If you had 10 days to run around Alaska in January what would you do?
 

Hey all!

I am enjoying my first winter in Alaska and I happen to have a friend from Atlanta, GA who is coming up to visit. We have 10 days to scamper around the state and give my friend a great taste of Alaska. I have been so busy working I haven't managed to get out myself so I thought I would trust in other Alaskans for advice

I was thinking about maybe two days on rented snow machines in Petersville, maybe 2 days in Girdwood and possibly a 2 or 3 day hike somewhere around the state. I also thought it would be cool to do a bit of winter skeet shooting but I think I would have to join a club or something before we would have access to that kind of stuff.

Thoughts ideas? He arrives on the 15th!

Well hello from a fellow Atlantan! Sounds like you have a great start there. Hey, if you have bucks, most definitely have K2 or someone give you a flight to a glacier.

I'd drive up to Sheep Mtn. and plan a late night on one of the good northern lights forecast to try to see them.

To shoot, check out Rabbit Creek and/or Birchwood to shoot, call 'em, they might have rentals.

Go up to Hatcher Pass to the Mother Lode for trails. In Wasilla, you can get your snow machines at Alaska Toy Rental.

Hey, any chance that your friend can bring some Stucky's Pecan Logs with him? I might be convinced to roll out the trap guns for a few of those gems!!! (I live really close to Rabbit Creek)

beer + outdoors every day! ice fishing, snowmachineing, beer hottub, northern lights.

Hello fellow Southerner! :-D

I am proud to say that both of us have already done a flight with a glacier landing as of last summer. What an absolutely amazing experience that was.

The Northern lights is a good idea, I will keep an eye on the forecast once he gets up here.

I was thinking one of our hikes should be in the park out to the old bus made famous by the movie "Into the Wild". We did a nice long 7 days hike last year in Denali National Park so it shouldn't be too bad. We would need to re-evaluate our gear however.

I need to call up Alaska Toy Rental and get reservations made. Gonna have to buy some gear though.

He hasn't been to Hatcher's Pass so that could be another good day or two of activities.

I am thinking at most 2 days in Girdwood and maybe a drive down to Seward just to taste the winter down there.

I can look into getting some of Pecan Logs for ya.

Hatchers Pass trails are still closed due to lack of Snow. I've been riding out at petersville a lot and they have the best snow so far. I'm goin up that weekend if you guys wanna get together up there. We could grab a beer at the forks roadhouse!

i love the forks roadhouse!! ya our snow has not been very impressive this year.

Thats for that information. It sounds like I am getting a pretty easy winter as far as my first winter goes. :-D

As of right now we were thinking of renting machines and going up to Petersville on Sunday and Monday. Probably staying the night at the Forks.

It would be fun to meet up though, the two of us would love some people to ride with who have experience. Snow is a whole new concept to me but both of us grew up fiddling with cars and motorcycles so we expect the learning curve to be simple.

My truck just became an Alaskan resident today.

New tags and registration :D

Snowmachines aren't too much different. The big difference is the throttle response and the steering. Sometimes they don't go where you steer them. :) I'm gonna try to stay up there Saturday and Sunday night so I can ride Sat, Sun, and Mon. Should be me and a couple of buddy's, but the the more the merrier! If you guys are lookin for a real nice place to stay call Gate Creek Cabins. Cabins are about 120 a night with a 2 night minimum but super nice.

We are going to aim to stay at the Forks Roadhouse although it wouldn't be too bad of a deal to just go back to Talkeetna late night.

We are booking rentals on Monday for the following Sunday and Monday. We would love a group to ride with since we are a bit nervous about our first outing. It would be nice to get up into the hills. I am getting a brand new camera just in time for all of this.

Rent one of the state park or forest service cabins.

Go up to Denali and hike out the Stampeded road (road that leads to the bus where that dumb ass stayed) there is a private cabin out there that the owner lets anyone stay at if they are not there if your intrested let me know and I can give you more exact location. I think I might even have the lat/long for it.

Extremely interested in more information!

ya that butcher baker cabin is a free one.

When I worked in Denali NP in 2002 is when I first heard about the "Squater's Cabin" as people would call it. I hiked out there with a friend and stayed the night. There was a sign on the door that said somethign like "We welcome you to stay here please treat this place as your own and maybe do some chores around the place or leave somethign for the next person to use"
Ever time I have gone up that way since I have hiked out and stayed there.

The lat and long are... OK have to find my old GPS.


I would take everthign you need to go winter camping minus a tent. Might think about buying a cheap plastic sled adn getting a few bundles of firewood to take out with you. It has been about 3 years since I have been up there so take that into accoutn to. There is a small wood stove in the cabin and bed a loft with another bed table chairs cooking stuff.

Stampede Road is on the left headed norht 13.8 miles past the entrance to Denali NP


OK it is off of Stampede trail on Eightmile lake the approx lat and long are:

See the little blue dot under the E in eightmile lake? That is about where the cabin is.

Cabin is on lake shore and the tundra getting out there can be knind of soggy I don't think that will be a problem this time of year though

Found on "Healy D-5 63K; AK", disk 5
DMS: 63° 53' 22" N, 149° 14' 38" W NAD83
DM: 63° 53.4' N, 149° 14.6' W NAD83
D: 63.889° N, 149.244° W NAD83
UTM: 389,945.5 M E, 7,086,478.4 M N Z6
MGRS: 6V UF 89945 86478
SP: 5,078,099.90 SFeet W 21,542,446.86 SFeet N UTS NAD83
PLS: SW¼ NW¼ Sec 12 T 12S R 9W PM Fairbanks 1910

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thanks! i will deff check this out!