Mudflat Mountain Biking

One of the most beautiful, quickest, and underutilized get-aways in Anchorage is ocean mudflats and marshlands. And there's rarely a soul down there....maybe because it can be a perilous place if you aren't aware of which areas are safe, the status of the tides, mud, ice, open hours of the Rabbit Creek rifle range, or access points. But if you check the stats and keep astute, there's nothing that beats instantly stepping into wide open spaces.

The best mode of travel is dependent on what the weather and tides have been doing recently. In the winter, xc skis or mountain bikes with studded tires work great.

Dad overlooking the ice bergs of Cook Inlet when we rode from our home in Oceanview to downtown via the 'flats.

Marbleized ice over mud.

The riding can be slightly technical with different types of snow, areas of brush, dirt, ice, etc ... but the unknown and variability is also what makes it fun.

Dad and Mt. Susitna in the background.

An ice berg balance test.

Heading downtown with skyscrapers in sight.

RyanGB.

Its nice to have the feeling of having to head back into civilization after just exploring so close to the city. We made a big loop back home via the roads and ironically felt much safer traveling on the 'flats.

Not a bad back-yard, eh?

Skiing Mt Susitna

One of my new favorite xc ski ventures this spring was up Mt. Susitna, or "Sleeping Lady". Susitna is one of the most recognizable mountains from Anchorage, although with a relatively remote starting point and long approach not many attempt this ski.

We took the long gradual route up the "North Ridge" along sleeping ladies back.

Tamra Kornfield (above with GPS in hand) put together this trip after years of stomping around the base the mountain near the Kornfield yurt and competing in the Susitna 100 mile ski race. A huge thanks to her Dad, Ed for flying us out there, having us stay at their yurt and to Tim Kelley for route advice and GPS coordinates.

We lucked out and had another perfect AK spring day. Here you can see a lake-side angle of Mt Susitna with Diana in the foreground.
Views of Mt Foraker and Denali (Mt "McKinley") were pretty darn nice...

Diana Johnson taking a ski break for some yoga mid-way up.

Conditions were rock solid one the snow crusted snowmachine trails. The terrain was gradual and in steeper sections we just hiked.
Sweet old school Atomics!

Ronski

Tamra and Katie. When we were in first and second grade, we were the two girls who chose to play soccer with the guys at school recess and became friends. It's been fun to reconnect and plan outdoor adventures together almost two decades later.

Katie Ronsse, Tamra Kornfield, Diana Johnson not too far from the summit.

It's hard to beat getting to spending time outside skiing in the mountains with good friends.

Winter Riding Johnson Pass

Most mountain bikers in AK know that Johnson Pass is a great ride in the summer/fall. But it can be just as incredible in the winter months too.

Apparently snowmachines are allowed to ride every other year on Johnson Pass and alternating years on Resurection. Since this year is a snowmachine year on Johnson Pass, the track was packed down solid enough for a fat-wheeled winter bike. Thanks to Holly Brooks for letting me borrow her Fatback while she was away racing, and to Rob Whitney (her husband) for making this little venture happen.

If you try this just be prepared for a little hiking and a few fun little river crossings along the way...

I'd recommend the "winter" route closer to the middle of the valley for times when the snowpack is unstable and avalanches can occur.

Be prepared for winter biking bliss!

I look forward to exploring many new areas via winter riding in years to come, including my favorite summer rides such as Lost Lake and Resurrection. Let us know if you have some favorite winter rides that are in good shape!