2011-12 NSAA Winter Backcountry Ski Tours
Touring Section Leader, Bob Sutherland
Tour Hotline: 907-248-6667 ext 4
Phone: 907-336-1717
Email: AnchorageNordiSkiTours@gmail.com
Welcome to our 2011-2012 schedule of back country Alaskan ski tours, we hope you'll find something you'll enjoy and join in on the fun. 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 2011-12 SCHEDULE
(However, see below tours 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.
November 25th, 2011 (Friday) - 14th Annual Turkey Day Shake Off - Turnagain Pass
Download Latest Tour Info - posted 11/14/11 (pdf)
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. Early snow conditions can be sketchy so call the tour hotline at 248-6667 ext 4.
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.
Contact:
If you have any questions contact the tour leader Bob Sutherland at 336-1717 or via email at: anchoragenordicskitours@gmail.com
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
December 11th, 2011 (Sunday) - 2011 Peters Creek Tour
Download Peters Creek Tour Info
We'll ski up the Peters Creek Valley on a gentle trail to the site of an old homestead and perhaps beyond. Meet up at the Carrs Muldoon bakeray at 9:00 am, and convene at the Peters Creek trailhead at 10:15 am. This ski is suitable for intermediate skiers Bring plenty of warm clothes, food and water to enjoy our ski.
Contact:
If you have any questions contact the tour leader Bob Sutherland at 336-1717 or via email at: anchoragenordicskitours@gmail.com
Weather:
Zone forecast.
Temperature and wind information is at the Birchwood airport.
January 2nd, 2012 (Monday) - 2012 Spirit Walker Tour
Download Latest Tour Info
We'll ski up the Peters Creek Valley on a gentle trail to the site of an old homestead and perhaps beyond. Meet up at the Carrs Muldoon bakeray at 9:00 am, and convene at the Peters Creek trailhead at 10:15 am. This ski is suitable for intermediate skiers Bring plenty of warm clothes, food and water to enjoy our ski.
Contact:
If you have any questions contact the tour leader Bob Sutherland at 336-1717 or via email at: anchoragenordicskitours@gmail.com
January 9, 2012 (Monday) - Full Moon Ski
Download Latest Tour Info
January 2, 2012 Update: Please note due to snowmachine opening we are moving this to the Upper O'Malley trailhead at Shebanof and Stroganoff where we'll meet and get off and ski. It should be alot of fun, trails are in great shape. Hope to see you out there :)
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.
Contact:
If you have any questions contact the tour leader Bob Sutherland at 336-1717 or via email at: anchoragenordicskitours@gmail.com
January 14, 15, 16, 2012 (Sat-Mon) - Pupsicle Weekend
Ski the great trails to Tazlina Glacier Lake and around Mendeltna Creek. Our lodging, the Mendeltna Creek Lodge is 153 miles from Anchorage. Cabins and a bunkhouse are available and RVs are welcome. A tremendous cuisine with plenty of food is provided. Dogs are a welcome guest while skiing and in your room. There is a nice lodge to hang out at and enjoy a relaxing evening after skiing. This is a perfect ski trip for folks who like to ski, relax and enjoy themselves. The terrain is relatively flat with well marked trails.
Contact:
Contact Mary at 345-3934 or email her at mvavrik@gci.net. If you think you might go, we'd like a head count by mid-December to help in the planning.
January 21st , 2012 (Saturday) - Winner Creek Tour
Download Latest Updates
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.
Contact:
If you have any questions contact the tour leader Bob Sutherland at 336-1717 or via email at: anchoragenordicskitours@gmail.com
February 12th, 2012 (Sunday) - Williwaw Lakes (was Rabbit Lake Tour)
2/10/12 NOTICE: Due to the icy unsafe road conditions leading to the Rabbit Lake trailhead and the rock hard icy start on the trail to the Lake we are moving tour to Williwaw Lakes.
We'll meet at the same place, Bakery at Carrs Huffman, but ski out of the Glen Alps trailhead. Sorry about that but I think we all know what rain on snow has done to the local roads.
More information here:
http://www.funhog.us/NSAA/1112/WilliwawLakes2012.pdf
Below is the OLD INFORMATION:
Ski up Rabbit Creek Valley traveling beside McHugh and beautiful Ptarmigan Peak up to the scenic Rabbit Lake nestled beneath the North Suicide Peak. Enjoy a beautiful ski up to the lake and a fun run back to the trailhead. Parking is extremely limited at the Rabbit Creek trailhead so we'll carpool from the Carrs Huffman Bakery at 9am and drive up to the trailhead. Depending on the weather and our travel time we exprect to be back to the trailhead about 4 pm
Contact:
If you have any questions contact the tour leader Bob Sutherland at 336-1717 or via email at: anchoragenordicskitours@gmail.com
February 25th, 2012 (Saturday) - Sugar Ridge Telemark Tour
More Information Here: http://www.funhog.us/NSAA/1112/SugarRidge2012.pdf
Join us for this ski into telemark terrain directly south of Manitba Mountain. You'll need skins, avalanche equipment like beacon, probe and shovel for this great spring time tour.
Contact:
If you have any questions contact the tour leader Bob Sutherland at 336-1717 or via email at: anchoragenordicskitours@gmail.com
March 10th - 11th, 2012 (Sat-Sun) - Johnson Family Cabin Tour
This is a repeat of a sold-out fun tour we did a couple of seasons past. The cabin is near Summit Lake where there are several tours we can do in the vicinity depending on snow conditions. We'll leave from the Anchorage vicinity on Saturday March 10th and return March 11th, for one overnight at the cabin and two days of skiing. Space is limited in the cabin, however camping will be available outside.
Contact:
If you have any questions contact the tour leader Bob Sutherland at 336-1717 or via email at: anchoragenordicskitours@gmail.com
March 30th, March 31st , and April 1st , (Friday thru Sunday) - 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.
Contact:
If you have any questions contact the tour leader Bob Sutherland at 336-1717 or via email at: anchoragenordicskitours@gmail.com
April 15th, 2012 (Sunday) - Williwaw Lakes Tour
Read Tour Details - posted 4/5/12
Last tour of the season, ski from Glen Alps up to Williwaw Lakes. This 12 mile roundtrip ski is one of the best spring time tours.
Contact:
If you have any questions contact the tour leader Bob Sutherland at 336-1717 or via email at: anchoragenordicskitours@gmail.com
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Page Updated
April 5, 2012
Photos:
Center Ridge Snow Camp | Facebook Page
Turnagain Pass 2010 Photos
Pupsicle 2010 Photos
Hatcher to Willow 2009 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 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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