Coast April 2012 jw:Layout 1 - Alaska Coast Magazine

State of the trails 

Tread lightly, but carry a big walking stick 

Year of our pow 

Days dwindling in record snow year 

ABSOLUTELY 

FREE 

April 2012 

www.coast-magazine.com

2 April 2012 COAST www.coast-magazine.com 

displays of skill, strength 

and stamina. 

events from the two -foot 

high kick to the seal hop. 

NYO Games… carrying on 

an Alaska Native tradition 

and way of 

Cheer on more than 500 Alaska athletes 

as they compete in the NYO Games at 

the Dena’ina Center April 27-29, 2012. 

For more information on all the action 

visit Anchorage.net/NYO

www.coast-magazine.com April 2012 COAST 3

TOAST 

The migratory family 

I 

By Justin Matley 

t’s common for one adventurous (or job 

seeking) individual to move to Alaska and 

his or her family members later form a habit 

of visiting. They’ve “always wanted to see 

Alaska” and are now comfortable doing so 

with a trusted and might I add free guide 

waiting for them. It won’t 

be free for the guide usually, 

having to take time 

off from work, feed people, 

pay for gas and whatnot, 

but I personally feel 

the costs are worth the 

opportunity to share such 

a magnificent part of the 

world with anyone willing 

JustinMatley 

to make the trip. 

Some visit in the winter, but most arrive 

in the spring and summer. That time is coming 

soon, so you may want to run out and 

stock up on ear plugs, if you catch my meaning. 

Mother-in-law cancellation ear plugs will 

really help keep tensions down and enjoyment 

up. But seriously, it can be difficult to 

give your family an experience they won’t 

forget within the short time they’re here, so 

planning ahead is important. Also, there’s so 

much to do and so much sunshine that it’s 

easy to overexert folks to the point that 

crabby conflicts arise after only the first day. 

It’s all downhill from there. Close quarters 

and bad attitudes have been known to ruin 

many an expensive vacation. 

The best approach to trip planning, I feel, 

is combining focused and simplified adventures 

with equal periods of relaxing downtime. 

Plan everything for minimal driving 

and close-quarters time and you’ll really have 

a winning trip. 

When I speak of focused adventures I 

mean your goal is to enjoy one specific 

activity, two at best, versus combining multiple 

activities into one day. If you’re eager to 

take the family flightseeing then plan that 

one thing and let the rest of the day fall into 

place naturally. 

Just picture it; you and your family wake 

up and enjoy breakfast and a cup of coffee 

while looking at the surrounding mountains. 


If you plan it they will come 

The author, his 

sister Kristin 

Rose and niece 

Matley Rose 

show off the 

beginnings of 

the Rose family 

backcountry tree 

cabin during the 

summer of 2011. 

You then take your time getting to the airport 

in Talkeetna. Perhaps you still have time 

to browse some shops before the flight 

leaves. You then soar off over Talkeetna and 

Trapper Creek, glide through canyons cut by 

ancient glaciers, perhaps even experience a 

glacier landing to walk around in the higher 

elevations of the Alaska Range before flying 

back. At that time your goal is complete, family 

thoroughly impressed, and the rest of the 

day is open to suggestion. They will never 

stop talking about that day, as effortless as it 

was. 

Trust me; keep it simple. 

Driving is the wrench in most vacation 

plans. I’ve seen families base themselves in 

Anchorage and venture from there each day. 

They lose half the trip confined in a vehicle 

looking at the scenery through windows. 

Cramped legs, sluggishness, sore butts and 

anxious kids are the result. More importantly, 

they can’t venture quite as far within their 

time constraints. 

If you really want to do right by your family, 

save money on gas, use affordable lodging 

and discounts, and overnight near your 

continued on page 31 

JUSTIN MATLEY 

Distributed free throughout Alaska 

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john@alaskaadventuremedia.com 

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Kathy Seward 

MANAGING EDITOR 

Justin Matley 

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Chris Batin 

BIKE ALASKA 

Janice Tower 

TRAILSIDE GOURMET 

Mark Bly 

AK ON THE GO COLUMNIST 

Erin Kirkland 

APRÉS COLUMNIST 

Susy Buchanan 

FIELD EDITOR 

Craig Medred 

SAFETY MATTERS 

Debra McGhan 

LAYOUT & DESIGN 

Steven Merritt Working Title Media 

MEDIA SPECIALIST 

Leo Grinberg 

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER 

Leo Grinberg 

CONTRIBUTORS 

Roy Neese, Jack Bonney, Craig Brown, 

George Stransky, Doug Lindstrand, 

Michael Dinneen, Trent Grasse, 

Simon Evans, Eric Teela, Chris Miller 

PUBLISHED BY 

Alaska Adventure Media 

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Anchorage, Alaska 99507 

Phone: (907) 677-2900 Fax: 677-2901 

advertising@alaskaadventuremedia.com 

www.coast-magazine.com 

The opinions expressed in the articles are those of the writers 

and do not necessarily reflect those of the magazine’s 

management or owners. Many of the activities covered in 

Coast magazine are sports that carry significant risk of personal 

injury or death. Coast, including its owners, managers, 

writers, photographers, and other staff, does not recommend 

that anyone participate in these activities unless they 

are experts, seek qualified personal instruction, are knowledgeable 

about the risks, and are willing to personally 

assume all responsibility associated with those risks.

COAST 

CONTENTS 

Vol. 11, No. 11 • April 2012 

Cover photo: It's been an exhausting, snowy 

winter for all of us and it looks 

like this bear from the Alaska 

Wildlife Conservation Center is 

feeling it. While it may take its 

own sweet time, spring is near. 

Photo by: Doug Lindstrand / AlaskaStock 

6 

22 

21 

Features 

12 STATE OF THE TRAILS 

Plenty of paths to choose from this spring 

Regulars 

4 TOAST 

Migratory family 

7 TRAILMIX 

NYO Slush Cup 

Birding Gold Nugget 

18 THE WHITE PAGES 


22 SINGLE-TRACK MIND 

Love affair with biking 

24 APRES 

Send in the clown 

27 AK ON THE GO 

Whale watching 

28 ALASKA ANGLER 

Gear up 

32 COAST CALENDAR 


TRAILMIX 

Cultural competition 

NYO Games spotlight traditional athletic skills 

FROM APRIL 27-29, MORE THAN 500 ALASKAN ATHLETES 

WILL GATHER AT THE DENA’INA CENTER TO PARTICIPATE IN 

THE NATIVE YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES, TRUE TESTS OF 

ENDURANCE, STRENGTH AND AGILITY THAT ARE A PART OF 

ALASKA’S RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE. 

If you’ve never seen the Seal Hop, the One-Hand Reach or the One-Foot 

High Kick you’re in for a real treat. 

“We really see it as a training group for tomorrow’s leaders,” organizer 

Kelly Hurd from Cook Inlet Tribal Council told the Alaska Dispatch. “The 

games reinforce and support values such as teamwork, discipline, respecting 

and celebrating our diverse community, and these different values are 

really what build a foundation for a strong community.” 

Youth competitors train vigorously to perform feats of strength and skill 

that were traditionally appreciated for their real-world application in 

Alaska’s harsh environment. Each event is associated with situations faced 

in the wild that could pose a risk. The games are free of charge, and more 

information can be found at www.citci.com. 

—Susy Buchanon 



The Alaskan High Kick 

is a grueling test of 

strength and dexterity. 

PHOTO BY MICHAEL DINNEEN COURTESY OF COOK INLET TRIBAL COUNCIL


TRAILMIX 

NYO Alaska Games 

FRIDAY, APRIL 27 

9:30 a.m. Opening ceremonies; Grand Entry of teams; National 

Anthem; prayer and welcome 

10:30 a.m. Kneel Jump and awards 

11:30 a.m. Interactive demonstration of other Native games 

Noon-12:30 Cultural/entertainment performance TBA 

1:00 p.m Wrist Carry and awards 

3:30 p.m Alaskan High Kick and awards 

5:30-6 Cultural/entertainment performance TBA 

SATURDAY, APRIL 28 

9:00 a.m. Eskimo Stick Pull and awards 

11:30 a.m. Celebration of high school graduates/Alaska 

Native dance performances 

Noon-12:30 Cultural/entertainment performance TBA 

12:30 p.m. Toe Kick and awards 

2:30 p.m. One-Hand Reach and awards 

4:30 p.m. Two-Foot High Kick and awards 

6:30 p.m. Cultural/entertainment performance TBA 

SUNDAY, APRIL 29 

11 a.m. Indian Stick Pull and awards 

11:30-noon Celebration of high school and GED graduates 

Noon Pilot Bread recipe contest 

12-12:30 Cultural/entertainment performance TBA 

12:30 p.m. One-Foot High Kick and awards 

3 p.m. Seal Hop and awards 

5 p.m. Alaska Native Dance performances and closing ceremonies 


Alyeska Spring Carnival 

Find your five minutes of fame 

in a pool of slush 

The Alyeska Spring Carnival, now in its 35th year, continues 

to grow, perhaps fueled by an infamous episode of Alaska State 

Troopers in which a charming yet intoxicated man with his 

skin painted green made an appearance the past Carnival after 

imbibing a bit too much slush of a different caliber. 

