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.