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2012-13 NSAA Winter Backcountry Ski Tours
Welcome to our 2012-2013 schedule of back country Alaskan ski tours, we hope you'll find something you'll enjoy and join in on the fun. Its our best season of tours ever. All of our tours are accompanied by the Anchorage Nordic Ski Patrol, who provide a measure of safety. Many thanks for their assistance. We look forward to skiing with you out on the trail.
Please become a NSAA Member to help support this program.
PRINT 2012-13 SCHEDULE
(However, see below tours on this webpage for most updated details)
Mandatory Release Form:
All NSAA tour participants need to sign a release form once a year. They will also be available at the start of each tours.
- NSAA Release Form* - Mandatory for all NSAA Tours
- Cheat Sheet about our Tours - PDF
- Gear List for Tours - PDF
Note: Check back to the newsletter and the NSAA tours page often for the latest information. Up to date information regarding specific information about tours immediately before they are held can be found by calling the Tour Hotline at: 566-3048. If you don't see a tour here and would like to see one, contact us about leading the tour. We can make is easy and provide assistance for you.
Thursday, November 23, 2012
15th Annual Turkey Day Shake Off - Turnagain Pass
Join us for this post Thanksgiving shake off cruise for our first tour of the season. We'll meet at the Chugach State Park Headquarters Parking lot at 9 am and carpool to the trailhead where we expect to arrive 10:15 or 10:30. This tour would be appropriate for a beginning skier who can travel about 6 miles round trip on relatively flat terrain. A State Parks trailhead decal or parking pass is required at the meetup parking lot. Early snow conditions can be sketchy so call the tour hotline at 248-6667 ext 4.
Weather:
http://pafc.arh.noaa.gov/pubfcst.php?fcst=FPAK51PAFC#AKZ125
For current weather conditions check, we'll ski near this weather station:
http://ambcs.org/cgi-bin/siteCurrent.cgi?site=TURNAGAIN_ABD
Nearby ridge which also had a camera which looks down at Center Ridge: http://www.cnfaic.org/wx/wx_sunburst.php
Friday, December 28, 2012
Full Moon Ski - Glen Alps
Depart from the Chugach State Park Glen Alps trailhead, ski up powerline trail towards Hidden Lake. Travel time is two or 3 hours depending on how many breaks we take. Because the weather is often variable bring clothing for wind, cold and snow. In the case of inclement weather or a snow machine opening we may move this ski to Prospect Heights or Upper Huffman trailheads. Call the tours hotline at: 248-6667 ext 4. A State Parks trailhead decal or parking pass is required at the trailhead.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Winner Creek Trail
Repeat of a popular tour from last season. Ski out the new Girdwood Nordic Ski Club trail, then we'll tour up the Winner Creek valley in safe terrain. We'll meet at the Chugach State Park Headquarters Parking lot near Potters Marsh at 9 am. We'll car pool and drive to the trailhead. For those leaving their cars at the Headquarters Parking lot you'll need a State Parks trailhead decal or a day pass.
Saturday, Febraury 2, 2013
Rabbit Lake
Ski this 8 mile round trip to Rabbit Lake and return. There are some places of rapid descent so we call this an intermediate trip. In the case of high winds our backup plan will be to ski the trails out of Upper O'Malley and stay in the trees. We'll meet up at the Carrs Huffman Bakery at 9 am to carpool.
Friday-Monday, February 15-18, 2013
Manitoba Huts
Sleep in the new Manitoba Yurts and cook in the hut recently built and re-habbed by the Alaska Huts Associaton. Tour out from the huts and come back to your bunk and dinner. Telemark terrain at Manitoba Mountain and a couple of nearby hills. We'll put the food together ahead of time for group meals in the old hut. Space is limited.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Ingram Creek
Tour from the Tincan parking area to the backside of Tincan down into Ingram Creek. This is a sweet tour requiring skins, and avalanche gear (beacon, shovel, probe). This is a perfect tour for those with light telemark gear like the Madshus Annum or Epochs. In the case of considerable avalanche danger we'll tour out Center Ridge. Space is limited.
Friday-Sunday, April 5-7, 2013
Denali View Chalet
Enjoy the weekend at an rustic Alaskan lodge on Kroto Lake south of Mt. McKinley. Ski 8 miles into the lodge with just a day pack. Great views, fantastic company, exquisite cuisine, sauna and skiing. Space is limited.
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Page Updated
September 26, 2012
Contact:
Bob Sutherland, Touring Section Leader
Tour Hotline: 907-248-6667 ext 4
Phone: 907-336-1717
Email: AnchorageNordiSkiTours@gmail.com
Safety and First Aid:
All the NSAA tours are accompanied by the Anchorage Nordic Ski Patrol. If needed, they provide first aid and safety for tour participants. We thank them for their valuable help.
Photos:
Center Ridge Snow Camp | Facebook Page
Turnagain Pass Photos
Pupsicle Photos
Hatcher to Willow Photos
More Tour Photos
FAQs for NSAA Backcountry
Tours
By Bob Sutherland
Touring Section Leader 336-1717
anchoragenordicskitours@gmail.com | Website
 Our plan is to have a fun time on the trail. So a here is a list of things to bring and what to expect to make this as enjoyable and trouble free as possible.
Frequently on our tours there will be stops on the trail for water, food and visiting. And to help re-energize and to enjoy ourselves we’ll also take time to have lunch and visit as well. Bringing good lunch, break food and water are important. At our stops, make sure you have a jacket and other softwear to put on so you can keep the chill off.
Good working gear is essential. If this is your first ski trip of the season, check your skis, boots and poles to make sure they are up to the task. Breakdowns in the backcountry are a real pain in the neck. Of particular importance is appropriately fitting footwear. Long backcountry trips with poorly fitting boots spells disaster for your feet. Nothing spoils any sport like foot gear which does not fit.
Metal edged skis are not essential. Since we’ll use the traditional diagonal stride while skiing, skate skis are probably not appropriate as well.
It’s always good to check the weather and see what gear might be appropriate to bring along. I strongly advise bringing a day pack and loading it with warm comfortable clothes. Obviously warm gloves or mittens and something to keep your head warm are important. You also might want to wear long underwear on colder trips. And bring fleece or other heavier jackets depending on how much added warmth you need for the breaks and lunches. I also advocate bringing something for the wind and if necessary snow (and rain). Being prepared in the backcountry, is always good advice.
Dogs on trips can make them much more pleasurable. And they are welcome on the trips I lead as long as they get along with other dogs. Unfortunately, dog fights are repulsive and are unallowable. We really don’t care who starts the fight, we just don’t want to be there for it. Dogs staying in the confines of the group are welcome but those who might chase animals shouldn’t be brought either.
Feel free to contact your trip leader if you have any questions. Asking questions can clear up confusion and assist you in your preparations for your ski trip. Questions are good.
NSAA Release Form* - Mandatory for all NSAA Tours
2012-13 Tour Schedule - PDF
Cheat Sheet about the Tours - PDF
Gear List for Tours - PDF
Weather Links:
Anchorage
weather forecasts and observations
Temperature and snow levels for Turnagain Arm & Pass
Glen Alps Temperatures
Zone forecast for Anchorage vicinity
The weather forecast for the Palmer—Wasilla area
Snow depth and temperature is located at the Independence Mine
Hatcher Pass snow report
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