Development of ski trails provides economic boost

PALMER — Back in 2010 when the Mat-Su Borough was planning for both downhill and cross-country skiing at Hatcher Pass, it put together a study of what that would do to traffic on roads in the area.

The estimate was the development would generate 1,300 trips per day on the roads when open. Those roads see more like 200 these days.

And while the borough has since split the development into multiple phases with downhill skiing somewhere off in the future, Nordic development has proceeded apace.

There are trails there. And as of this winter — and the official ribbon-cutting on Saturday — a new ski chalet.

The chalet is 4,000 square feet with in-floor heat and is twice the size the borough anticipated for its slim $1 million budget. It’s in addition to miles of trails the borough has constructed in the Government Peak Recreation Area over the past few years.

Amenities like the chalet and Nordic trails are also attractive to potential employers and residents, said Don Dyer, economic development director for the Mat-Su Borough.

“The competition-class Government Peak Ski Area is an important economic development resource not only because it will draw visitors to the Mat-Su, but also because it demonstrates to business investors and site selectors that the Mat-Su has quality community supported amenities for their employees,” Dyer said. “This is a key measurement used by companies when considering new business locations and it shows that the local government is invested in quality-of-life issues.”

What does all that Nordic ski development mean for the economy of the borough?

“We got folks, not a tremendous amount, coming out of Anchorage,” said Ed Strabel, president of the Mat-Su Ski Club.

He said Anchorage still has a lot of the state’s premier skiing, and it’s hard for the Valley to compete with Kincaid Park. That said, another viable option for skiing enthusiasts does mean increased traffic and the economic boost those visitors bring.

“A lot of them are looking for variety and there’s been a lot of times especially last year when conditions have been lousy in Anchorage,” Strabel said.

Occasionally, Strabel said, he’ll run into someone from out of state.

“One guy from New Zealand and another from Germany both were raving about it,” he said of the trails.

He said the largest benefit might actually be keeping Valley residents in the Valley as opposed to driving to Anchorage and spending money there. Strabel said the Government Peak trails are a draw for local competitions.

“We’ve had a number of competitions,” he said. “In fact, two weekends ago we had the Icicle Double.”

Two races over two days drew about 30 people each.

“Last year, and this year again, we’re going to be hosting the Colony Invite,” Strabel said. “We’ll have somewhere in the neighborhood of 250 skiers for that event.”

The high school competitors will come from Valdez, the Kenai Peninsula, maybe even Fairbanks. They stay overnight, which, though it might not mean a lot of hotel stays — the kids tend to sleep at the schools — it does mean quite a bit of money for Valley merchants.

That’s the sort of thing that gets the Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau excited.

“We are thrilled about those developments. We think it’s a great place to host not only skiing, but this weekend they’re doing snowshoeing classes and skijoring clinics,” MSCVB Membership Manager Justin Saunders said.

Tourism in the Valley tends to shift with the seasons, he said. Summer is usually the time for people from out of state.

“We get a lot of folks from Japan who come up to the northern parts of the Valley to view the northern lights,” Saunders said.

But the typical winter visitor is an Alaskan.

“We always encourage winter tourism out here in the Valley. This is where it’s at. It’s Alaska’s playground year-round,” Saunders said.

And, he said, the bureau is thrilled to see what the borough is up to at Government Peak.

“Everything is a plus,” he said. “Any addition that keeps people busy is a good thing in my book.”

Contact Andrew Wellner at 352-2270 or andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com.