first time visit to Anchorage questions
- Thread starter Indy Boy
- Start date
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EagleRiverDee
Well-known member
That's risky. April is one of those toss-up months where sometimes we have spring break up and sometimes it waits until May. We've had such a weird weather year this year that I wouldn't be surprised to see April be a warm one. That said, there should be snow up North. There is a place called "Alaska Toy Rental" that rents all kinds of stuff, snowmobiles included. Their gear is all fairly new and in good shape, as best I can see when we drive past it. Wasilla is about 30 miles north of Anchorage but you'd have to pass through there anyway if you were headed north to ride, like up at Petersville. So far as renting in Anchorage itself, there is Alaska Snowmobile Safaris. Seems like they do the run down to Spencer Glacier and some other spots as guided tours, also, if you'd rather have someone show you around. But you could probably holler out here and at the other snowmobiling sites and get some folks to agree to take you out with them...provided there is some snow then.
Good news is, it's snowing right now, and forecasted to snow for the next 3 days! Finally!!!
www.alaskatoyrental.com
http://www.snowmobile-alaska.com/
Good news is, it's snowing right now, and forecasted to snow for the next 3 days! Finally!!!
www.alaskatoyrental.com
http://www.snowmobile-alaska.com/
Hey Dee! I hear you all may be heading to Eureka this weekend. I'll be interested to hear how it was. We're going to take our chances south....if Turny is socked in, we may keep going to Lost Lake.
Dee gave great information. If you decide to make a trip up the last weekend April, and it turns out to be too late for riding, make sure you plan on attending the SnoX, Hill Climbs, HillX races at Alyeska in Girdwood. I believe the dates are April 30 - May 2.
Dee gave great information. If you decide to make a trip up the last weekend April, and it turns out to be too late for riding, make sure you plan on attending the SnoX, Hill Climbs, HillX races at Alyeska in Girdwood. I believe the dates are April 30 - May 2.
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EagleRiverDee
Well-known member
It was GREAT! We put 50+ miles on the machines, had sun nearly the entire time (a brief snowstorm interrupted the sun for just a few minutes, then blew back out) and found some really fun stuff to play in. We took the outer loop trail rather than heading up Monument, and then took the Little Nelchina river valley back quite a ways. We found some decently deep stuff to practice carving, the old man got in some really good boondocking and hill climbing. Got 81 pictures and video myself, and he took a few also. I think he plans on sharing them at work tomorrow so you'll probably get copied! We wish you guys could have come with us. You would have had deeper snow than we did (we found places with about 3 or 4 feet is all) but we had all that sunshine!!! And the snow was so forgiving. We just had a ball carving and I got to practice my side-hilling.
And the scenery was gorgeous. We saw a flock- literally- of ptarmigan, also. Must have been 50+ birds right in one area. I took some pictures but they are so well camouflaged it is hard to find them in the photos. We saw tracks for just about everything- moose, wolf, rabbits, and unidentifiable small critters.How was Turnagain? The old man only told me that it was deep and that you had some sun break through for about an hour. You stay down low in the trees, or go up over the top? How deep was it? Got pics?
Judging from your pictures, you guys definitey had better weather than we did. Turny easily had 3ft fresh if not more. We didn't venture more than a mile from the parking lot and still had a blast. I brought a guy I work with who had never ridden before, so we tried to stick to areas that had already been travelled. The sun did poke out for about an hour providing decent light. The rest of the day was pretty much flat light and snowfall. Here's a short vid when the weather broke:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwG0vElF-tE
I'm putting together a DVD for Tom with footage from this trip and our last one back on 2/27. I'm sure he'll pass it around the office.
We definitely didn't entertain going up and over...too worried about the snow instability. Plus, with the amount of snow and the fact Tom and I were on short tracks, it probably would've been a feable attempt anyway. Not too mention the newbie I brought with would've just laughed at the sight of making that climb.
We would love to get together and plan a trip before winter is over. I'm hoping it lasts well into April because I think our weekends are pretty much tied up for the rest of March.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwG0vElF-tE
I'm putting together a DVD for Tom with footage from this trip and our last one back on 2/27. I'm sure he'll pass it around the office.
We definitely didn't entertain going up and over...too worried about the snow instability. Plus, with the amount of snow and the fact Tom and I were on short tracks, it probably would've been a feable attempt anyway. Not too mention the newbie I brought with would've just laughed at the sight of making that climb.
We would love to get together and plan a trip before winter is over. I'm hoping it lasts well into April because I think our weekends are pretty much tied up for the rest of March.
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EagleRiverDee
Well-known member
Nice video! The snow definitely looks great. I'm hoping for snow through April also- the best riding we had last year was in April. The best riding we've had this year was yesterday, but I'm always one to try and top that! Hopefully we can all get together for at least one good outing before the season is over.
