For the three years that we lived on Anchorage's East Side, we had a great view of Wolverine Peak. Each year I made it a goal to crust ski around the Wolverine, but each year I was thwarted by poor timing or poor route choice. This year, I completed the

I started at Glen Alps and skied up the Middle Fork valley to Williwaw Lakes. Overnight low temp was 33 degrees, but the crust was in great shape. To get into the Middle Fork valley, I skied up on a shoulder of the north-facing slope (where there was mor

After reaching Williwaw Lakes, I headed northeast to the Pass between the Middle Fork and North Fork valleys. This photo is looking back at Williwaw Lakes after starting the climb to the pass.

At the pass, looking down at where I just skied up.

I dropped down the pass on the other side took this photo looking back from the middle of Long Lake.

From Long Lake, it was fast cruising down the valley.

The plan was to head down the North Fork valley and then traverse across to the saddle just before Near Point (Near Point is at the end of the ridge in the picture). The only problem with that plan? No Snow! Fortunately, I had my running shoes in my pa

Looking up the North Fork towards Long Lake from Near Point

View of Anchorage from Near Point. From here, I skied down a way, then traversed southuntil I hit the Wolverine Peak trail. There the snow was soft and the trail was narrow, so I took off my skis and hiked.

At the intersection of the Wolverine and Near Point trails, there was a sign warning that there is a brown bear with two cubs - right in the area I just skied! Wish I'd known that a little earlier.

From there until Prospect Height trailhead, the trail was skiable in most places, but a few bare spots as well. (On the route drawn on the map, the red is where I skied, the blue is where I hiked)

From Prospect Heights I skied back up to Glen Alps in snow that was getting very soft. I wasn't the only guy punching through the soft snow. This grizzly track is about 18 inches deep - slow going for those big guys. It didn't come out very well in the