The Slush Cup, the Carnival’s signature event, has grown so 

popular that for the second year in a row KWHL DJs Bob and 

Mark will choose half of the event’s 50 competitors at a special 

costume party held the night before the event. If you’ve never 

been to a Slush Cup, it’s a must-see competition where people 

in wacky costumes attempt to ski across a pool of frozen, 

slushy water. Most don’t make it, and their failures are all part 

of the fun. This year, to make things more interesting, the 

event’s coordinators have added an extra challenge, and will 

place a smaller pond right after the traditional larger one. 

Prior to Slush Cup is the Idiot Swim Across, in which hardy 

– or is that foolhardy? – souls will voluntarily swim the 90-foot 

larger pond. Other fun events include the Dummy Downhill, in 

which people craft elaborate dummies and then launch them 

continued on next page

Alyeska Spring Carnival 

FRIDAY, APRIL 20 

KWHL Costume Contest: Come in costume to vie for a chance to participate 

in the Slush Cup. Sitzmark, 8-10 p.m. 

The Photonz: A special 4/20 concert from Girdwood’s classic jam band. 

Tickets are $10, 21 and over, Sitzmark at 10 p.m. 

SATURDAY, APRIL 21 

Idiot Swim Across: 3:20 p.m. 

34th Annual Taco Bell Slush Cup: 50 competitors will ski or ride down 

the mountain and try to make it across the 90-foot pond for a chance 

to win an Alyeska Resort season pass. $35 entry. Pre-registration 

required, 4 p.m. 

The Photonz: Party tunes with Girdwood’s classic jam band. Tickets $10, 

21 & over, 10 p.m., the Sitzmark. 

SUNDAY, APRIL 22 

Dummy Downhill: Create your own “dummy” to slide down Tanaka 

Trail. Prizes for top three dummies. Free. Pre-registration required, 2:30 

p.m. 

XTRATUF Pull Tug-of-War: Teams of five compete in a tug-of-war across 

the pond. Last team standing wins a pair of XTRATUF’s for each member. 

Free, pre-registration required, 4 p.m. 

down the Tanaka Trail, and the tug-of-war on Sunday. The 

resort’s owner is passionate about special events, and it shows, 

says Carnival organizer Jen Davies, who has seen participation 

expand. 

“We are excited that the Sunday activities, including 

Dummy Downhill and tug-of-war, have seen increased participation 

in the last few years,” she says. “The 35th annual Spring 

Carnival is going to be the best one yet!” 


Bird brains 

It’s time once again to pull out 

those identification guides 

Homer’s Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival kicks off a new 

season of birdwatching as Alaska’s migratory bird population 

COURTESY ALYESKA RESORT 

continued on next page 

A uniquely 

Alaskan gift 

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Eskimo knitters 

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Little brown house with musk ox mural 

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TRAILMIX 

explodes with the return of warm weather. Pipers and plovers, 

kingfishers and gulls galore, and the ever-popular puffins will all 

be making their appearance during spring. The Shorebird 

Festival, scheduled for May 10-13, celebrates their return and 

their importance to our ecosystem and culture. 

Festival activities include boat tours, artwork displays and 

live music, a Junior Birder program for kids, birding competitions, 

workshops and discussions. This year’s keynote speaker is 

Dr. George Archibald, 27-year past president of the International 

Crane Foundation, continued ICF advisor, the recipient of four 

honorary doctorates and multiple awards to include a gold 

medal from the World Wildlife Fund, fellows award from the 

MacArthur Foundation and many others. Archibald studies and 

protects cranes around the world and will no doubt have volumes 

to discuss about Alaska’s crane population. 

Shorebird Festival information and registrations can be 

found online, 

www.homeralaska.org/events/kachemakBayShorebirdFestival, 

or by calling the Homer Chamber of Commerce, (907) 235- 

7740. 

More birding hotspots 

Although Kachemak Bay is a primary area for migratory 

birds to arrive into southcentral Alaska, there are many other 

locations to await the return of your feathered friends. Set up 

camp (even if that just means sitting in the car) and play a 

game of “ID That Bird” at one of the following locations: 


■ Kenai National Wildlife Refuge 

■ Lowell Point Beach or boat tours from Seward 

■ Whittier shoreline or boat tours 

■ Tern Lake at the Seward and Sterling highway intersection 

■ Floodplains at head of Turnagain Arm 

■ Bird Point on Seward Highway south of Anchorage 

■ Potter Marsh at south end of Anchorage 

■ Westchester Lagoon near downtown Anchorage 

■ Palmer Hayflats between Eklutna and Palmer on Glenn Highway 

■ Farm fields in the Palmer area (frequently visited by sandhill cranes) 

■ Meadows and bogs along Parks Highway in the Susitna Valley area 

■ Creamer’s Field in Fairbanks (thousands of cranes and geese gather 

here each season) 

—Justin Matley 

Eureka! 

Triathletes hit paystreake with Gold Nugget 

Triathlon season will soon be upon us, and if you’ve ever 

thought about participating in any of these events, now’s the time 

to really step up your training regimen to make sure you’re at your 

competitive best. 

Kicking off the Anchorage area season is the women’s Gold 

Nugget Triathlon on Tuesday, May 15 with a 500-yard swim, a 13mile 

bike ride, and a 5K run to be hosted at Joint Base Elmendorf 

Richardson. Triathletes will begin with a swim at the Bartlett High

School pool, leave Bartlett on their bikes for a course that takes 

them on base, return to Bartlett and run along the Glenn Highway 

bike path toward Eagle River with the finish line back at Bartlett. 

The Gold Nugget is designed to encourage women of all ages and 

abilities to participate, and there’s even a mother-daughter category. 

Visit www.goldnuggettriathlon for more information. 

On Sunday, June 3 is the Eagle River Triathlon with a 500-yard 

swim in the Chugiak pool, a 20K bike ride and a 5K run. There are 

also long and short courses available for kids. With an overall 

course record of 56:40 set in 2001, this is a competitive field. Go 

to www.eaglerivertri.com for complete rules and course information. 

More relaxed competitors will want to check out the Why Not 

Tri triathlon taking place on June 16 in Wasilla. Athletes will start 

with a 400-meter swim in the Wasilla High School pool before taking 

on a challenging 9.25-mile bike course through Wasilla. Finally, 

the 3 mile run finishes at the Wasilla Pool. Profits from this event 

support the fight against Lou Gehrig’s disease. Information is available 

at http://www.whynottriwasilla.net. 

Saturday, July 14 will see the Hammerman Triathlon, a sprint-distance, 

off-road triathlon featuring a half-mile swim, 13-mile mountain 

bike, and 4-mile trail run. The course (mountain bikes only) is 

hilly and grueling and meanders around Kincaid Park. More information 

is available at www.hammermantriathlon.com. 

For an updated listing of other triathlons around Alaska, visit 

www.alaskatriathlon.org. 


The Gold Nugget kicks off 

the triathlon season on 

May 15 in Anchorage. 

www.coast-magazine.com April 2012 COAST 11 

TRENT GRASSE

State of the 

trails 

Tread lightly, and carry 

a big walking stick 

H 


umans are masterful explorers of our natural world. 

Alaska’s many trails facilitate access to that world, providing 

penetration into wildlife habitats, our most rugged terrain 

and in many ways offer a glimpse of prehistory. However, this 

rugged and real experience does require a bit more effort than 

putting your foot down on a gas pedal. You have to traverse 

those ridges, climb those peaks and sometimes wade the 

waters. In short, you’ll have to leave the confines of your daily 

commuter. 

Robert M. Pirsig, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle 

Mechanics, wrote, “In a car you’re always in a compartment, and 

because you’re used to it you don’t realize that through that car 

window everything you see is just more TV. You’re a passive 

observer and it is all moving by you boringly in a frame.” 

It’s likely an Alaskan passes extraordinary trail systems every 

day while driving to work or school. Visitors, too, will be 

amazed that mountain and meadow trails are spread along 

every highway and byway. One of these trails could very well 

reaffirm why life in Alaska, or a simple visit here, is more than 

worthwhile. 

A few of our more popular trails are listed below. Choose 

one that fits with your preferred mode of transportation, ability 

level and requirements for safety or creature comforts, and start 

exploring today. 

Anchorage and Eagle River Area 

EKLUTNA LAKESIDE TRAIL: From a paved parking area with 

bathrooms, hike along the north shore of this glacial-fed lake 

during all seasons of the year. The trail is wide and clear for 

easy travel and carefree gazing at the surrounding mountains 

while you progress. 

Eklutna Lakeside 

Trail extends 

beyond the lake and 

into the mountains with waterfall views and a public-use hut 

for overnighting. For added fun combine canoeing or kayaking 

into your trip. 

ATVs are permitted on Sunday through Wednesday, April 1- 

November 30. 

CAMPING: Eklutna Lake Campground, with 50 sites and 15 

overflow sites, 15-consecutive day stay and toilets; backcountry 

camping sites with toilets and picnic tables; state park 

cabins; hut accessible from trail. 

BOATING: Non-motorized boat access (must carry boat from 

parking lot to shore). 


TRAIL LENGTH: 12.8 miles 

DIFFICULTY: Easy with moderate trail branches that lead uphill 

toward ridges. 

USE: Multi-use 

INFORMATION: Chugach State Park, dnr.alaska.gov/parks 

HILLSIDE TRAIL SYSTEM & CHUGACH STATE PARK: The 

Hillside Trail System includes the most widely used trails in the 

region. From simple strolls to mountain climbs and multiday 

adventures into the Chugach Mountains, numerous trails are 

within minutes of downtown Anchorage. Trails meander on the 

hillside, affording views of the Anchorage Bowl and as far as 

Denali on clear days. Longer 

trails that extend into the 

mountains include Near 

Pont Trail, Williwaw Lakes 

Trail, Long Lake Trail, Powerline Pass and Rabbit Lake Trail. Most 

access can be found from the Prospect Heights or Glen Alps 

parking lots. Access to Rabbit Lakes Trail can be found at the 

end of Lower Canyon Road. 

