McHugh Peak (4,311 ft.) Bear Valley route (North Ridge): 5.4 miles round trip, 2,300 ft. elevation gain. Difficulty: Class 2s4. My time: 2.5 hours Rabbit Creek routes (East Ridge): ~10 miles round trip, ~2,900 ft. elevation gain. Difficulty: Class 2+s4. … Read More

Gold Cord Lake Trail Less than 1 mile each way, ~600 ft. elevation gain. Difficulty: Class 1. My time: 1 hour round trip The Talkeetna Mountains of Alaska are a maze of lush alpine valleys, old mining roads, and black-stained … Read More

Purchased February 2018, reviewed August 2018, updated December 2018 According to Fjällräven, the original Greenland jacket was introduced by Åke Nordin in 1968. Fjällräven (pronounced “fee-ahl-rah-ven”) has produced various versions of their “most classic” climbing jacket ever since, in a … Read More

For some, skiing the Arctic to Indian traverse through western Chugach State Park is a bucket-list accomplishment. For others, it’s an annual tradition. Either way this 21-mile tour across ice bridges, through serene cottonwood groves, up tundra valleys between shining snow-laced peaks, and down a hair-raising luge to Turnagain Arm is bound to be an adventure.… Read More

Repair, Care and Maintenance Raft Care and Maintenance Packrafts are very low-maintenance watercraft, but following a few simple guidelines will help maximize your packraft’s lifespan and make your boat more enjoyable to use. Cleaning Cleaning packrafts removes contaminants that can … Read More

Using text adapted from Robert Marshalls “Alaska Wilderness: Exploring the Brooks Range” (1929) and images from Expedition Arguk (2013), “The World Beyond the World” aims to celebrate that most ancient and sublime of human pleasures: moving through a mysterious, beautiful, … Read More

“Backcountry skating” is the practice of hunting for wild ice, whether on on a river, lake, glacial lagoon, or inside an ice cave. Filmed in southcentral and southeast Alaska over the course of two winters, “Wild Ice” features nordic bladers, … Read More

Purchased May 2016 and replaced August 2017, reviewed November 2017, updated December 2017 One of my rules on Winterbear is that before reviewing a product, I’ll use it outside many times in a variety of conditions. However, occasionally a product … Read More