Still time to get in some good skiing

PALMER — The majority of the snow in the central Mat-Su Valley is gone, but that doesn’t mean Valley residents have to pack away their cross-country skis quite yet.

Ed Strabel of the Mat-Su Ski Club reports good trail conditions on the Archangel Road Trail in the Hatcher Pass area.

“This year, with the large amount of snow we had, it’s been outstanding,” Strabel said Monday of the conditions.

Strabel said the Mat-Su Skill Club will continue to groom the trail, which opens the door for skiing weeks into May.

“We’re looking at skiing at least the next two weeks,” Strabel said, warning that could change with an influx of steady warmer temperatures.

Strabel said the best time to ski the trail is in the morning, right after the trail is groomed. Grooming is generally finished before the temperature reaches 32 degrees.

Strabel said the trail generally holds up until about 1 p.m., but that will change to noon in the coming days.

The quality trails are also attracting some of the top skiers in Alaska. Strabel said the Alaska Pacific University team, which includes Olympians Kikkan Randall and Holly Brooks, and Valley standout Kate Fitzgerald will train on the trail Wednesday and Friday morning this week. Fitzgerald is a graduate of Palmer High who is having great success on the national level.

For more about the Mat-Su Ski Club, visit matsuski.org.