A quick peek around the internet today revealed that a lot of skiers and bikers were out on the back-country trails of Alaska getting in one last training run/ride/ski before the Susitna 100 in two weeks. Looks like most of them were on the Su 100 course somewhere between Point Mackenzie and Luce’s Lodge. It’s great to see so many people getting out of Anchorage to discover all the great trails in Alaska.
Bill, Rob and I also got out of town for a long back-country skate ski this weekend, but we went looking for something a little different. We decided on the Curry Ridge Riders Tokositna Loop. When Tim, Tim, Benji and I did this loop in 2008, we dubbed it “the best ski loop in Alaska.” The Curry Ridge Riders groom amazing trails. The loop has close-up views of Peters Hills, theTokositna River, the Tokosha Mountains, and the Chulitna River, not to mention the Alaska Range looming large over everything. It is simply a spectacular 45 mile loop. I hadn’t been back in three years, so I was really looking forward to doing it again.
The new snow this past week, combined with heavy sno-go traffic, made the trail a bit soft. That, combined a headwind much of the way and some pretty good hills, ensured that we were plenty tired by the end – just what we came for. The scenery was spectacular and the snowmobilers were all very friendly. Many even gave us a thumbs-up as they went by.
Here is a GPS track of our ski.
It is still the best groomed ski loop in Alaska. If you go, be sure to thank the Curry Ridge Riders with a grooming donation.
Thanks to Rob for bring the camera…
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