Blustery South Fork

Fresh snow on the Anchorage Front Range beckoned and we dutifully went there.  DP's recent move to Los Anchorage and nascent Front Range untracked experience were enough, though the fresh 4 (at Stuckagain) were helpful in our decision making:  North, South, or East?  We chose slightly north and a little east, up Hiland Road at the South Fork trailhead with a few kindred spirits.

South Fork was calm and almost clear early on and, though we had hoped for more, had the same fresh 4.  And as the hours passed, the wind grew stronger. By the last climb, the southern gale was tolerable on the protected climb, but the ridge top had a too-breezy ambiance for this old skier.  The skiing was worthy of laps, but the base was noisy for about one third of the descent; it almost sounded like rockage, it was just the Thanksgiving Rain Crust objecting to our edges scraping the icy layer.  It was good to get some laps, and DP seemed to appreciate the Front Range for what it is.  A Front Range day with no rockage is right up there. 

We saw 8 other glisse enthusiasts on South Fork - I need some help with the place name.  With a little sadness, I related to my friend:  25 years ago, one never saw another skier/rider up there.  The sadness comes not from other riders at this blustery place, but it comes from 25 years having past - Auld Lang Syne.

Skiing Serene on Wolverine

The season got off to an odd start.  Skiing the Talkeetna Mountains in September through mid-November is the norm, followed by the Kenai Mountains and the Anchorage Chugach Front Range.  But, this season, Talkeetnas snowpack did not materialize, and Turnagain Pass in the Kenai Mtns had a huge early season snowfall offering an epic early season, while the Anchorage Front Range snowpack was about normal.  Thanksgiving week started with a state-wide meltdown, a warm rain storm followed by a nice snowfall on Thanksgiving day.  Now a couple of days later, another 3" settled on the Anchorage (northern) Hillside at Stuckagain.  The combination of the rain saturated base with a high density 6-inch layer, followed by another 6 inches of moderate density, with 3 inches of super light smoke-like powder on top has created a near perfect early season snowpack for touring on the Anchorage Hillside.  Telemarking today on the flanks of Wolverine Peak via Backdoor Trail was the perfect antidote for any angst. 

Snow crystals seemed to appear out of thin air and shimmer in the cold hazy sunshine while slowly settling toward the white blanket.  Not a breath of wind stirred, and the city sounds were hushed in the winter quiet.  The steady cadence of a squeaky binding harmonized by heavy breathing kept the rhythm of the skin track on a steady ascent, broken only by the switchback.

The speed of descent was startling.  My skis turned with ease and felt like a near weightless flight through the ether of cold, smokey snow.  Sinusoidal arcing down the slope left a wake of sparkling crystals suspended mid-air and defined the powder seekers' grail, that euphoric sensation of floating down the mountain in ephemerality.

Tender Tri-Tip

The major meltdown with rain a few thousand feet up the mountains had taken its toll - both on the snowpack and our emotional wellbeing.  Then Thanksgiving 2010 brought a beautiful storm with bountiful snow, and all was right in the world again.  A fresh foot cures a lot of ills, but it wasn't quite enough to totally heal the snowpack on Tenderfoot Ridge. 

mw and yours truly set out from the Summit Lake skin track near dawn.  As we ascended, we noticed the icy rain crust not far under the surface.  The top half foot of the beautiful, light and powdery snowpack rested upon a heinous crust.  But, there was enough fluff to keep us happy, especially in the gullies.

Summit Station

We dropped from 3400 ft el on Tenderfoot Ridge down to Tenderfoot Creek and crossed it to the Tri-Tips side.  We couldn't resist the skin track up Tri-Tip.  High up on Tri-Tip, the crust with most of the snow blown off made climbing painfully difficult.

 

Open Water in Tenderfoot Creek

On inclines greater than 20 degrees, or so, we consistently felt the rain crust on the descents.  Descents were fast on the scritchy base, but holding an edge was easy, and we were joyous flying down the gullies. 



mw contemplates Tri-Tip