One of the most popular hikes is from the Glen Alps parking 

to Flattop Mountain. It is the most heavily climbed mountain in 

Alaska and is distinctly flat on top. Powerline Pass provides a 

route all the way from Anchorage to Indian located on the 

Seward Highway along Turnagain Arm. 

The Hillside Trail System can be explored all summer long 

on foot and then via ski and snowshoe all winter. This is 

Anchorage’s recreational sweetspot. 

SEASONS: All seasons 

CAMPING: Backcountry and backpacking permitted 

FACILITIES: Paved parking and outhouse style bathrooms at 

major parking areas 

TRAIL LENGTH: Trails from less than 1 mile to 14 miles with 

combined loops even longer 

DIFFICULTY: Easy to difficult 

USE: Hiking, biking, skiing, horseback riding 

INFORMATION: Chugach State Park, dnr.alaska.gov/parks

TONY KNOWLES COASTAL TRAIL: This paved path leads from 

downtown Anchorage with access points at the H Street and 

West Second Avenue intersection or at Elderberry Park at the 

end of Fifth Avenue. It extends along the Knik Arm coast passing 

Westchester Lagoon, Earthquake 

Park, Point Woronzof and the airport to 

Kincaid Park. There are few noticeable 

changes in elevation but the path does 

provide ocean views, a unique perspective of downtown 

Anchorage, views of the Alaska Range across Cook Inlet, occasional 

moose sightings and beach access. 

The Coastal Trail is all about ease of access and healthy living 

for those residing in or visiting Anchorage. If time or ability 

are a concern, this is the perfect path to enjoy the outdoors. 


FACILITIES: Facilities at Kincaid only, trail adjacent/near to 

commercial facilities 

TRAIL LENGTH: 11 miles 

DIFFICULTY: Easy 

USE: Hiking, biking, running, skiing, rollerblading, walking the 

dog 

INFORMATION: www.muni.org/parks/Trails.cfm 

CROW PASS TRAIL: This trail is a favorite for those looking for 

a somewhat hardcore mountain experience or overnight trip 

that can be completed in one weekend. The 

trail measures approximately 26 miles. It is not 

a loop, so it does require a strategy for the 

beginning or ending transportation. Start in 

either Girdwood south of Anchorage or Eagle River north or 

Anchorage. Crow Pass Trail utilizes a pass through the Chugach 

Mountains to completely bypass Anchorage with views many 

visitors and even some residents rarely see. 

Many like to camp in a central location near Raven Gorge. A 

bridge there provides an aerial view into the chasm and waterfall. 

Or camp near creeks that feed Eagle River. 

Study a deeply glaciated landscape and pass the impressive 

Raven Glacier. Possibly spot a bear, moose or beaver. Follow and 

cross the headwaters of Eagle River and photograph multiple 

waterfalls that spill out of the Chugach. 

In Eagle River the trail collides with trails of the Eagle River 

Nature Center. In Girdwood, Crow Pass Trail can be found at 

the end of Crow Creek Road past the Crow Creek Mine. 

CAMPING: Trailside camp sites (choose a location and exercise 

Leave No Trace); a couple backcountry cabins available 

FACILITIES: Bathrooms and water at Eagle River Nature Center 


DIFFICULTY: Easy to difficult 

USE: Hiking and backpacking, hunting 


Denali Area 

KESUGI RIDGE TRAIL: Running the 

upper elevations along the eastern 

side of Parks Highway, this trail is 

accessible from multiple locations 

along the highway and in Denali State Park. It can be hiked 

back and forth, or in a loop, provided you make plans for taking 

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the highway back to your starting point or vehicle. 

Kesugi’s claim to fame is the unparalleled view of Mount 

McKinley and Denali National Park from high in the alpine of 

the Talkeetna Mountains. From there, absorb the views of the 

braided, Chulitna River in the foreground with the Alaska Range 

and its centerpiece, Denali, drawing all the attention a hiker has 

time for. 

For those who want to hike and see Denali, but may not 

have more than a couple hours of spare time for the drive, the 

Kesugi Ridge Trail awaits. In fact, some would argue that Kesugi 

provides a better view of Denali, from afar, than anywhere 

inside Denali National Park. The true immensity of Denali can 

only be gauged at a distance. Prepare to be astonished. 

SEASONS: Summer and fall 

CAMPING: Road access campgrounds at Troublesome Creek 

Trailhead, Byers Lake Campground and Denali View North near 

Little Coal Creek; cabin rentals 

FACILITIES: Large bathroom and shower facilities at Byers 

Lake, public outhouse-style bathrooms at small camps and parking 

areas 


DIFFICULTY: Difficult 

USE: Hiking, backpacking, trailhead camping 

INFORMATION: Denali State Park, dnr.alaska.gov/parks 

DENALI NATIONAL PARK AND PRE- 

SERVE: Just inside the park entrance 

and within walking distance of the 

campgrounds, multiple trails provide 

access to lowland lakes, elevated bluffs, or even mountain tops 


such as Mount Healy. The Healy Overlook is just a scant 2.5 

miles from the Murie Science and Learning Center yet provides 

captivating views of the surrounding Alaska Range and park 

headquarters below. 

More adventurous types will want to venture deeper into 

the park, which requires a permit and choice of region you’ll 

be accessing. Forget about trails. Interior travelers are asked to 

follow in their own footsteps only. Worn trails other than game 

trails are not part of the untamed, Denali experience. 

For a well-trod path venture farther north on the Parks 

Highway past Healy to Stampede Trail. What begins as a road 

eventually turns into a dirt trail leading toward the park interior 

and the infamous Chris McCandless bus. Caribou sightings are 

common along the way and the hiking is easy-to-moderate 

while keeping to the lowlands. Foothills and mountains rise up 

on all sides for photo opportunities. However, according to 

locals, be prepared for bugs. 


FACILITIES: Full facilities to include dining and shopping 

TRAIL LENGTH: In Denali interior no defined trail length; near 

Denali Headquarters 1-5 mile trails and loops; on Stampede 

over 20 miles to the bus 

DIFFICULTY: Moderate to difficult on Stampede 

USE: Hiking only in interior; Hiking, ATV, horses, dog sledding 

on stampede 

INFORMATION: National Park Service, www.nps.gov/dena 

Kenai Peninsula 

EMERALD LAKE TRAIL: Located in Kachemak Bay State Park

and accessible via water taxi or floatplane from 

Homer, Emerald Lake Trail forms a loop that 

leads hikers away from the coast and into the 

Kenai Mountains. This remote destination provides 

solitude for hikers while providing views of the majestic 

Emerald Lake, Grewingk Glacier and dramatic coastline. The 

route includes a hand tram creek crossing, 500-foot ridge climb 

and log bridge. 

Area guides often use Emerald Lake Trail for premier backpacking 

and overnight excursions if that’s any clue as to the 

quality of hiking and views. 

SEASONS: May-September 

FACILITIES: Remote location, no road access 

TRAIL LENGTH: 13.2-mile loop 

DIFFICULTY: Moderate to difficult 

USE: Hiking 

INFORMATION: Kachemak Bay State Park, dnr.alaska.gov/parks 

CAINES HEAD TRAIL: This coastal hike heads from Lowell 

Point Beach, already a fantastic place to stop for stroll, and follows 

the Tonsina Creek Trail and the shore during low tide to 

Caines Head, a point of land that can 

be seen expanding out into 

Resurrection Bay. You’ll pass through 

a northern rain forest of mossy spruce 

and cross streams with migrating fish. Keep your eyes peeled 

for sea otters, eagles and migratory birds galore. 

Caines Head is perfect for overnight camping and continued 

hiking into the nearby alpine. Gain a new perspective of 

Resurrection Bay, explore a World War II bunker and mix in a 

bit of fishing while you’re at it. 

SEASONS: Open all year 

FACILITIES: Parking with public outhouse style bathroom 


DIFFICULTY: Easy to moderate 

USE: Hiking and backpacking 

INFORMATION: Caines Head State Recreation Area, 

dnr.alaska.gov/parks 

RESURRECTION PASS TRAIL: The name alone intrigues hikers 

and bikers from around the world, and truthfully this Chugach 

National Forest trail may very well resurrect your love of the 

outdoors. Start in Hope or 

Cooper Landing and travel 

through the Kenai Mountains 

using the pass for easy to moderate 

travel while admiring the surrounding ridges, numerous 

lakes and streams and a plethora of wildlife. 

Nine national forest cabins are available at $25 per night or 

camp along the route. Reserve cabins far in advance. This is a 

popular trail due to the easy hiking, amenities, wilderness experience 

and proximity to Anchorage. Many regard it as the best 

hike or bike in the region. 


FACILITIES: Cabins for rent along the entire trail 


DIFFICULTY: Easy to moderate 

USE: Hiking, backpacking, camping, cabin rentals, biking, ski- 



ing, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, hunting, fishing 

CLOSURES: Trail is closed to saddle/packstock from April 1 to 

June 30 and motorized vehicles from May 1 to November 30. 

