ChillyChugach

11.9Mi/6:10:41/3,724ft/Plus one 400lb boulder UPDATED 2020 - See bottom of page    I woke up this morning not knowing that I was going to go scrambling, much less on Hidden Peak, much less try to connect the ridge between Hidden Peak/The Ramp.  Interesting how plans for the day evolve, eh?    Like 80% of my days off this summer/fall, the forecast called for rain showers.  That means I wake up, make coffee, go back and forth from the computer to the window, and wait for the sky to reveal itself.  It didn't look so bad! OK, I'm used to seeing this by now.    Since it didn't look SO bad, meaning that it still looked SORT of bad, I decided to stay close to home and climb a peak that had so far slipped underneath the radar - Hidden Peak.    Hidden Peak is connected to O'Malley via a ridgeline, and many a time at the O'Malley summit I have entertained the thought of continuing toward Hidden.  But every time, it just loo...

North & South Pioneer 9/2/2017 - Crisp Sunshine! 14.4Mi/8:10:02/7677ft gain     Since I opted for a short mountain day on Wednesday, my legs were feeling good to go for another long one come Saturday.  Pioneer fit the bill - I'd often contemplated climbing it, but been scared off many a time by the warnings regarding the true (north) summit.  Everything was coming together though: the weather, the day off, and my improved scramble skills since the last time I had wanted to attempt Pioneer.  Go time! Beautiful sunrise on the Pioneer Ridge Trail Beautiful sunrise on the Pioneer Ridge Trail Me walking in the morning sun.    I started up the Pioneer Ridge trail just before 7AM, and after an hour of climbing, emerged above treeline.  The sun was gorgeous, but there was a definite nip of fall in the air, freezing the path solid and casting frosty highlights across autumn hued tundra. It was also a bit breezy, so I do...

East Twin Peak 8/30/2017 - All Killer, No Filler 8.3 Mi/4:13:54/4544 ft gained    I had several goals with this hike: enjoy a sunny (for once) day off, keep it short to keep my IT band happy, and test out my chest mounted gimbal on a scramble.  Sounds like a job for East Twin! Obligatory Civic shot with the Twins lurking in the background    I'd climbed West Twin a few weeks ago and was quite pleased with how short the approach is.  Basically, you just park at Eklutna, head up the Twin Peaks Trail, pass one bench, pass another, and boom - just head over to the Twins.  Easy peasy! View from bench numero uno.  Bold is back there - in the cloud. The twins coming into view on the way to bench two. Bench two.  Take the trail on the right to climb Pepper Peak. Stream crossing and East Twinny. Oooohhh ahhhh it's getting nicer!    The standard route for East Twin follows the south gully, and this is wher...