"Anchorage is Five Minutes from Alaska"

I have heard this a lot since I have moved here. I also have had plenty of opportunities to appreciate the truth of this statement and yet, I cannot cease to wonder at the easy access to wilderness and the sense of remoteness you can experience while being at stone throw from the city.

Immediately after I moved to Anchorage I realized that even though this was a sizable city, it was not the kind of place that allowed for a complete disconnection from the environment.  This simple fact hinted to me that I was probably going to like it here.  Overall, I feel like Alaskans (at least the ones I have met) are more "in tune" with Nature than many people I have met elsewhere; probably because they have to.  Where else do you have to be mindful of bear when you go for a run (do not go alone in certain places, do not wear headphones...etc.)?  Shortly after I moved here, a woman was severely mauled by a grizz while running on the military base located at the edge of town. So when people told me to not go running by myself in the 4000 acres park that is about 5 minutes from my apartment, I took them seriously. :)

To illustrate this proximity to "the wild", I decided to make this post a potpourri of pictures I took on hikes that were no more than a 20 minute drive from my apartment.

The hike to Wolverine peak is a steep 5-mile climb taking you through an almost lunar landscape of tundra. The last mile is a narrow ridge and that day, it was swept by a strong and icy wind.  The whole hike is quite spectacular but only once you reach the very top can you get the real reward: a superb view on Mount Elliott, wedged between two valleys drained by two different forks of Campbell creek and spotted by lakes, large and small.



Hike to Wolverine Peak - Anchorage Side

 

View from the Top of Wolverine Peak

Flat Top Mountain is to Anchorage what The National Mall is to DC... just a bit more rugged. :) 
Because it is so close to town, sort of a "must climb", and maybe also because of its name, this hike can be deceiving to most poeple who assume it  must be a nice Sunday stroll.  The hike is not trivial.  It is steep and the end of it is a rock scramble that can sometimes be a bit exposed.  We hiked it on a nice day that offered a spectacular view on Mount Denali, Mount Susitna (or Sleeping Lady) and other surrounding mountain chains.  For reference, Denali is about 200 miles from Anchorage as the crows fly.  So yes.... it is a big mountain.  Usually, Anchorage is visible at all times during the is hike; but that day, the city disappeared under a thick blanket of white clouds. This gave the hike more of a feeling of remoteness that we all appreciated.

Cloud cover over Anchorage, Knick Arm and some good looking mountains

 

 

On all fours for the last stretch.

 

 

Mount Denali in the background. Oh! And Karen! Hellooo! ;)



Made it to the flat top of Flat Top.



Looking towards Turnagain Arm

Williwaw Lake trail took us a bit deeper into winter.  Even though Anchorage did not see much snow until today (November 29), this little hike got our toes frosty. It was nice to walk among the snow-covered spruce trees, which made our surroundings look like a winter wonderland.

 

Nice view of Mount Denali

One Saturday, I decided to go for a solo hike to Hidden Lake.  After hiking about 2 miles on "Power Line trail" an access road where people hike, ski bike, walk their dogs...etc., I made a left on the small trail that was supposed to lead me to Hidden Lake.  Right away I saw moose tracks and black bear tracks.  It had not been terribly cold, yet, so bears were not hibernating and I made sure my bear spray was handy.  About another mile into the hike, I stumbled upon tracks that were not from black bear but from what seemed to be a rather imposing grizzly bear.  I paused and looked around. The coast seemed to be clear but a few thoughts crossed my mind:

1. If the bear was ahead of me on the trail, the strong head wind would most likely prevent him from smelling me.
2. If he was to backtrack and face me, the head wind (again) would make my bear spray useless (I would mace myself and make for a nice spicy snack)
3. I was wearing crampons, which would make me rather tough to digest (Yes, I did think that...)

After pondering this for a minute or two, I decided to keep going and stay on guard.  I did not regret it as this turned out to be a very pleasant hike in a frosty landscape bathed by the soft light of the low-hanging winter sun.

Cute little footsie!

 

The latest hike we did in our "backyard" was the climb to Rendez-Vous peak and since we did not have enough after reaching the top, we also bagged Mount Gordon.  After the steep climb to the top of Rendez-Vous, we quickly discovered that the hardened snow provided a super fun way to go down... on our butts:

1. Take a few quick steps downhill,
2. Smoothly apply butt to ground
3. Zoom down
4. Enjoy! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

Then again, this hike rewarded us with some stunning views of the Chugach mountains and beautiful skies. 

 

All this fun was had right at the doorstep of Anchorage and this is a real blessing for Nature lovers.  I I sometimes wonder how people who do not appreciate the outdoors make it here.  After six months living here, I think I know the answer: they can't.  In Alaska, you have to embrace mother nature, even if she is sometimes a bit rough around the edges, or you probably will not be able to stay very long.  But know or learn how to appreciate the ruggedness and discover bliss.