INFORMATION: Chugach National Forest, 

www.fs.usda.gov/activity/chugach/recreation/hiking/?recid=48 

32&actid=51 

Mat-Su Valley 

PIONEER PEAK TRAIL: With an elevation gain of over 5,000 

feet, Pioneer Peak provides an unsurpassed view of the Mat-Su 

Valley combined with a view of nearby Knik Glacier. 

This trail is a vertical adventure that doesn’t require 

mountaineering skill, but it does provide a serious 

and worthwhile workout with breathtaking results. 

When hiking, start early. This trip can absorb a majority of 

your day depending on your speed. 

SEASONS: Regarded as a May-September trail 

FACILITIES: None 

TRAIL LENGTH: 4.5 miles one way 

DIFFICULTY: Moderate to difficult (elevation gain 5,330 feet to 

peak) 

USE: Hiking and backpacking (camping possible in high 

country, difficult hike with gear weight) 


MATANUSKA PEAK TRAIL: For those who have 

climbed both Pioneer Peak and Matanuska Peak 

it is often difficult to gauge which route or view 

is the best. A Mat Peak trek begins in Butte near 


Palmer. Travelers have a choice of following a steep hillside first 

passing Lazy Mountain or following a more gradual gravel road 

and the McRoberts Creek Trail. 

Once above the alpine the hiking is moderate with long 

views up the valley or down toward Palmer’s farming community. 

The final ascent of Mat Peak is a steep, natural gravel trail 

that turns to larger, loose stone the closer one gets to the top. 

The peak itself is large enough for a group of six or so people 

to lounge around while admiring the glaciated and dramatic 

surroundings. 

SEASONS: Regarded as a June-September trail 

FACILITIES: None 

TRAIL LENGTH: 4.1 miles one way 

DIFFICULTY: Moderate to difficult 

USE: Hiking, backpacking, horseback on McRoberts Creek 

Trail 

INFORMATION: Mat-Su Borough, www.matsugov.us/communitydevelopment/trails/trail-guides 

Turnagain Arm 

Numerous trails can be accessed along Seward Highway and 

the Turnagain Arm. They include: the Turnagain Arm Trail from 

Potter Marsh to Windy Corner; Indian Creek Pass Trail, which 

cuts deep into Chugach State 

Park; Bird Ridge which is also 

used for an annual race; Bird 

Creek in the valley below; the 

Bird-to-Gird paved bike path, which skirts Seward Highway; 

McHugh Lake Trail, offering 6.4 miles of Chugach wilderness,

and many others. Weeks could be spent exploring the trails 

along Turnagain Arm alone. These trails can be researched on 

the Chugach State Park website, dnr.alaska.gov/parks. 

Parks to consider 

STATE PARKS 

(All parks information, visit dnr.alaska.gov/parks) 

Caines Head State Recreation Area 

Chugach State Park 

Denali State Park 

Hatcher Pass Management Area 

Kachemak Bay State Park 

NEARBY NATIONAL PARKS, NATIONAL FORESTS & WILDLIFE REFUGES 

Denali National Park - www.nps.gov/dena 

Katmai National Park - www.nps.gov/katm 

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park - www.nps.gov/wrst 

Kenai National Wildlife Refuge - kenai.fws.gov/ 

Kenai Fjords National Park - www.nps.gov/kefj 

Chugach National Forest - www.fs.usda.gov/chugach 

An expanding trail of information 

Just a few years ago trustworthy and complete trail knowledge 

was hard to come by. Guide books were the best way to 

go, and even then readers could bet there were omissions. 

There were simply too many trails falling under numerous management 

agencies — if any at all — to keep them all straight. 

Until now. 

Perhaps one of the most noteworthy endeavors to catalog 

trails has been carried out by the Alaska State Parks. 

Administrators have systematically documented every 

defined trail within their boundaries with an alarming degree of 

detail. Using GPS technology and available mapping software, 

trail enthusiasts can finally realize just how many trails there 

really are and the highlights of each. 

Trail data has been compiled into PDF documents with quality 

topographical maps and plotted into Google Maps with 

satellite views and trail search functionality. More impressive, 

GPX files are available for download to your personal GPS unit, 

and similarly KMZ files are available to download to your personal 

Google Earth software. Load the GPX or KMZ files and 

you’ll instantly have interactive maps for your personal devices. 

Google Earth allows for 3D viewing of the terrain so you’ll 

never have to guess how labor intensive a trip might be. 

Begin researching the state park trails at 

http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aktrails/. 

State Park Trail Browser (Google Map): 

http://dnr.alaska.gov/aktrails/trails 

State Park GPS Trail Maps: 

http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aktrails/explore/trailgpsfiles.htm 

State Park Google Earth Trail Maps: 

http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aktrails/explore/astgglearthmap.htm 

Information is also improving beyond the state parks. 

Community trails such as the ones scattered throughout the 

Mat-Su Borough were once difficult to locate. Some had been 



THE WHITE PAGES 


Days dwindling in our record snow year 

S 


ad but true, ski areas will be systematically closing for the 

season. There’s limited time, if any, to say your farewells and 

make one last descent on a professionally managed slope. We 

do, however, have much to be thankful for, as the 2011-12 season 

incurred dump after dump of fresh powder. This also 

means that ski areas may stay open longer than typical. We’ve 

been given a great winter and possibly a second chance to capitalize 

on it for those who nearly let it pass them by. 

Alyeska Resort 

Alyeska has one more spring fling in 

store, and it’s the granddaddy of them all: 

the annual Alyeska Spring Carnival and 

Slush Cup, slated for the weekend of April 20-22. Full details 

can be found in this month’s Trailmix section with a schedule 

of events. 

Beyond the Carnival the resort will host the End of Season 

Reggae Party during the weekend of April 27-29. Jamaican 

music and drinks will set a tone of brotherhood, peace and 

happiness after an epic season. Alyeska will be celebrating 

island style, a fitting theme for the warming, sun-filled days. 

April 29 marks the end of daily ski operations. 

Fortunately May skiing and events will continue on weekends 

as weather permits. Alyeska Motor Madness, an Alaska 

Motor Mushers Club snowmachine racing event will take place 

on May 4-6. Beyond that, ski operations will commence on 

weekends until the snow conditions deteriorate. 

ALYESKA RESORT & HOTEL 

1000 Arlberg Ave 

Girdwood, AK 99587 

PHONE: Mountain Operations (907) 754-2545 

DIRECTIONS: Take Seward Highway to Mile 90 and turn onto Alyeska 

Highway. After three miles there will be a T intersection with a 

resort sign. Turn left on Arlberg Ave. and follow it to the resort. 

WEB: www.alyeskaresort.com 

Arctic Valley 

If it’s any clue as to how close we’ve 

come to a season ending, the Anchorage Ski 

club’s annual Merry Marmot Festival – their spring fling – has 

already come and gone. Only two significant events remain on 

the schedule, first being the membership meeting and the second 

being…closing day. 

The membership meeting on April 7 will be held at the 

Alpenglow Lodge. The event kicks off with a day of skiing 

before members discuss ASC activities and take part in board 


Jason Scheben puts his mark 

on some of the more than 700 

inches of snow that fell this 

season at Alyeska Resort. 

member voting. New members are welcome to attend to get an 

idea about ASC’s mission and become a member. 

“Board members are elected and we basically give an update 

of the status of the club,” says Alan Heckart, ASC president. “It’s a 

good time for new membership and it’s also a ski day as well 

that’s open to the public as usual.” 

Awards are also presented at the meeting to members who 

have been influential during the past seasons of ASC activities. 

And likely members will be recounting how much snow fell 

this year. 

“It’s been the greatest season ever,” says Heckart. “I mean 

we’ve had powder almost every week and it’s been a great 


SIMON EVANS


20 April 2012 COAST www.coast-magazine.com

THE WHITE PAGES 

AKX 

Underground adventure fest gets legit 

T 

By Craig Brown 

his month will mark seven years since the beginning of an 

underground sports phenomenon. AKX was created in 

2005 to provide a format for the world’s best extreme sports 

athletes to join forces with Alaskan hardcores in the ultimate 

playground. This year AKX moves to a new venue in Juneau. A 

new location, helicopter access, and teaming up with Alaska 

Powder Descents Heli-skiing provide an important evolutionary 

step in the development of the event. 

AKX – an abbreviation of Alaska Extreme – combines several 

different sports into a single, collaborative festival that takes 

place in April each year. Skiing, snowboarding, BASE jumping, 

wingsuit flying, speed riding, and snowmachining are some of 

the sports that are highlighted in the 2012 festival. Athletes will 

access the mountains and 

glaciers of the Juneau 

Icefield by helicopter from Craig Brown BASE 

jumps above the 

the ocean-side lodge of Alaska Powder 

Alaska Powder Descents Descents lodge 

during this year’s nine-day last year. 

event, April 13-21. 

The roots of the event 

are in southcentral Alaska 

with Cooper Landing serving 

as the original base of 

operations for AKX. Ski 

planes and snowmachines 

provided access for athletes 

in those early years. The 

bold idea of combining 

multiple, seemingly disparate, 

extreme sports 

together in a single event 

took form. Skydivers flew 

to altitude in a Cessna 180 

while skiers and snowboarders 

rode “double up” on big mountain snowmachines atop 

the peaks of the Kenai Mountains. The jumpers leapt from the 

plane and gave chase to the skiers and snowboarders who 

raced down those very peaks. This was revolutionary and very 

underground, a dissident gathering of non-conformist athletes. 

