If you decide to climb Flattop Mountain on June 21, you won't be alone.
The summer solstice is probably the mountain's most popular day. Anchorage residents and visitors alike want a special seat to watch the sun dip below the horizon ... at half past 11 or so. There are so many folks gathered atop Flattop on the longest day of the year, it's like its own community -- complete with tents, games and adult beverages.
It's hard to argue with the setting, but the crowd can be a bit of a pain for a "wilderness" outing. Too often, that's Flattop's curse: good access, relatively easy climbing and name recognition.
For a change of pace, go somewhere else in the Anchorage area for a bit of close-to-town wilderness. From paved paths that crisscross the city to thousands of acres of wide-open wildness, Anchorage is a parkland paradise.
The gem is Chugach State Park, Anchorage's 500,000-acre backyard playground. Chugach is home to Flattop, but it has, oh, a couple dozen other mountain peaks near to Anchorage without a waiting line to get to the top.
"We'd like to let people know there are other options," said Chugach acting superintendent Mike Goodwin. "We had weekends during the summer where we literally had rangers at the entrance (to Glen Alps parking lot) to turn people away. It was so gridlocked you couldn't get in there. Now we have an alternative to send people to."
Goodwin is referring to the recently refurbished Upper Huffman trail head parking lot.
Goodwin said rangers are encouraging mountain bikers and equestrian trail users to start at Upper Huffman, which is just down the roadway from the Glen Alps trail head off Sultana Drive. The trail-head area includes a 10-foot-wide hardened path and a new bridge.
"You can still get to all the places you can from Glen Alps without having to negotiate Toilsome Hill Road," Goodwin said.
Even if you decide to hike Flattop, don't be fooled by the notion that the most-hiked mountain in Alaska is just a walk in the park.
Every year people are rescued on the 3,500-foot peak. During June 2004, there were three rescues on three consecutive days. The trail climbs about 1,300 feet from the Glen Alps parking lot in about 1 1/2 miles, and it is especially steep near the summit and may require some rock scrambling.
Goodwin said he's always surprised at the age of some climbers and the footwear that others choose to wear.
"If you have young children, don't overextend them," he said. "It's a bit of a walk for young children.
"People really need to have proper foot gear. I've seen people up there in sandals, in flip-flops. It's still mountain terrain, and it gets pretty craggy up near the top. We see a lot of twisted ankles."
While the cautions about proper footwear and age-appropriate hikes apply anywhere within the park, Goodwin said there are many enjoyable hikes that don't get the attention Flattop does.
The park stretches from Girdwood in the south to Eklutna in the north. There is a $5 daily parking fee or a $40 annual pass at all the developed trail heads. The passes are available at many locations around town, including REI, the park headquarters at Potter Marsh and Sportsman's Warehouse.
Goodwin said there is excellent alpine hiking at Arctic Valley north of Anchorage.
Jim Renkert, a board member of the Anchorage Ski Club, agrees with Goodwin. The ski club operates the Alpenglow Ski Area during winter.
"It's the original Chugach Mountain recreation area," he said. "The area predates the state park by nearly 30 years. It's not nearly as busy or crowded as the Glen Alps area.
"There is some great ridge running up there. In the fall, the berry picking is wonderful. It just takes a little hike to get great views of Anchorage or of Ship Creek and the mountains of Chugach State Park."
Other close-to-town hikes worth considering include trails at Eagle River Nature Center, Wolverine Peak, Near Point, Little O'Malley Peak, Powerline Pass and Turnagain Arm Trail.
For those without the time or the ability to tackle the state park, the city's municipal parks are a good option. Anchorage has more than 220 miles of trails and nearly 11,000 acres of parkland.
Kincaid Park sits at the far west side of Anchorage near the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. The park is about 1,400 acres. The park can be reached from Raspberry Road or from the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, a multiuse trail that begins downtown. There are more than 35 miles of trails perfect for walking, hiking or mountain biking.
The park also is ideal for wildlife viewing, with lots of moose running around. The park is always open, but the gates close at 10 p.m. daily.
Far North Bicentennial Park and Hillside Park offer about 5,000 acres within the city. The rolling, forested hills are great for mountain biking or hiking. And, again, there are animals, including bears as the salmon begin to enter Campbell Creek.
"In Kincaid, Far North and even our major greenbelts -- Campbell Creek and Chester Creek -- we often see moose and even bears," said Jeff Dillon, Anchorage Parks and Recreation director. "People love to see the wild animals, but we want them to be cautious. We have had grizzlies as well as black bears right in town."
Special section editor Steve Edwards can be reached at 257-4316 or sedwards@adn.com.
