|
Glen Alps Early
Season XC Ski Loop
1970's to 2012 |
| Name of Ski
Area: |
Glen Alps Early Season XC Ski Loop |
| Location: |
Glen Alps, Anchorage, Alaska |
| Type of Area: |
Cross Country Ski Loop |
| Dates of
Operation: |
1970's to 2012 |
| Who Built It?: |
Alaska State Parks, Chugach |
|
Elevation/Distance: |
Elevation: 2500' / Distance:
~2 km |
| Lifts: |
None |
| Facilities: |
Parking Lot, Outhouse |
|
History: |
A short loop, approximately 2
kilometer long, at Glen Alps near the base of Flattop Mountain
used to be a popular early season cross country skiing venue.
This location was often the first place where xc skiers could
get on snow near Anchorage. This trail was smoother and
more wind-protected than the Powerline Pass Trail.
During low-snow periods in
the Anchorage area, this was a very popular ski training venue.
Many skiers would be doing laps on this
short loop. UAA once hosted a race against UAF on this
loop during the time that Bill Spencer was the UAA ski coach.
Many time trials were staged here. Local skiers, high
school skiers and ski clubs like the Alaska Winter Stars and
APUNSC trained here. In 2003 the National Masters Cross
Country Skiing Championships had two races in this area that
finished on the lower portion of this loop.
This early season ski
loop began to be used less after GCI put a fiber optic line
along the Powerline Pass Trail. This work resulted in a
smoother trail and less snow was needed to ski on this route.
In 2011/2012 Chugach State Park constructed a new parking lot in
the middle of this early season ski loop. A paved access
road displaced part of this ski trail and this loop has not be
used for early season skiing since. |
| Sources of
Information: |
Tim Kelley |
|
|
~
PHOTOS ~
|
|
This photo shows the access
road, to a new parking lot. The road now replaces a hiking and
skiing trail. Races for the 2003 National Masters Championships
finished on the lower area of where this road was built.
Photo: Tim Kelley, 2016 |
 |
|
~
MAPS ~ |
|
The red line shows the Glen Alps "Early Season" or "Low Snow" Loop.
The X's show where the parking lot access road replaced the trail.
(Click on map to enlarge it) |
 |
|
Location of Glen Alps on
the east side of Anchorage, AK. |
 |
| Research
Correspondence |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Do
you have further information, stories or pictures that you would like to
contribute about this
skiing venue? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