Just a few years back, there were only a few canopy pilots 

launching by skis and flying their parachutes through mountain 

couloirs. AKX was one of the few venues that provided the 

opportunity to readily access the optimal terrain and bring 

together the athletes. This particular subset of skiing and parachuting 

has since become its own sport called speed riding. 

Today speed riding has very specific equipment and has avid 

participants the world over. This year will prove to further the 

sport with a new venue and continued progression. 

BASE jumping is another of the sports that will be highlight- 

CHRIS MILLER 

Cliff Ryder speed-kites 

during the 2006 AKX 

event near Lost Lake. 

ed at AKX in 2012. Specifically, these athletes jump with a 

packed parachute from the four object categories that comprise 

the letters of the acronym BASE: Building, Antenna, Span, 

and Earth. The AKX crew will focus on the earth category by 

skiing off of massive cliffs and then deploying their parachutes. 

This entire sport of ski BASE has about 100 participants…period. 

It is a dangerous and highly technical, practiced by few. 

Another of the sports that AKX will feature is wingsuit flying. 

Few sports create such stunning visual imagery as an athlete 

flying a wingsuit at 120 mph in close proximity to a cliff-strewn 

mountain face. A vertical relief of more than 7,000 feet makes 

the Coast Mountains an ideal landscape for these flights. 

Helicopter access permits the athletes precision in choosing a 

location and altitude at which to exit the aircraft and begin 

each flight. This exactitude will enable optimized flight paths 

through these amazing mountains. 

The skiing and snowboarding in southeast Alaska is the stuff 

of legend. There isn’t a modern film group documenting these 

sports that doesn’t make a heroic effort to shoot, what will 

invariably be their apex segment, in Alaska. Soaring above the 

waters of the Inside Passage, the mountains of the Coast Range 

are a crown jewel of snowcapped peaks. The Juneau Icefield 

has over 1,500 square miles of glacier ice with spires jutting 

out. Teaming up with Alaska Powder Descents Heli-skiing provides 

access to their one million acres of exclusive terrain. 

AKX was created to be an event that could evolve with the 

dynamic changes in each of the unique sports encompassed 

therein. Participants get the opportunity to create synergy with 

like-minded athletes from different disciplines. The subsequent 

collaboration is what produces innovation and true progression 

in sport. Each year, the festival will morph to reflect those 

changes. Helmet cameras, photographers and video teams will 

document the action to provide an intimate view of what happens 

during this remarkable event. Interested parties can follow 

the action on the AKX page on Facebook. For any athlete interested 

in participation in future events, please contact AKX 

through the Facebook page. 


ERIC TEELA

SINGLE-TRACK MIND 

The author competes in the Arctic 

Bicycle Club Spring Stage Race. 

Love affair 

with cycling 

A single-track lifestyle is one the entire 

family, and community, can benefit from 

I 

By Janice Tower 

didn’t ride a bike much as a kid. Sure, I had a blue Schwinn 

one-speed with coaster brakes in grade school, then a blue 

Schwinn 3-speed which I got for my twelfth birthday (it had a 

pretty white plastic basket with daisies 

on the front). As a teenager I had a blue 

Raleigh road bike which didn’t see 

much use other than as a tripping hazard 

in the garage. 

I had the bikes but no destinations 

for them to take me anywhere. 

Growing up on the Anchorage hillside 

was like that. Back in the day, Hillside 

Drive was out in the country, and 

going to a QuikStop for a Creamsicle Janice TOWER 

or Hostess Snowball meant a 5-mile 

ride down a dusty, washboarded Abbott Road. 

My husband, on the other hand, worked in a bike shop all 

through junior and senior high school. I suppose that it was 

natural that he would gift me my first real road bike when we 


were married. That raspberry colored Trek 10-speed with neon 

yellow handlebar tape is still in use 26 years later. 

I didn’t take up cycling avidly until I was well into my 30’s. 

OK, darned near 40. These days I spend a lot of time riding — 

on the road, dirt and snow — and a lot of time thinking about 

nothing in particular but the rhythm of the world as seen 

from a bike. 

I also think about ways to get other people hooked on this 

two-wheeled lifestyle. Cycling as an industry has seen tremendous 

growth particularly with the success of American pros 

on the international racing scene, and the increase in the 

number of accessible charity rides. It’s never been easier to 

become inspired to take up cycling, and here in Alaska it is 

especially convenient. 

My vision is to get as many Alaskans that I can addicted to 

cycling, to discover the love of the bike and the lifetime of 

benefits it brings. Cycling is an exciting family-oriented activity. 

It is easy on aging joints, helps manage weight and 

improves physical and psychological well-being. 

April is not too early to be paying visits to your local bike 

shops. Researching what’s available is time well spent, 

because if you love your bike you will be inclined to ride it. 

Shopping for a bike is like searching for a long-term relationship 

— you’re looking for a soul mate, not a casual fling. 

Ask yourself what kind of riding you’d like to do. Would 

you like the speed and freedom a road bike can offer? A commuting 

machine? A casual ride for the multi-use paved trail 

system? Or perhaps a cross-country racer or a long-travel 

huckster for railing berms and catching air on Anchorage’s 

new singletrack trail systems? Whichever style of riding makes 

your heart beat faster, choose the lightest bike with the best 

components in your price range. If you love it, you will ride it. 

GEORGE STRANSKY 

continued on page 34


APRES 

Send in 

the Clown 

I 

By Susy Buchanan 

f you’ve been out and about in Anchorage — 

whether it be at a roller derby bout, the 

Anchorage premier of “Big Miracle,” on stage at 

Cyrano’s and Mad Myrna’s, DJing at a club or 

opening for big time national comedians like 

Tommy Davidson — it’s quite likely you’ve 

encountered the force of nature that is Kelly Lee 

Williams; the man has made himself a fixture of 

local nightlife. The guy’s certainly got momentum. 

A self-described narcissist and all-around entertainer 

with a strong comedic bent, Williams has 

got an ambitious five-year plan for his future that 

involves red carpets and a Best Actor Oscar, and 

he’s working his way there one gig at a time. 

True, these are big dreams for a guy with just one 

movie under his belt — and his screen time in “Big Miracle” as 

Producer No. 2 was nearly blink-and-you’ll-miss-him — but he 

was one of few Alaskans cast to actually get a speaking role, he 

argues, and technically that makes him an international movie 

star. Making the leap to an Academy Award in 2017 will certainly 

be an uphill battle for a man whose bread and butter is comedy 

and finds himself living in a city that doesn’t seem to want 

to take a joke, but Williams is tenacious and a bundle of nervous 

energy. 

Williams’ stand up career began in 2001, 

he says, after he’d been fired (and in one case 

escorted out of the building by security) from a 

couple of tech jobs and the resounding chorus of 

friends that kept urging him to go into standup 

could no longer be ignored. 

“Why did God create women?” asks Williams delivering what 

he calls one of his best jokes. “Because sheep can’t cook,” he 

says. He didn’t exactly get a laugh out of that one, more of a 

groan, but put him on a stage with a mic in his hand (instead of 

at a coffee shop facing a jaded journalist) and he definitely hits 

all the right notes. Anchorage Press readers named him Best 

Local Comedian last year, and the paper’s editors picked him as 

one of Anchorage’s “hotties,” dubbing him “The Renaissance 

Man.” 

The trouble is that there are no real comedy outlets in 

Anchorage, Williams says. 

“Koots and Rumrunners occasionally let someone perform 


Drink up... 

standup. The S Lounge had an 

open mic comedy night that 

Williams hosted for a while, but it 

just wasn’t catching on. It seems 

Anchorage doesn’t see anything 

particularly funny about Fairview at 

9 p.m. on a Sunday night. 

Undaunted, Williams concocted a 

plan to take his standup elsewhere, 

performing at smaller venues once a 

month anywhere within driving distance. 

On April 28, for example, you 

can catch him at Hooligans on the 

Sterling Highway in Soldotna. 

In the meantime he’s looking at 

hooking up a more permanent gig at 

Eddy’s Sports Bar or the Woodshed, 

but in the interim, his philosophy is 

let the comedy come to you. With 

entry level rates of a couple hundred 

bucks, Williams will bring the comedy 

to your home and give a private show 

tailored to your guests and tastes. 

Williams’ stand up career began in 

2001, he says, after he’d been fired 

(and in one case escorted out of the 

building by security) from a couple of tech jobs and the 

resounding chorus of friends that kept urging him to go into 

standup could no longer be ignored. He started out like most 

do, telling hack jokes about airplane food and internet porn. 

“The jokes were sophomoric,” Williams admits of his first 

efforts, “but I got laughs and I was hooked.” 

Williams honed his talents working for Chicago’s 

Incredibulls crowd entertainment team, shooting tee shirts out 

of a cannon, general clowning and audience participation bits. 

The experience, all eight years of it, has served him well. He’s 

mastered physical comedy and makes it look effortless, employing 

exaggerated movements and acting out emotions with 

shrugs and grimaces that are carefully timed to the crowds’ 

moods. What Williams is banking on with the comedy party 

concept is that if he can keep 20,000 basketball fans a night 

entertained, getting laughs from a couple dozen people in 

someone’s living room shouldn’t be difficult. But it’s those big 

crowds that Williams craves and seeks out, and the Hollywood 

spotlight beckons. Be sure to catch one of Williams’ gigs before 

Anchorage gets too small for him. 

You can find more information about what Kelly Williams is 

up to at www.kellyleewilliams.com. 

