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…

March 28: Three years ago, Linda and I skied and camped on the Curry Ridge Rider trails near Trapper Creek. Ever since then, I have wondered if it would be possible to ski a big loop up and around the Tokositna River using those trails. When I recently read that the CRR had just finished creating such a loop, I couldn’t wait to ski it. Tim Kelley also has some good pictures of this trip (and many, many others).