Spring Flings

As the temperature rises and the days only get longer, spring is a time to get ready for another season of exploring Southcentral Alaska.

This is a great time of year to take an early-season day hike, or even a short overnight trip, to get ready for the summer. And there is no shortage of locations close to home in the Valley to explore this spring.

"The spring and fall are my two favorite times of the year because you can get out and avoid the crowd like you have in the summer up here," said Travis Peters, an avid backpacker. "It's a great time of the year because you don't need to bring all the winter gear with you, even if you are planning to go overnight."

With little snowfall this year, many locations that usually are covered with the white stuff until May will be in prime shape later this month already.

That includes Hatcher Pass and its numerous hiking opportunities, from Archangel Falls to the Reed Lakes system. Because of the higher altitude, expect snow and cooler temperatures -- but you may also be lucky enough to get one last cross-country ski trip in as a result.

For an easy day trip, try the Crevasse Moraine trail system, located near Mile 2 Palmer-Wasilla Highway. Centrally located, this system is a good way for the family to get out after work and enjoy a brisk spring walk together. Hikes range from about a half-mile long up to almost two miles. There are a series of loops to the system, so you can decide how long or short you want your hike to be, and head out into the woods.

Those looking for a bit more of a spring challenge can head to Palmer and try one of three "intermediate" trails with plenty of altitude and attitude -- the Butte, Lazy Mountain and Matanuska Peak climbs.

The Butte has about 900 feet in elevation gain, and the view from the top is spectacular. Lazy Mountain is a bit more challenging than the Butte trail. Parts of the climb are very steep, but it is still "doable" by everyone in the family. To get there, follow the Old Glenn Highway and turn left on Clark-Wolverine Road. When you reach the "T" intersection, turn right and go until you see the Lazy Mountain Recreation Area parking lot.

The steepest and most difficult of the three Palmer "climbs" is Matanuska Peak. From the Smith Road trailhead, it is about a five-mile hike, but it includes an elevation gain of about 4,000 feet, making it a climb for experienced hikers.

You don't have to put a lot of sweat into the first outing of the spring, however. Simpler hikes abound in the Valley, and you certainly don't have to go to one of the main spots, either. Remember that hot fishing hole you discovered last year? Why not park and take off through the woods this spring, trying to spot similar holes along the creek you were too busy to find last summer?

Your spring outing just may reward you once the ice melts in the form of a previously undiscovered fishing spot.

"I like going from the mouth of Willow Creek up stream," Peters said. "You know that in a month or two, it'll be insane with people fishing there, but now, it's a decent hike because nobody else is there right now."

If you don't want to leave the immediate Valley for one reason or another, try walking on the bike routes of many of the local roads, such as the Parks and the Palmer-Wasilla highways. You could even turn it into a community service project of sorts by picking up some of the trash that got blown around a few weeks ago. Not only would you be getting out, you'd also be helping the community look better.

One of the best ways to feel like you are prolonging the season is by adding an overnight trip to your spring calendar. We cram so much camping into the three months of summer that by adding an early spring date and a late fall date, you can effectively make the season feel a few months longer.

"If you wait until the beginning of June and only go through August, you're wasting so much time up here," Peters said. "Other than 20 degrees, why not make your first trip April instead of May or June? Man, you live in Alaska. You should be taking advantage of what Alaska has all year, not just the summer. Summers are too short to get to see everything.

"This winter, a couple of us have been out almost every weekend," he added. "It was like 45 degrees some times this winter. We didn't use our snowshoes once, and I feel like we've already got half a season's worth of hiking in already."