KELLY WILLIAMS’ 

LONG ISLAND ICED TEA 

2 cups ice cubes 

1 ounce vodka 

1 ounce gin 

1 ounce white rum 

1 ounce white tequila 

1/2 ounce Triple Sec 

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed 

lemon juice 

1/2 cup Coke, or to taste 

2 lemon wedges 

Fill your shaker with ice. Pour the 

booze and lemon juice in and shake 

the shaker like there’s no tomorrow. 

Dump the contents into two tall 

glasses, top off with Coke and garnish 

with lemon. Repeat. 

Ice, Ice Baby! 

Summer’s coming and open-toed shoe season is right around 

the corner. What better way to get your hooves in shape then a 

Thursday night martini and pedicure (or manicure, but how 

would you hold the martini glass?) at the Sheraton’s decadent 

Ice Spa. Thursdays from 4-8 p.m. you can get your nails done 

(men are also welcome) and sip down two scrumptious martinis 

for just $59. For more information, 

www.sheratonicespa.com.


APRES 

events like Alyeska Spring Carnival and 

Native Youth Olympics (NYO) Games. 

ways to celebrate spring. 

Have the time of your 


Get in on all the action. Find FREE 

ideas and event information online. 

Visit Anchorage.net/Hot 

The NYO Games kick off this year on 

April 27-29 at the Dena’ina Center. 

Reaching new 

heights, Alaska style 

By Jack Bonney 

Visit Anchorage 

There are only a few sports moments in which the athlete’s 

laser focus on the task at hand can render an entire 

crowd silent: a long putt to win. A match point serve. A “Hail 

Mary” pass hanging midair. It’s as if that instant sucks all the 

oxygen away from the crowd. Everyone holds their breath, as 

if the slightest breeze could upset months of preparation and 

practice. But nothing turns a raucous crowd as quiet as a 

library like a record attempt at the NYO Games. 

Started in 1972, the NYO Games, previously known as the 


ROY NEESE

April showers 

bring. . .gray whales? www.AKontheGO.com 

L 

By Erin Kirkland 

“ 

ook, I see one!” 

No matter how many times our family has embarked 

upon a day cruise in Alaska, the shout of discovery from a fellow 

passenger always sends a shiver of anticipation 

through my soul. Binoculars in 

one hand, camera in the other, I happily 

join the throngs of critter-loving folk in 

an afternoon of wildlife wonder, ocean 

style. 

Day cruising southcentral Alaska is 

one of the most popular activities for 

tourists visiting the 49th state; it is also 

highly regarded by residents as an excellent 

attraction for visiting friends and 

family. Drive to Seward or Whittier, hop Erin KIRKLAND 

on a boat, cruise the water, see beautiful 

scenery and witness miracles of nature, drive home. It’s perfect. 

Guests aboard tour company vessels are all but guaranteed to 

spy otters, birds, and sea lions, but let’s be perfectly honest, people 

really want to see whales like orca, humpback, and, in the 

early Alaska spring, gray whales. 

Hopeful whale-watchers 

crowd railings of a Kenai 

Fjords tour boat in 

Resurrection Bay. 

Perhaps it’s their fortitude that inspires us. Gray whales on 

average migrate a total distance of 6,000 miles from their breeding 

grounds of Baja California to feeding grounds of the Bering 

and Chukchi seas, the longest migration of any mammal. Or, 

maybe it’s their size; adult gray whales weigh in at 36 tons and 

nearly 55 feet in length. Whatever the reason, the months of April 



ERIN KIRKLAND

THE ALASKA ANGLER 

Gear up 

for success 

Your fishing armory should be stocked 

and ready for deployment 

T 

By Christopher Batin 

he secret to being an efficient angler is not only on-stream 

knowledge and intuition, but also in how much time you 

put into preparing for the fishing experience. The best way to 

prepare for success on the water is by conducting a pre-season 

review of tackle, gear and equipment. 

Clothing and Waders 

If you have felt soles on waders or hippers, 

have them resoled, as they will be 

illegal to use in Alaska starting in 2012. 

Repair any leaks, and check for dry rot, 

cracking or chaffing. Average repair time 

for sending quality waders to the factory 

and return ranges from two to four 

weeks. 

Treat raingear shells with spray-on 

water-repellent, and ensure bug nets are 

without holes and ready to treat with 

Permanone or other insect repellent. 

Tackle 


Christopher BATIN 

Change trebles to single hooks, which saves time on stream 

when seconds make all the difference in hooking or missing a 

fish. Bend down the barbs on flies and lures you’ll use for catchand-release 

fishing. Sharpen all hooks. A sticky point is good for 

smaller hooks, while a triangular cutting edge is best for larger 

hooks. How sharp? They should stick into your thumbnail under 

light pressure. An electric hook sharpener from Rapala or Berkley 

makes the job easier. Use a flat file for larger saltwater hooks. 

Take inventory of your fly or lure box. Make a list of missing 

colors or favorite patterns, and order them now, or add them to 

your shopping list. 

Ensure your guide seats are without grooves, which can fray 

and weaken line. Check for missing or broken feet and cracked 

reel seats. Ensure rod wraps are tight and not frayed by UV rot. 

Reel drags must be smooth. Inspect and replace drag washers 

as necessary. Degrease all inner gears, clean, regrease, and 

reassemble. Place a drop of oil on lighter functioning parts like 

bail springs. Respool with new line. 

I like restocking and fine-tuning my fishing vest. I don’t 

change the locations of the gear I have designated for the various 

pockets, as I learned the importance of keeping the same category 

of items in the same pockets, year after year. 

The purpose of pre-season tackle checkup is to have your equipment on hand, 

and ready to go, when the fish are biting. Here, John Beath, left, shows Chuck 

Baird how to fine tune some halibut rigs he had ready to go in his tackle box. 

If you are purchasing a new vest, I encourage you to “map 

out” your vest before you load it. Figure out what works best for 

you. Anglers have their preferences, based on whether they spin 

or fly fish, or whether they are guides or single anglers who like 

to hike miles of stream. 

Here is what works best for me: First, my vest has 24 pockets, 

so it is basically a slip-on backpack. Clippers and fish-hook sharpeners 

go into my top left breast pocket. Because I am right handed, 

I like to hold my knots in my right hand, and use my left 

hand to trim or cut with clippers. Valuable leader wallets I put 

into my inside left side pocket. I have a tippet dispenser in my 

right outside breast pocket. Lure or fly boxes fill the lower pockets, 

as well as needle-nose pliers or hemostats. Split shot and lead 

wrap are carried in an outside, easy-open pouch, and more are 

stored in an inside pocket, along with bug dope. By mapping out 

which locations work best for you, and keeping pockets designated 

for those items, you can focus on the fishing and not 

where an item is located. 

Other Items 

I use a variety of daypacks for my fishing adventures. They 

serve many functions that include carrying additional fly boxes, 

extra spools and camera gear (in waterproof bags, of course) as 

well as lunch, wading staff, and raingear. 

I keep excess gear I don’t carry in my vest in specialized Zip- 

Loc or color-coded nylon bags. I carry these smaller bags in a 

larger fishing carry-all duffel bag that remains in the car or boat. 

This way, I can mix and match what I need, based on the requirements 

of the day’s outing. Some days, I won’t need wading items 

if I am boat fishing, but sun screen, water bottle, and lunch or 

snacks I’ll need every day. Again, arrange what is best for you. 

Boats 

Big boats are necessary, but ownership of them is not. 

Charter if you seldom indulge in any big-water river or ocean 

fishing. But every angler should consider pack rafts, inflatable 


CHRIS BATIN

AK ON THE GO continued from page 27 

and early May are prime time to participate in a parade of 

aquarian mammal spectacular-ness, and we Alaskans get first 

dibs. 

Two cruise companies offer early-season, gray whale day 

tours. Perfect for families due to lower crowd numbers and a 

decidedly shorter time span (usually around four hours), gray 

whale cruises depart from Seward and feature, among other 

things, the chance to witness annual history in the making with 

kids. 

Kenai Fjords Tours, part of CIRI Tourism, provides a fourhour 

tour between April 6 and May 17, with departures from 

the Seward Small Boat Harbor at noon, returning at 4 p.m. 

Kenai Fjords offers lunch, narration by knowledgeable guides, 

and a free shuttle from local lodgings or CIRI’s parking lot a 

few blocks away at a rate of $84 for adults, $42 for kids 2-11. 

The company is also touting a new, overnight tour package for 

a limited time featuring the four-hour tour, accommodation at 

the Seward Hotel, and admission to the famous Alaska Sea Life 

Center. At $137 per person, double-occupancy, it’s not the best 

value for families with smaller children, but is a wonderful way 

to spend a spring weekend. Contact Kenai Fjords Tours, 

www.kenaifjords.com, or call 877-777-4051 for reservations and 

information. 

Major Marine Tours also offers a spectacular opportunity to 

view the grays. At an extremely competitive rate to that of 

Kenai Fjords Tours, the only thing lacking is lunch for the $79 

for adult, $39.50 for kids 2-11 cost (they do offer complimentary 

coffee, tea and hot chocolate, and snacks are available for 

purchase). The company provides constant narration by both 

the captains and naturalist guides so passengers won’t miss anything 

during the four-hour tour near the mouth of Resurrection 

Bay. Passengers who book online will save 20 percent, and 

Major Marine can also arrange additional transportation, if needed, 

for a fee. Contact them, www.majormarine.com, or call 800- 

764-7300 for information and reservations. 

