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Lake Otis / South Chester Creek Ski Trails

1910's to 1950's
Name of Ski Area: Lake Otis and South Chester Creek Ski Trails
Location: Anchorage, Alaska to the south of Chester Creek in the area that is now mid-town Anchorage.
Type of Area: Primitive trails used for winter travel.
Dates of Operation: 1910's to 1950's (estimated)
Who Built It?: Early Anchorage  homesteaders.
Base/Vertical Drop:

Unknown
Lifts: None
Facilities: None
History: In the early days of Anchorage skiers would travel south of the established town site of Anchorage.  They would cross Chester Creek and follow primitive trails and pioneer roads to places like Lake Otis and Spenard Lake / Lake Hood.  These old ski routes would eventually give way to highways and subdivisions as Anchorage expanded south from the downtown/ Ship Creek area.
Sources of Information:

Anchorage Museum of History and Art - exhibits
Photos:

Does anyone have pictures of skiing on early Anchorage ski trails that they would like to contribute to ALSAP ?

~  PHOTOS  ~
Anchorage Museum of History and Art - Exhibit Photo
Skiing near Lake Otis in 1925.

[Photo credit: AMHA Delaney Collection AMRC General Photo File.]

~  MAPS  ~

This large scale topo map from the 1950's shows the relatively undeveloped area to the south of downtown Anchorage.  Lake Otis and Lake Spenard are shown.

(click on this map to expand it)

This more recent zoomed in topo map shows subdivisions that surronded Lake Otis and consumed the trails skiers used in 1925 to reach this lake.

(click on this map to expand it)

 

 

Do you have further information, stories or pictures that you would like to contribute about this ski area?