Hi Ho Silver ... Tip!

Silvertip

Silvertip towers over the Six Mile Creek and Summit Lake country, and its flanks host several mines with trails also providing access to a wild place for backcountry skiers.

Dr. Snow and yours truly tried the Silvertip Creek Trail, following it for 1-1/2 miles, and then traversing up the west branch of Silvertip Creek to a beautiful bowl on Peak 4340. Doc and I ascended the east-facing bowl to the false summit just below 4340.

Peak 4340

Silvertip's little brother

Doc and I scaled the sky-line ridge on the left.

This bowl captured our imaginations. Rimey snow at the top gave way to boot top powder.

Peninsula Posse

So many choices for great snow! J-Rock reported great conditions at Pete's North; Dante reported great conditions at Summit. Nice folks down at Summit Lake tipped the balance. DP, TelePete, Peter, and lovely Gail made tracks in the sunshine. Blue skies, boot top snow, and friendly folks made for a great day on TelePete's "Raven Ridge."

I'm not sure, but I think Alex at Chugach National Forest may refer to the same location when he mentions Butcher Mountain in the avalanche report. United States Geological Survey labeled a creek nearby, "Butcher", and planted a landmark at 3072 ft el; they call it "Butch." TelePete calls it Raven Ridge.

Yours truly calls it a great line, and I'm sure the Peninsula Posse agrees!

Max Tracks

Max's Mountain overlooks Girdwood and provides a portal to some incredible ski country in southcentral Alaska. Eruk and I followed the Virgin Creek Trail from the end of Timberline Drive through the dense and steep hemlock forest up to the glade on Max's flank and on to the weather station at Max's summit (aka Baumann's bump.) The west face of Max's had ten lines on it. While Eruk and I gazed at panaroma, we saw two skiers drop down the north face of the southerly ridge above Virgin Creek. There were tracks on Little League and Big League, and we watched three people ascend Little League and ski over the ridge out of sight.

Litte League