Regardless of the tour company, all passengers are advised 

to dress in warm, waterproof layers for this early-season adventure. 

Bring hats, mittens or gloves, and sturdy shoes for kids. A 

small backpack of snacks, drinks, and toys or quiet activities can 

help during quiet, non-animal-viewing times, too. 

For more information about day cruising in Alaska, visit 

the AKontheGO blog at www.AKontheGO.com/blog and use 

our search tool to maximize your family’s fun in the 49th 

state. 

Alaska's 

outdoor 

adventure 

magazine. 

To advertise 

or subscribe: 

coast-magazine.com 

(907) 

677-2900 


30 April 2012 COAST www.coast-magazine.com

TOAST continued from page 4 

intended activities. Stay in each location for two or more nights 

to further decrease your driving time while providing more 

chances to relax. Plan your activities in sequence along the 

highway system so you rarely have to double back on the same 

stretch of road. 

I’ll leave you with one more thought before you begin to 

either grin with excitement or sweat with anxiety at the 

thought of your upcoming Alaska family reunion. Don’t 

worry about cramming in as much as possible during your 

family’s stay. If they have a good time, and especially if they 

missed out on anything, they’ll be back — for better or 

worse. 

In my years in Alaska I’ve been visited by a friend and her 

family, a cousin, two sisters during separate trips with one 

brother-in-law, a niece who delighted in building a tree cabin 

in the backcountry, and my parents with an aunt and uncle. 

My father and uncle will be returning without the ladies in a 

couple of months and are eager to spend less time driving 

and shopping and more time in the “frontier.” They’ll be helping 

me finish my cabin and likely taking a backpacking trip 

in Denali State Park on Kesugi Ridge. 

One sister and brother-in-law are planning to return in the 

near future, this time with their three children. Another sister 

has purchased land next to mine, where the tree cabin began 

construction. 

As you can see, an annual family migration has ensued, 

and you’ll hear no complaints from me. I’m happy to share 

this wonderfully invigorating land with them all. 

ANGLER continued from page 28 

canoes and other smaller craft for fishing local waters. You can 

have as much or more fun with an affordable, smaller boat, and 

enjoy some great exercise rowing or padding a kayak or canoe 

while fishing for trout or salmon. It is what keeps me in shape 

and helps me access fishing hotspots I wouldn’t be able to otherwise 

reach. 

Stores and Catalogs 

There are many great sporting goods stores in Alaska that 

are worthy of our patronage because they have items at hand 

when you need them, so there is no-wait. I always check local 

stores if I need to resupply. Some specialized fishing items or 

lures aren’t stocked, and that is where a good mail-order catalog 

comes in. Catalogs also work as checklists to help ensure 

you have all you need out on the water. In addition, they 

update you on what is new in the industry. 

Of course, once your gear is ready, give your summer trip 

plans a once over. Now is the time to book some early-bird specials, 

as well as squeezing in some prime-time fishing opportunities 

via charter or a do-it-yourself outing. Try something new 

and different, from floating the upper Kenai, to saltwater king 

fishing, to kayaking for halibut. Anticipation of an event— 

through trip preparation—is what keeps fishing fun and exciting. 

This is, after all, half the fun of fishing. 

Chris Batin is editor and publisher of The Alaska Angler, 

and author of numerous books and DVDs available through 

www.AlaskaAngler.com 


Alaska Coast 

OUT 

DOOR 

CALENDAR 

coast-magazine.com 

APRIL 2012 

Get free promotion online and in print! 

Events can now be posted on the COAST magazine 

website free of charge! Events must be submitted to 

the online calendar in order to be considered for printing 

in the magazine. 

Visit www.coast-magazine.com. Under the Events tab, 

choose Add New Event. You may add an event as a 

guest visitor without logging in; however, signing up 

for a calendar account will allow you to make changes 

to the event information in the future. COAST reserves 

the right to publish or withhold any information submitted. 

All events will be moderated before appearing to the 

public, so be sure they pertain to our region and are 

appropriate. COAST magazine will make efforts to 

print your events, especially those that would be of 

interest to our readers, on a space-available basis. 

Ongoing 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT RUN AT THE DOME 

At 6 p.m. every Wednesday throughout the winter, 

meet at The Dome on Raspberry Road in Anchorage to 

run or walk with friends. Anchorage Running club 

membership required. For more information, 

www.anchoragerunningclub.org . 

CENTER MARKET 

From 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. every Wednesday at the Mall at 

Sears rear entrance, peruse a selection of local foods. 

For more information, www.thecentermarket.com. 

LED ZEPPELIN 

Gaze upon computer-generated imagery inspired by 

Zeppelin’s biggest hits, including Whole Lotta Love, 

Immigrant Song and Ramble On. If you thought laser 

show were cool you’ll love this. Saturdays at 4 p.m., 

Anchorage Museum Planetarium, $10 admission. 

THE HIGH ONE: REACHING THE TOP 

This fascinating exhibition explores all aspects of what 

it takes to climb Mount McKinley, the highest peak in 

North America. Check out the evolution of climbing 

gear, different routes, perilous rescues, and the allure 

of the Great one. Artifacts on display include photographs, 

films and hands-on activities. The exhibit 

begins April 6 and runs through October 21 at the 

Anchorage Museum. 

ASCENT 20,320: SCIENCE ON THE SLOPES OF 


MCKINLEY 

A companion exhibition to The High One: Reaching 

the Top, these historical images from the National Park 

Service puts a scientific perspective on the mountain, 

tracing expeditions beginning with the first successful 

summit in 1913. April 6 through September 30, 

Anchorage Museum. 

AFTER: PORTRAITS FROM DENALI 

Photographer Tim Remick took a camera up to basecamp 

on Denali to photograph climbers who had just 

summited and the result is this striking series of portraits 

of climbers at the point of both triumph and 

utter exhaustion. Exhibition runs through April 15. 

April 3 

THE CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS 

One of only two African-American string bands in the 

entire world, this old-time string band from Durham, 

North Carolina won a Grammy in 2010 for their album 

Genuine Negro. Their music revisits class is string and 

jug band music from the Roaring Twenties. St Louis’s 

Riverfront Times described their sound as “three people 

channeling a dark history through a beautiful 

medium, between Rhiannon Giddens’ moaning fiddle, 

Justin Robinson’s funeral-march beat-boxing and the 

skeletal rattle of the bones Dom Flemons clacks 

between his fingers.” The Carolina Chocolate Drops 

perform at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium at 7 p.m. 

Tickets are $29 to $34, call 257-2304. 


THURSDAY NIGHT AT THE FIGHTS 

Bloodshed, ring girls, and a full bar as well. What’s not 

to like? Watch Anchorage’s tough guys duke it out at 

the Egan Center. Door open at 6:30, tickets are $16 to 

$35. For more information visit www.thursdaynightfights.com. 


RAGE CITY ALL-STARS VS. KILLAMAZOO 

Come cheer on Anchorage’s hottest and toughest 

women on wheels as they trounce their rivals. Don’t 

forget to celebrate victory with the roller girls at the 

Peanut Farm after the bout. The magic starts at 7 p.m. 

at the Dena’ina Center, tickets are $18 at the door. 

Visit www.ragecityrollergirls.org for more information. 

ELEVATOR MUSIC: FIREWEED FLUTES 

Spruced up background music takes center stage in 

the capable hands of the Fireweed Flutes Quartet. Hop 

in the museum’s giant elevator and enjoy the live concert 

and First Friday art. The free fun is from 6 to 9 

p.m. at the Anchorage Museum. 


TESORO ARCTIC MAN CLASSIC 

Skiers and snowmobiles become one in this adrenaline-fueled 

competition with an ambiance that some 

have compared with Spring Break at Daytona Beach. 

Last year 13,000 spectators turned out at Summit 

Lake for the weekend, which may be why those not 

staying in RVs are encouraged to rent their own private 

outhouse. Visit www.arcticman.com for more 

information. 


ANCHORAGE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’S SEASON 

FINALE 

Alaskan virtuoso violinist Paul Rosenthal and his more 

than 300 year-old Joseph Guarnerius violin are joined 

by Zuill Bailey, one of the world’s leading young cellists. 

Rosenthal founded the Sitka Summer Music 

Festival in 1972, and this year, as Rosenthal celebrates 

his seventieth birthday, he will hand the reigns over to 

Bailey, the festival’s new artistic director. The two will 

pair onstage to perform works by Tsontakis, Brahms 

and Beethoven. The concert takes place at 8 p.m. at 

the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. Call 263- 

ARTS for tickets. 

ANCHORAGE MUSEUM GALA 

The Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center goes all out 

for this annual fundraising gala featuring dinner, dancing 

and live and silent auctions. With a theme of “True 

North” more than 80 artists will be creating original 

work for the event. Dress code is black tie Alaskan, i.e. 

ball gowns and bunny boots. Tickets are $150, visit 

www.anchoragemuseum.org. 


DIERKS BENTLEY AND ELI YOUNG BAND 

Red hot country music artist with certified platinum 

albums and 16 singles on the country charts, including 

“What Was I Thinkin’”, “Come a Little Closer”, 

Sideways”, and “Am I the Only One”. Currently on 

tour promoting his seventh album, Home, Bentley is 

backed by the Eli Young Band. Sullivan Arena, 7:30 

p.m., call 279-0618. 

April 20-22 

ALYESKA SPRING CARNIVAL AND SLUSH CUP 

It simply can’t be spring in Girdwood with spring carnival. 

