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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Oct 20, 2013 - 09:13pm PT
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Sounds idyllic EXCEPT for the climbing along the Seward Highway.
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fivesix
Trad climber
hope, alaska
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Oct 20, 2013 - 09:43pm PT
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I save the climbs near the road for rope soloing with good music and headphones. Theres a lot of nice stuff that is up and away from the road.
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briham89
Big Wall climber
san jose, ca
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Oct 20, 2013 - 10:00pm PT
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Alpinista55
Mountain climber
Portland, OR
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Oct 20, 2013 - 10:27pm PT
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I think my favorite thing about Alaska was always the view from the front door. Couldn't see Russia from here though, Hunter and Foraker were in the way.
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johnkelley
climber
Anchorage Alaska
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Oct 20, 2013 - 11:35pm PT
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Yeah Jim it's not really the place for a rock climber but the alpine climbing is amazing. Far, far better then anything in the lower 48 could ever dream of being
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Oct 21, 2013 - 12:37am PT
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Yes, the fishing is great up there...
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Oct 21, 2013 - 10:56am PT
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While in Anchorage treat yourself to halibut fish and chips at Mamma O's just across from AMH.
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fivesix
Trad climber
hope, alaska
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Oct 21, 2013 - 04:37pm PT
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How are those tors? I planned to climb them, but the rest of the group I was with preferred to sit around an RV and not do anything. Are they worth the drive from anchorage? I've been considering going back.
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Dolomite
climber
Anchorage
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Oct 21, 2013 - 06:59pm PT
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Ten days on the Harding Icefield: 1,000 square miles of ice & snow, zero people, no guidebook. I love living here!
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Oct 21, 2013 - 09:32pm PT
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Nice shot Dolomite! But you onow there's no dolomite in AK, don't you?
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 21, 2013 - 09:53pm PT
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Such a great place to grow up!
Why am I barefoot? Cause I hate shoes...I can't hike up mountains barefoot anymore though.. sigh
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Larry Nelson
Social climber
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Oct 21, 2013 - 10:17pm PT
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Thanks for the info Darwin, I guess it was the Tors that I flew over with a friend in his Helio-Courier. We didn't know about them, circled over several times and plan to return.
Your trip report to the Prindles is great. That is some good looking granite. Alaska has so many awesome area's away from the road system. Unfortunately, Alaska has a short window of weather, the price of not being over run by people.
On the subject of hiking, a short time back, I went to a slideshow in Anchorage given by Dick Griffith to promote his new book.
http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/new-book-gives-wilderness-legend-dick-griffith-attention-he-deserves
I don't personally know Dick, he must be up in his 80's and is famous in Alaska for hiking virtually everywhere in the state. Friends of mine have hiked several times with Dick in the Brooks Range, Chugach, Wrangells etc. I have seen his name in NPS cabin logbooks and summit registers all over Alaska. He has been everywhere in Alaska by foot. His son Barney, an acquaintance, is a world class mountain runner who places high in the open division of local mountain races. Barney must be up into his 50's now. Great people.
First time I've tried a link, but doesn't seem to cooperate. If it doesn't work, Google 'Dick Griffith', the first link is Craig Medred's article in the Alaska Dispatch. It will inspire you.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 21, 2013 - 10:23pm PT
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Ole Blackass has a new book? Cool..(hope he put that story in there it's an amazing one..one of many)
He's a deserved Alaskan Legend!
Did a 20+ mile day hike with the guy once..I was a bit worn out at the end.. I was 20+ he was 60+ and seemed ready for another 20+ miles that day.
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Larry Nelson
Social climber
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Oct 21, 2013 - 10:54pm PT
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Hey Climbski2,
I camped atop Mt Marathon about 4 or 5 years back, the night before the July 4th race. Dick and (I assume)his wife hiked up that morning to watch their son Barney at the turnaround at the top. He was moving slow to escort his wife, but in his shorts you could see his legs were those of a young and fit man. Such a down to Earth guy and delightfully old school.
In the article on Dick that I linked, I noticed the author Medred was getting in swipes about McCandless. I guess he and Krakauer have a difference of opinion over that, heh. They're both smarter, better writers and more opinionated than me, so I am just entertained.
Griffith is such an inspiration, and in his own unique way he was funny as Hell at that slide show.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 21, 2013 - 08:33pm PT
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Never read the Krakauer book. Kinda got turned off by his account of the Everest tragedy.
Last I heard they figured McCandless died of lethargy and psychosis brought about by eating way too much of a normally generally harmless but mildly toxic wild plant. ( I forgot which one)The toxicity built up over time.
BTW If you think that snowing means it's cold outside in winter you did not grow up in Alaska.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Nov 21, 2013 - 08:40pm PT
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BTW If you think that snowing means it's cold outside in winter you did not grow up in Alaska.
True dat! Spent a winter on the North Slope. Boy, going home to the
Mat-Su was like going to Hawaii. Of course the North Slope was Hawaii
if you were coming from Bearflanks.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Nov 21, 2013 - 09:06pm PT
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Alaska has so much that i love....physical beauty, vast wilderness, superb mountains and extraordinary wildlife. Unfortunately....as the "last wilderness" and the "end of the road" it has attracted many who are not the best representatives of the human race....exploiters and those with nowhere else to go.
Some great people live there attracted by the "quality of life" Alaska offers, but they are most definetly in the minority.
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Larry Nelson
Social climber
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Nov 22, 2013 - 07:04am PT
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climbski2 wrote:
BTW If you think that snowing means it's cold outside in winter you did not grow up in Alaska.
LOL, ain't that the truth. It has to get warm enough to snow.
I remember working in Barrow a few years ago in the winter. One day the temperature shot up to -20 F. All of the young kids were outside playing. My buddy and I imagined the mothers of town telling their kids. "It's a beautiful day, you kids go outside, get some fresh air and play".
It's called child abuse anywhere else.
Donini wrote:
Some great people live there attracted by the "quality of life" Alaska offers, but they are most definetly in the minority.
You are right about that. There are some great outdoor adventurers, but they are outnumbered. As you know, AMH is the place to meet them.
Canadian friends have told me that if you didn't have to pass through border customs you would still know when you were in Alaska. In Alaska, their junkyards are in their frontyards. A "By golly no one will tell me what to do here", attitude.
But there is good rock climbing (just not along the Seward Highway). A couple of shots from climbing near Arch Angel Valley with Steve Garvey several years ago in the Talkeetna's. RIP my dear friend.
I like the crescent wrench on Garv's rack.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 22, 2013 - 08:34am PT
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Thanks for the Garvey pics. One of the most infectuously stoked guys a person could have ever tied in with. There is a guy who deserves his own thread and more.
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