Temptation in the bag.

     So a beautiful-weather-Sunday in Anchorage left me no choice but to go out for a hike and check another to-do off the list.  Today I headed out with a buddy I ski with but have never hiked with.  We were heading out of the Stuckagain Heights Trailhead with an unformulated plan.  Ultimately we decided to go for Temptation as it was one of few on his to-do list and I had only done Knoya in this area of the Chugach Front Range, it was new for both of us.
       Weather was perfect: breezy but not windy, sunny skies spotted with big white-and-puffy clouds with a backdrop of pure blue and mare's tails.  Temps were perfect, maybe a little warm below the treeline or out of the breeze.  Our route was impromptu, we hiked up to the dome and over to the north side of Kanchee, over a higher saddle and down into the drainage with the Snowhawk cabin.

     We had heard of the Snowhawk and seen it (from other peaks) but never investigated.  It is a 2-bunk hexagon in the valley bottom near the creek.  It is in a good position for over-nighters back in that area to save the legs.  It also was well-supplied.  I see potential for winter and skiing here although it lacked a stove/heater.  We continued on up the valley, following the creek and then cut up to the summit.  It took us an estimated 5 hours.  It was great to see the Ship drainage  from the non-South Fork side.  The tarn below to the West was amazing blue.  We could see the Tanaina couloir which will be on next years' spring-ski list.  The Chugach was spotted with cloud shadows.  Fabulous.

     The wildflowers were also amazing as they were all in full-bloom.  Such a great concentration of them all over as well as a huge variety.  It was like the whole backcountry was a garden of them.  I admire the little ones that are high up especially.  They look dainty, frail, and considering what they are growing in they sure are durable.  They put up with some stiff winds and conditions yet they thrive. 

 

 

     As we headed down we enjoyed the weather, the views, the flowers, relief from uphill, the satisfaction of climbing another new peak and exploring a new area.  No hike would be complete without some sort of Chugach bush-whacking.  Though it wasn't alders it still was less than fun.  We popped over a pass to avoid excess elevation changes and blazed a trail to the dome through some swampy, squishy, twiggy stuff.  I should have brought the bottom portion of my zip-off hiking pants because my legs took a scratching. 
     No moose, no bear, just a few ptarmigan and ground squirrels.  I also noticed that crowberries should be not too bad to eat soon.  I munched on a few blueberries, which were tart but I like them that way.  I also noticed some eager cranberries that had just a bit of green on their undersides.

 

    

Bagging Bold

     So a friend had the Serenity Falls hut rented for the evening of the 5th and I decided it would be a good opportunity to attempt Bold peak.  The plan was to bike in after work in the evening since daylight would allow, sleep at the hut then climb and possibly bike out the next day or camp out if we were too tired/lazy.  Fl-ahoney, the new downstairs tenant, was itching to see the backcountry so he came with. 
     We biked in under a raindrop here and there, but overall dry.  The cabin host must have bailed because no one was there, maybe because of the rain on the 4th.  I was tired from work and went to bed.  We got up the next morning, ate some breakfast and biked to the trailhead, stashed the bikes and started hiking.  We ditched our non-essentials at the base of the creek leading up.  Mosquitos were thick.  The trail was easily traced up to Stiver's Gully and so the talus/scree ascent began.
     The ascent was alright: lots of scree and talus littered with uniquely colored rocks and dispersed wildflowers (a good variety), evidence of a sheep carcass but no skull for a prize.  The creek near the top was a nice water break.  We ran into a group who had camped up higher the night before, they said it had snowed at the top.  Snow in July, I love it.  The hand-rope section was thrilling but would be more so on the way down(my fear of heights).  There was a super-serene oasis of plant life and wildflowers above the gully where I could have just sat and been content looking at something other than rock, but we came for the summit.
     Did I mention there is a lot of rock?  We continued up the described route in the 50 hikes book without issue, just starting to feel the vertical in our legs.  Once on the summit ridge it was no problem.  I appreciated the broad peak, it allowed for some rest without perching.  Clouds were high enough to allow for good views.  It was considerably cooler than down below and there was a steady wind.  Low clouds came and went.  Sheep were visible down below.  Views of the big Chugach peaks were humbling, as well as glaciers, rivers and dramatic relief in general. 
     The descent was quick and easy, skiing down on scree, glacading? on some long snow patches considering it's July.  We decided it would be nice to make it back that night so we biked back to the car with a tailwind and clearing skies.  A great conclusion after a successful hike.





Biking from Serenity to the East Fork Trailhead.

Green relief for the eyes.


 

Stivers Gully.  Note the red/purple rocks.  Geologist, why are they like that?
 

 

Summit Ridge

 

Smudgy lens, intense effort by the pictured climber.

 

Bold peak on the evening Eklutna skyline, post-summiting.

venturing into world of mountain biking

     So I have been trying to improve my skills in the realm of mountain biking which at this point is just by doing it more.  I have already learned the appreciation for the backside cushion that a full-suspension might offer after the Johnson pass ride.  This week I did my first mountain bike race at the Kinkaid XC race series.  Then Sarah and I did some riding on the single-track side today.
     The race was fun, 2 laps around the course that combined the ski trails with some single-track.  I had no idea what to expect so I hung back at the start.  The start was good but people quickly bunched at the turn that narrowed into single-track.  Also, there was bunching mid-hill early on as some slipped or lost momentum.  I did this a few times and I don't know if it's normal or if people get pissed or if I should hike and re-saddle or let them pass.  I figure it's a race so I will just do my own think....next time.  This time I let all pass until a gap showed up, no worries because I am learning. 
     I again had bike trouble.  This time my chain would drop too far in on the front and come off, wedge between the crank arm and around the bottom bracket.  Probably happened 5+ times, cost me mental stress(mosquitos), at least several minutes of stopping and the loss of momentum.  Although the grinding chain on my frame did help me lighten it by a few milligrams?  Anyway, roots continue to be a challenge as well as sharp down-hill turns, balance, and line-picking.  Overall it was fun and I will try to do another if I can practice more. 
     Sarah and I headed out to Bowling Alley on the single-track side today with great weather similar to last night: cloudy, cool and a slight breeze.  No moose, no bears.  I tested out some quicker time-lapse following her with the gopro and tested my home-made bike mount.  See videos.