In its 35th year, the celebration is uniquely 

Alaskan. The signature event is the Slush Cup, in 

which costumed competitors attempt to waterski 

across a 90-foot pond of freezing water. Other popular 

events include the Idiot Swim Scross, Dummy 

Downhill, XTRATUF Pull Tug-of-War, and nightly music 

from the Photonz. For more information visit 

http://www.alyeskaresort.com. 

April 20 & 21 

THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS 

Start whistling “Sweet Georgia Brown”, folks! Fans of 

the infamous sports entertainment legends will be 

delighted once again by the athletic antics of a team 

that was actually founded in Chicago in the 1920s. No 

word on whether honorary Globetrotter Nelson 

Mandela will be in attendance. Sullivan arena, Friday 

at 7 p.m., Saturday two shows at 2 and 7 p.m., call 

279-0618. 


CHRIS BOTTI 

This chart-topping Jazz trumpeter from Oregon has 

been nominated for five Grammys, including twice for 

Best Pop Instrumental Album. You may remember him 

from his stint as leader of the house band on the Botti 

was the leader of the house band on The Caroline 

Rhea Show for its only season in 2002-2003, or from 

the pages of People magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful 

People of 2004 issue. Catch his beautiful face and 

sounds at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, 

7:30 p.m.; call 257-2304 for more information. 

KIDS DAY AT THE MUSEUM 

Free admission to the Anchorage Museum for kids 12 

and under! 


BETTYE LAVETTE 

Even though she’s in her 60s, soul artist Bettye Lavette 

has been praised as having a powerful voice that has 

earned her a Grammy nomination as well as high 

praise form music critics. Rolling Stone describes her 

as “someone who this very minute could unleash a 

performance that would make your hair stand on 

end.” Lavette performs at 7:30 p.m. at the Alaska 

Center for the Performing Arts. Call 263-ARTS.

GUIDES & 

SERVICES 

Advertise your 

business here! 

Call 677.2900 

to find out how! 

WHITE PAGES continued from page 18 

snow year for all of us in Southcentral – Alyeska and everybody. 

These big winds and storms that went through here 

just repacked the mountains, so yeah it’s been a phenomenal 

year.” 

That said, Arctic Valley may be able to stay open a bit 

longer than usual. Operations may continue into the second 

weekend of April, Heckart says. 

Beyond that, ASC board members will be thinking about 

the 2012-13 season. Further development of the tube park is 

already expected. 

ARCTIC VALLEY 

PHONE: 258-4222 

DIRECTIONS: Arctic Valley ski area and the Alpenglow Lodge are 

located at Mile 7 of Arctic Valley Road, just 1 mile past the 

Muldoon Exit of the Glenn Highway when coming from 

Anchorage. From Eagle River and the Valley, take the Fort 

Richardson exit and turn left. Follow the frontage road to Arctic 

Valley Road. 

WEB: www.skiarctic.com 

Hilltop Ski Area 

The closing date at Hilltop hinges on two factors. 

“It always helps when there’s people coming and paying 

for tickets so, you know, we really watch attendance,” says 

Steve Remme, Hilltop’s manager and CEO, 

“but it’s typically around the first or second 

weekend of April depending on how much 

snow and interest there is.” 

For those who want to keep Hilltop open 

as long as possible, hope for snow, but be 

sure to show up with all your friends to capitalize 

on it. Hilltop’s eager to accommodate. 

They’re already expecting the potential for an extended 

season. 

“We may end up going clear to the 8th this year, just 

because we had such a massive amount of snow,” says 

Remme. 

For a little added fun during the week following the closing, 

Hilltop will host their end of the season employee party. 

Employees can expect to get the word passed down from 

their supervisors as to the exact date and time. 

That shindig is for employees only, but the public is more 

than welcome to throw their own party before the snow 

runs out. 

HILLTOP SKI AREA 

7015 Abbott Road, Anchorage, AK 99507 

PHONE: Ski Hotline: (907) 346-2167, Ticket Office: (907) 346-1407 

DIRECTIONS: Take Abbott Road from Seward Highway heading 

east. Turn left to Hilltop before Abbott becomes Hillside Drive. 

WEB: www.hilltopskiarea.org 


STATE OF THE TRAILS continued from page 17 

documented in books while others required direction from 

community members. Trail maps were occasionally stocked at 

trailheads, but often they’d run out and visitor centers were the 

best hope for a copy. Fortunately the borough has since documented 

their primary trails online. A complete list can be found 

at www.matsugov.us/communitydevelopment/trails/trail-guides, 

each trail with a printable PDF document which provides a 

map and description. 

NYO GAMES continued from page 26 

Native Youth Olympics, include 10 events based on games past 

generations of Alaska Native people played as a way to test 

their hunting and survival skills, increase strength and maintain 

endurance, agility and the balance of mind and body. The 

Eskimo stick pull, for instance, is based on a strengthening exercise 

that Native hunters would do to prepare themselves for 

pulling seals out of the water. Although events are based on traditional 

Alaska Native activities, the competition is open to all 

Alaska students from seventh to 12th grade, regardless of ethnicity. 

It’s an insight into Alaska’s rich cultural heritage and a friendly 

competition for Alaska kids all at once. About 500 students 

from across Alaska assemble in Anchorage each spring to 

demonstrate their skills during the NYO Games. This year’s 

games will be held April 27-29 in the Dena’ina Civic and 

Convention Center. Admission is free, so check it out and cheer 

on the athletes. It’s an exciting time; last year decades-old 


SINGLE-TRACK MIND continued from page 22 

Next, invest in a good helmet. No one on 

two wheels should be without one. A helmet 

is single-impact, meant to be thrown away 

once it’s made contact with the ground or 

other inanimate object. Periodically inspect 

your helmet for cracks, delaminations and 

dents. If you see any of these things, set it out 

with the weekly trash. A good helmet is pennies 

compared to a trip to the emergency 

room. Children in Anchorage under the age of 

17 are required by law to wear a helmet. 

Proper attire will help with riding comfort. 

A good pair of cycling shorts with a padded 

chamoix, cycling gloves, a jersey, and a windbreaker 

will get you started. Don’t forget a 

handlebar bell and a rear flasher if you really 

want to be safe on the multi-use trails or out 

on the road. A side benefit to becoming an 

avid cyclist is that your friends and loved 

ones will never be without an appropriate 

gift idea. 

Get to know the rules of the road. Cyclists 

have every right to use the road as motorists. 

Be a responsible cyclist. Use hand signals and 

obey all traffic rules. The Bicycle Commuters 

of Anchorage (www.bicycleanchorage.org) is 

Of course the National Park Service and National Forest 

Service have been providing detailed trail information online 

for years, but they, too, are now using dynamic mapping software 

to improve your knowledge of trails, where they are located 

and how they connect with other trail systems. 

For those who have been in the habit of using the same old 

trail guide or those of us who thought we already knew every 

trail worth exploring, now would be a great time to reinvestigate 

community and park management websites for the real 

picture. 

records fell left and right. 

There’s a reason the NYO Games can inspire that hushed 

awe; I’ve yet to see athletes in any other sport accomplish what 

some of these athletes – middle and high school students – can 

do. The best can hop 150 feet across a hardwood floor on their 

knuckles (the seal hop), launch off the ground and kick more 

than 8 feet in the air (one- and two-foot high kick) or balance 

all their weight on a single palm while stretching for a ball suspended 

almost 6 feet over their head (one hand reach). And if 

you’re thinking “I could do that,” well you’ve got a chance to 

prove it. There’s an interactive demonstration of Native games 

on Friday, April 27 at 11:30 a.m. 

The premise of each event seems simple – touch the ball, 

jump high, hold on for as long as you can – but as height of the 

target increases or the distance required to advance widens, the 

skill required quickly approaches the superhuman. Attempting 

one of the events yourself might take your breath away quite 

literally. But watching these young men and women compete 

can definitely leave you breathless. 

a resource for cycling etiquette and advocacy. 

Other organizations to help you get connected 

with the cycling community include 

the Arctic Bicycle Club (www.arcticbike.org) 

and Singletrack Advocates (www.singletrackadvocates.org). 

There are several organized 

events that make it easy to connect with riding 

partners. The Clean Air Challenge, Ride for 

Life, MS 150, and the Fireweed Bicycle Race 

are a few worthy challenges that can serve as 

incentives to get out and ride. 

This year Bike to Work Week is May 14-18. 

Many work places promote the event and 

encourage employees to ride to work together. 

During the 2011 Bike to Work Week, the 

Municipality of Anchorage recorded a 28 percent 

increase in bicycle traffic over 2010 levels. 

Over 3,300 cyclists rode their bikes to 

work, which means 3,300 fewer cars on the 

road. Fewer cars, less traffic congestion, 

healthier employees, happier people. 

Cycling can be a love affair. Twenty-six 

years after that raspberry colored Trek came 

into my life she has taught not only me but 

my two kids and three other junior riders to 

love cycling. She occupies the best slot in the 

rack and is waiting for the next kid to climb 

aboard.

HELICOPTER AND SNOWCAT SKIING BASED IN GIRDWOOD, ALASKA 

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For over 15 years, it’s been our pleasure to provide mountain access and expertise 

allowing Alaskans to have the best days of their lives in a powder heaven that the 

rest of the world dreams about. Give us a call and get out in it! Alyeska seasons pass 

holders receive 10% off of all regular price goods and services. 

907.783.HELI (4354) 

www.epicquest.com

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