Chill on the hill

HATCHER PASS — You don’t have to be an outdoor sports legend to blaze your own winter trails.

That’s the message from organizers of the seventh annual Winter Trails Day, which kicks off Saturday at Hatcher Pass. What began as a loosely organized gathering to promote winter sports and activities in the Valley has evolved into a large-scale extravaganza. Along with sledding and cross country skiing, there is beginner instruction in Nordicski, snowshoe and skating, along with avalanche survival training.

The best part is it’s all free.

“The whole idea started out as kind of something we were working on with the local cross country ski organization,” said Warren Templin, an outdoor recreation specialist with the Mat-Su Borough since 1986. “The whole emphasis is to get people outside in the winter and try their equipment, and to get new people out who had never done it before.”

Over the years, the event has grown from drawing about 50 people in 2005 to more than 250 last year, he said. And the variety of activities has also grown. This year, attendees can enjoy free cross country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding and other favorite outdoors sports. The kicker, Templin said, is for those who either don’t regularly participate or are unfamiliar with the winter sports, they can learn on loaned equipment.

From beginning Nordic ski instruction to downhill lessons, a cross-section of Valley and state agencies are making sure all the bases are covered, said Jack Mosby, vice president of Alaska Trails.

“Winter Trials Day was set up to get people out and about in wintertime and to give them exposure to other activities,” he said, adding for those procrastinators out there, “there’s no excuse to not participate. All the equipment’s available for free, the lessons are free.”

Although the weather in the Wasilla and Palmer areas has been windy and warm the past few days, Templin said conditions at Hatcher Pass are ideal for winter fun.

“I was just up at the site and it’s in really good shape,” he said. “And it’s supposed to be getting snow all week.”

With free parking at most of the Alaska State Parks areas, the Winter Trails Day organizers will also help keep people warm with hot chocolate and cider, Templin said.

“It’s just a wonderful place,” he said, adding that even locals don’t visit Hatcher Pass in the winter as much as they could. “It has one of the nicer sledding hills in the Valley. We’ve been working on getting a lift there over the last couple of years, but it hasn’t quite made muster yet.”

While the borough continues to work toward creating more commercially viable skiing at Hatcher Pass, Templin is looking out for Valley residents.

“So often in these mega projects the local folks are overlooked,” he said. “What about the local folks? Where are they going to recreate? And people don’t always have a ton of money. You can buy a used pair of skis for $10 or $15 and get out there and enjoy it. Right now, it’s really gorgeous out there.”

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.