Winter/Spring 2020 Trails

[Philip]

I know not everyone around here skis or snowboards, but still likes to get out especially on such lovely winter days like we are currently experiencing, so with that in mind I figured I’d start a winter hiking thread if folks want to make recommendations.

During this past week (mid-January) I walked from my house over the bridge and did the major and minor loops on Near Island. The popular trails are well packed and the minor/game/social trails have seen minimal traffic but are still easy to hike with microspikes (and maybe poles) though so far there has been almost no ice.

Today (Monday Jan 20) I had intended to climb Monashka Mountain and maybe snowshoe the loop over to the Reservoir Ridge which is pretty much my favorite hike. But about half way up Monashka I got tired of the crust-over-sugar snowpack so I dropped back down into the forest and cruised the game trails out towards Azimuth Point. There is so much deer traffic out there that most of the major trails are nicely hoof-packed. Near the coast the trails become quite icy, so microspikes are basically required if you like and wish to maintain the current configuration of your skeletal structure. Trekking poles are damn handy too. So the Termination Point forest offers lots of options with only and inch or two of snow under the trees. The open meadows have a little more.

[Philip]

Wednesday Jan 29.

Today I walked across the bridge and snowshoed a loop around Near Island. There were some thigh-deep drifts in exposed areas, though the trails mostly had about 2 feet of new snow, and down to a few inches under the trees. I dropped off the end of the bridge and headed down the new Channelside Trail to the Native buildings, crossed the road and went past the fenced-in gear storage yard, and then took the small social trails south. I cut snow-laden branches where they drooped into the trail, and packed the snow as best I could with my snowshoes. I linked to the south end trails and hiked that loop. Some folks had been there ahead of me, postholing. I looped back and took the trail to the north end via Rotary Park and past the gov't buildings. The main parking area at the North End trails was plowed with a single blade pass, but not completely cleared. A truck would have no problem getting in and out, and a AWD car would probably be fine too. If you don't want to bother with snowshoes at least bring hiking poles and microspikes. There is now ice lurking under the snow.

[Philip]

Lots of fresh snow on the Near Island trails overnight. I could barely see my tracks along the channelside section, but I stomped that back in. The main trails have seen modest traffic and are getting packed down, especially the North End. both North and South End lots are plowed.

[Philip]

Near Island is turning into a giant pile of mashed potatoes. I recommended snowshoes unless your trail is strictly in the trees or right by the ocean like the North End and South End trails. Channelside, Rotary Park, etc, is a bit deep and soft right now. The roads are plowed.

[Philip]

Saturday Feb 8

I wanted to drive out to White Sands at the end of Monashka Bay Road to do a hike out there, but the road beyond Pillar Creek is an insane sheet of ice. I turned around and walked up Pillar Mountain on the road. The first bit between the gate and the electric substation is a sheet of ice, but beyond that the rest of the way up is a very pleasant walk on firm snow. The side of Pillar facing the 3 Sisters is firm and you can pretty much perambulate anywhere you desire. I wore Microspikes the whole time and brought trekking poles with winter baskets. The side of the mountain facing town and the channel is soft and punchy. Stay away from that. And for dog owners, there are a lot of deer high on the mountain trying to find grass where the wind has blown the snow away. They are having a tough time so don't stress them unnecessarily.

[Philip]

Sunday Feb 9.

Pillar Mtn Road was even nicer today after some foot/snowshoe/fatbike/sled traffic packed down the trail a bit, and the lack of wind made the summit quite pleasant. If you need a quick hit of exercise near town, you could do a lot worse.

[powslayer]

I hiked the north sister trail today. I basically followed the trail/ snowshoes and boot tracks up to the base of where it gets vertical. (1400ft?) the first part was the hardest. Some post holing. But considering the conditions, It was quite nice. I’d like to ski it. Anyone have any beta?

[Philip]

The last time we skied the North Sister much was in 2013:

kodiaksnow.proboards.com/thread/877/sisters-conditions-spring-2013

And:

kodiaksnow.proboards.com/thread/864/sisters-conditions-march-2013

Basically, if you take the summer trail up the Virginia Creek (north) side of the mountain (NOT the “Cocaine Hill”/Monashka overlook side) and arrive at the saddle between the North and Middle Sisters, and then climb up the North Sister as far as seems safe (it can be a scary climb in the winter), and then ski the bowl back on the Virginia Creek side of that pass, that is some of the best terrain up there. Be very careful though. You have to traverse below some avalanche terrain on your way to the pass between the North and Middle Sisters.

[powslayer]

North sister. Skinned up the the saddle yesterday(Virginia side). I was able to skin from the truck. Had to boot the steep hill at the beginning. Good conditions, typical kodiak skiing. Some fluff and some breakable crust. Pretty stable, I could see avalanche debris in some of the run outs. Looked really tempting to ski off the front side of the saddle. The possibility for some good corn skiing...
I’m sure any new accumulation will slide easily. That’s a nasty layer at the moment. Hope it bonds. I like the playful terrain back there and it’s not to difficult to access. It’s worth a cautious look after the new snow settles.
Today, I hiked up monashka, not to ski. Some post holing, but mostly firm. Lots of deer, so try not to pressure them.

[Philip]

Geeze, what’s the road like? Even with good winter tires I turned around at Pillar Creek the other day.

[powslayer]

Yesterday the road had fresh corduroy. Today, not so much..no issues though

[powslayer]

Feb 11, 2020 19:16:01 GMT -9 powslayer said:

North sister. Skinned up the the saddle yesterday(Virginia side). I was able to skin from the truck. Had to boot the steep hill at the beginning. Good conditions, typical kodiak skiing. Some fluff and some breakable crust. Pretty stable, I could see avalanche debris in some of the run outs. Looked really tempting to ski off the front side of the saddle. The possibility for some good corn skiing...
I’m sure any new accumulation will slide easily. That’s a nasty layer at the moment. Hope it bonds. I like the playful terrain back there and it’s not to difficult to access. It’s worth a cautious look after the new snow settles.
Today, I hiked up monashka, not to ski. Some post holing, but mostly firm. Lots of deer, so try not to pressure them.

[powslayer]

Skied the North Sister with a couple of compadres after work Friday. Skinned from the road. Wasn’t too bad actually. Good skinning. Meh on the skiing. Potential for good corn. Probably won’t be able to ski to/from the road after this next round of rain and temps. There is quite a bit of snow once you get up the steep pitch at the beginning.

[Philip]

Saturday April 18

If anyone is looking for a nice snow-free hike, climbing Heitman from the Middle Bay side is excellent right now. There is basically no snow at all on the way up and only a small patch on the summit. The normal Heitman trail past the lake is still pretty snowy looking.

If you aren’t familiar with the trail, drive out the Chiniak highway to about mile 17 and as you pass the Coast Guard gate with the “emergency phone inside” sign, reset the trip odometer on your car. 1.4 miles later you will come to the end of a long section of guardrail on the ocean side of the road. Right where the guardrail ends, the trail begins on the opposite (uphill) side of the road. There is good parking just another 200 yards out the road past the 35 mph sign.

]

On top looking west and north with Raymond Pk on the left, Kashevarof just left of center, and town obscured by fog in the upper right:



Looking back at the route up from Middle Bay:

[Philip]

Sunday April 26.

Monashka Mountain is free of snow and ice and a lovely climb right now.