Reed Lakes Trail

8/21 Reed Lakes Trail (Archangel Road aka Hatcher's Pass)

Berry picking attempt #2!  Last week the berries were not ripe (Arctic Valley).  The word out on the trails is berries are ripe up north.  We will attempt to head up past Wasilla Tuesday to find berries there.  Here are the directions:

Take the Glen Highway north from Anchorage, and follow the bend towards Wasilla. Shortly after the Palmer/Wasilla exchange, take the exit to Trunk Road, then head right. Stay on this road until it eventually 'T's onto Palmer Fishhook Road. Take a left, and head north into Hatchers Pass. Follow this route for about 14 miles until you find a turnoff onto a dirt road on the right, marked for Archangel Valley. Follow this route until just after passing Archangel Creek, and you should find a parking lot with a sign marked for the Reed Lakes trail.

I hope to see you there.  10:30 am at the trailhead - note that this is about a 1 hour drive to get there!

Picture courtesy of melissalaggis.com.

Rendezvous Peak Trail (Arctic Valley) Berry Pickin'

Rendezvous Peak Trail 8/14 and 8/16

http://www.turtlepuddle.org/alaskan/hikingpages/06autumn/sept.html

We will meet at the parking fee station at 10:30 am!  Drive the Glenn Highway south to the Arctic Valley exit. At the end of Arctic Valley Road, adjacent to Alpenglow Ski Area - park and pay ($5). Find a gorgeous mountain bowl drenched with blueberries, mossberries, crowberries and cranberries.  Hike and pick!

Prospect Heights Trail (Anchorage)

July 10th and 12th

This weeks trail is located in South Anchorage.  We will still need to leave the trailhead at 10:30 am sharp so please plan accordingly.  There is a $5 State Park fee to park at the trailhead which is where we will gather.  We will be following the Middle Fork Trail to Williwaw Lakes. 

Directions:  East on O'Malley Road for 3.1 miles, past Lake Otis to Upper O'Malley (just past the 90 degree bend in the road north where O'Malley becomes Hillside. East/left on upper O'Malley for 0.5 mile (brown CSP/Prospect Heights sign). Left on Prospect Dr. for 1.1 miles. Stay left at stop sign at intersection with Sidorof Lane. Right into parking lot/trailhead at Chugach State Park sign.

Photo courtesy of:

http://www.romancingalaska.com/southcentral/SC_williwaw_lakes_hiking_trail.htm

Baldy - Pond Trail

No parking fees this time (for July 3rd or 5th)!  This trail is up W. Skyline in Eagle River off of the Eagle River Loop Road.  Follow the winding road (W. Skyline - alternates in names along the way) all the way to the top to get to the start of the trail.  We are taking the easy trail straight through the gate rather than the very steep trail to the right.  The pond trail is about 1.5 miles and it ends at a pond.  A further walk to an old cabin is possible as well.  Bring bug dope.  Views are beautiful of Eagle River/ Anchorage/ inlet.

Baldy Peak

Photo from Dan F. @AKTrailhead.com

Alpenglow - Rendezvous Peak Trail

Andrea will not be leading this hike due to an appointment.  Please feel free to gather regardless!

The next hike is Alpenglow (6/26).  My mistake, there is a fee here as well that is not covered by the State Park sticker nor any Military Parking decals...again, $5 per vehicle user fee.  We will meet at the fee station and we will head out at 10:30 am sharp. 

This trail is an easy/beginners hike.  It is 4-miles round trip.  There is a one mile hike (Saddle) which is about a mile long then another push for a mile to some amazing scenery.  Click on the picture below to get directions to the trail head and about this trail in particular.

Eklutna Lake Trail

Next hike (6/19) is Eklutna Lakeside. This trail is an old road, easy, wide and very stroller friendly.  Parking is $5 at the parking lot (unless you have an Alaska State Park Daily Parking Pass ($40) .  Plan to meet at the parking pay station just next to the outhouses.  10:30 sharp is when we leave.  Bring a camera because this lake is gorgeous.  Blue-green waters and lots of greenery this time of year.  We will walk as far as we feel since this trail is 13 miles one way.

*Photo copyright belongs to Andrea Kincade

*Photo copyright belongs to Andrea Kincade

Alaska State Parks Parking Pass

If you plan to go on more than 8 hikes where you are required to pay a parking fee ($5 each time) it will be beneficial to buy an annual parking pass.  These are stickers you put in your window and allow you to park most places without needing to stop and fill out a form, post the paper in your window and pay your $5 every time at the pay stations.  The only location I can think this won't work is at the Eagle River Nature Center.  There, you have to buy a separate pass just for that facility. 
Here is the parking pass infromation for ERNC:  http://www.ernc.org/hours-fees.html 
 Here is the information for the Alaska State Parks parking pass:  http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/asp/fees.htm