Tag: mountains

True form de-facto AT style backcountry skiing around my home of Fairbanks, Alaska is fairly non existent, but if you want to cut turns, two local ski area choices are available and are worthy in their own regard. However, if one wants to skin up for a day of adventuring, a drive south to the Eastern Alaska range is the best option. Another option is to head up the Steese Highway to 12 Mile Summit, where an endless landscape of above tree line skiing awaits. Both of these options require a fair bit of driving, with the Alaska Range being about 3 hours, and 12 Mile about half that. The third option within an hours drive is Wickersham Dome, located about 40 mile north of Fairbanks via the Elliott Highway. Located at the western apex of the White Mountains at Snowshoe Summit, two trail diverge from its parking area. The Summit Trail is a favorite; climbing gently from the highway and topping out at a rocky ridge adjacent to a radio tower further along the ridge. The climb through the boreal forest is a whimsical experience after a good snow dump with the stunted spruce trees resembling gargoyle like formations. After a short bit, a broad pass area is achieved and a short decent into another gargoyle forest ensues before the final climb up to the ridge. At ridge’s top are several small rock outcroppings at a place I call the Marmot Sanctuary. Further along the ridge another half mile is the aforementioned radio tower. The ski back is mellow, depending on the line picked, but i t’s worth mentioning that the wind can be ferocious up here and it usually leaves a thin layer of snow covering jagged rocks just under the surface. Angela warned of such a condition last week when I skied Murphy Dome. This time, I clipped a rock and gouged my ski pretty good and managed a short tumble as a result. This is not world class steep, but a mellow cruise through a gorgeous area with outstanding views of the entire Central Alaska Rang, Denali, the White Mountains, the Forty Mile range, and Sawtooth Mountain to the north.