Stuck inside? 3 Palmer leaders recommend these outdoor options

Winter in Alaska can be a mental and emotional challenge — especially if you’re new to the region or have not built a practice of getting outside in cold temperatures or that famous Matanuska Valley wind.

But a trio of Palmer business leaders believe that not only can you enjoy the outdoors despite winter weather, it’s specially because of it that you should head outside. Anne Thomas, owner of Aktive Soles, Tony Berberich, who owns Backcountry Bike and Ski and Lucas Parker, who leads the Mat-Su Ski Club, joined the Palmer Chamber of Commerce Jan. 13 for a virtual luncheon presentation on winter recreation options, and some tips and tricks for getting out there.

“This can be a hard time of year for people, so we took this opportunity to bring some community members to the table that have knowledge on these outdoor recreational opportunities to hopefully help all of you feel more comfortable and hopefully go out and enjoy it,” Ailis Vann, Palmer Chamber president, said at the meeting.

Getting out for winter recreation, the experts said, is about three things: knowing where to go, having the right equipment for your chosen activity and knowing what to wear to make yourself comfortable.

“The number one thing I’ll stress with everyone is make sure you’re prepared when you go out,” Parker said. “Make sure you’ve got the right equipment — and the right equipment isn’t just the equipment that’s going to keep you warm, but the equipment that is going to keep you comfortable and happy, so that when you pass other people on the trail you’re smiling and not crying.”

Both cross-country skiers and winter cyclists can visit Backcountry Bike and Ski to help them with equipment purchases, gear tune-ups and knowledge. Thanks to pandemic-fueled demand and supply chain problems, his shop has a truly limited selection of skis and fat tire bikes in stock, he said. But they can also help make sure gear purchased used is good to go or even take a look at what you’re planning to buy before you buy it.

“We’re more than happy to look at [the bike] you’re buying and either let you know if it’s not stolen or I mean, you know, if it’s a good deal, or at least if it’s worth it,” he said. “The same thing with skis. We’re happy to flex test them and make sure that it’s the correct ski for you.”

Fat bikes can be very expensive, costing thousands of dollars, but Berberich said even that’s not in your budget there are still ways to make a mountain bike safe for use on winter trails.

“Whether you’re writing a fat tire bike for a skinny tire bike, we do highly recommend studded tires, which we do have a few left [in stock], but not many,” he said, “But either way … there are a lot of different opportunities.”

For some fun riding, Berberich recommended cyclists check out Rabbit Slough, Matanuska River Park, the groomed mountain bike trails at Government Peak Recreation Area (GPRA) or the multi-use trails at the moose range.

Cross-country skiers can head out on multi use or groomed ski trails maintained by the Mat-Su Ski Club. A quick visit to the ski club’s website at MatSuSki.org will provide some updated grooming information for the miles of trails their volunteers maintain across the Valley. Top spots include GPRA, Archangel and Independence Mine in Hatcher Pass and the moose range, Parker said.

The club also offers beginner ski lessons and links to ski trail maps. That information, he said, is available on their website.

All three groups of users should keep good trail etiquette top of mind, Parker said. Runners and cyclists should stay off trails marked as ski-only, as it makes use less fun and maintenance much harder for the volunteers doing the work, he said. Users need to also remember to clean-up after their dogs.

“It just it just creates for the best user experience for not only you but the other people that are on the trails as well,” he said.

Winter runners can enjoy most trails and roads in the Valley year-round — as long as they have the right gear, Thomas said. That means spikes for shoes and visibility lights to make sure vehicles can see you when you’re running on or near the road during the long Alaska winter nights.

In addition to selling in her store the winter gear runners need, her staff also hosts the weekly Monday evening Happy Run, where a group of runners take a designated route through Palmer. Thomas also recommends Reflection Lake and the Matanuska River Park as top designations for packed multi-use trails.

Berberich, Parker and Thomas all noted the importance of wearing the right gear for your chosen sport, with a focus on layering non-cotton clothing and using warm socks, hats and gloves or mittens. Both Backcountry Bike and Ski and Aktive Soles stock a variety of options. Carrying a small pack on your run, bike or ski adventure can also let you easily add or remove an extra layer as needed and a spot to stash plenty of water and food. Parker also recommended buying and keeping an In-Reach GPS device in case you have an emergency in a location without a cell phone signal.

“There is no excuse to not be out there,” Thomas said.