bodenburg Butte.MATT TUNSETH / ADN

PALMER -- The Mars-like surface of Bodenburg Butte was covered in children on a recent spring morning when students from nearby Knik Elementary staged a takeover of the red-hued landscape atop the 900-foot hunk of rock. As teachers and volunteers did their best to keep watch, the children ran, jumped and scrambled around the natural playground that’s become one of the Mat-Su’s most iconic and popular climbs.

Few hikes offer as much bang for the buck. Bodenburg Butte is a short, easily accessible climb near Palmer that provides 360-degree views from atop what’s essentially a large rock in the middle of a broad braided floodplain formed by the Knik and Matanuska rivers.

From the top, hikers can gaze upon a vast swath of rivers, forests and farmland stretching from Knik Glacier to Cook Inlet. To the south, 6,398-foot Pioneer Peak rises like a wall from surrounding farmland, while 6,119-foot Matanuska (Byers) Peak stands guard to the east. And nestled between the iconic peaks is Knik Glacier, its white-blue icy expanse drawing the eye like a giant shining gemstone. It’s an impressive vista and one that lures hundreds of hikers a day during peak summer weekends.

Although it’s a relatively short hike, “The Butte” offers an impressive amount of diversity. There are two main hiking trails up, a borough-maintained route on the northwest side and an unmaintained track up the south. Either way will get hikers to the top, and picking a path is often a matter of personal preference. However, there are significant differences between the trails that hikers should keep in mind.

“Old” south trail:  DUSTY SIDE :)

The “old” trail up the Butte is actually on private land owned by the Sandvik family. There’s a $3 per vehicle fee to park at the small lot (there’s room for about a dozen vehicles), as well as a portable outhouse across the street. The trailhead is also accessed off the Old Glenn via Bodenburg Loop, but from the loop’s south end. The spot is easy to find because it’s marked by a flashing yellow traffic light and a sign for the nearby reindeer farm. Take the loop 0.6 miles to the small dirt parking lot.

The old trail is much steeper than the borough-maintained side. It’s also a lot dustier when conditions are dry, especially the first few hundred yards.

After a short, steep climb through willow and alder, the trail passes a barbed-wire fence marking a hillside horse pasture. There’s a small pond there, and horses can sometimes be seen grazing in the meadow.

After a short flat section, the trail goes through a section of steep cliffs that will present the toughest obstacle for most hikers. A mix of rock and dirt, the area can be tricky to traverse, but the easiest way is to follow the clear path to the right for as far as you can, then scramble the rest of the way. Small children may have difficulty with this section, which requires a bit of care to climb safely.

From the cliffs, the trail breaks out into the open again for the trip to the summit. Adventurous climbers can take the direct route up the rocky face, while an easier route can be found by following the trail around to the left, where it links up with the West Butte trails.

Palmer High School Cross Country Trail

Right behind Palmer High School on the same little road as the Football field, there is a great wide kid friendly cross-country trail.


You park right before the sign that says,  Michael Janecek Trails Running Trail

Palmer High School  1170 E Palmer Moose Dr, Palmer, AK 99645 

Intake Trail- McRoberts Creek

One of my favorite trails to exercise.  This is a special trail because it is accessible and close to Palmer.  It is a great workout up to the River.

If you go up the actual Mat Peak Trail (verge left a little ways right before the steep hill) you can get a fun wooded trail hike and then at the overlook to see Pioneer Peak and the Butte you head down on a little connector trail

Start at the Mat Peak trailhead just at the end of Smith Rd. Follow the trail to the creek.

Name:		Intake trails
Date:		Feb 11, 2015 7:54 am
Map: (valid until Apr 14, 2016)		View on Map
Distance:		2.69 miles
Elapsed Time:		40:59.8
Avg Speed:		3.9 mph
Max Speed:		12.1 mph
Avg Pace:		15' 15" per mile
Min Altitude:		403 ft
Max Altitude:		1,301 ft
Start Time:		2015-02-11T16:54:51Z
Start Location:
	Latitude:	61º 35' 58" N
	Longitude:	149º 00' 02" W
End Location:
	Latitude:	61º 35' 58" N
	Longitude:	149º 00' 00" W

But, it is also my favorite way to go to Matanuska Peak. At the river, you head to the trail that follows the river.  It is more straight up because there is limited switchbacks.  The river is noisy and it can get overgrown easily.

Lion's Head

One of our favorite hikes we 

At Mile 103 of the Glenn Highway, just before Caribou Creek, turn right sharply onto a small gravel road. The obvious landmark is AT&T’s communication tower. Park to the side of the road by a gate that will have AT&T’s telephone number. Call the number (they always answer) and request permission to cross their property, telling them approximately how long you plan to be there and how many are in your party. 

Proceed up the gravel road and take the right fork that leads you directly toward Lion’s Head. A pile of rocks will mark the beginning of the 1-1/2 mile trail that gains about 1,000 feet to the summit, which is at about 3,100 feet.