Greetings to Alaska from a German journalist! Carpooling to the trailhead is highly recommended. And there are so many stories of hikers and berry pickers being harassed by residents up there. Others suggested that the MOA had grown to believe that a judge or jury could perceive a lawsuit pitting the municipality against a single landowner as a David and Goliath situation. If you asked people what the largest cities in the US are, few would guess Anchorage. Drive about two miles past the Alaska Zoo and turn right onto Hillside Drive. There are many unofficial trails, game trails, and old inholding trails in this area. Locations of several Stealthcam game cameras operated by Pugh. This smaller trail switchbacks uphill until it gets above the V-shaped cut bank of McHugh Creek and then parallels the creek all the way back to McHugh and Rabbit Lakes, beneath the Suicide Peaks. 6:30 PM-8:00 PM. Great views!!!!! The routes marked on my map are really just suggestions, and its up to you to find your way through this collection of shallow ridges, rocky outcrops, and tundra slopes. Find the best bear viewing spots by season. He rushed to the Bird Valley Trailhead to aid volunteers from Alaska ATV Adventures in rescuing Knudsen. Meacham quickly summarized the state of the lawsuit: Friends of the Stewart Trail had grown to over a hundred members, and had assembled a great quantity of notarized statements and other documents establishing decades of trail use. The Portage Valley was literally shaped by glaciers and today is a perfect spot for exploring. After a quick call, he agreed to an interview. Wildlife Viewing. ", "Jesse Aaronsen's review mistakes Canyon Road trailhead for this one. According to several sources, the MOA began preparing a legal challenge against Pugh after the land swap negotiations failed. Anchorage residents have thousands of photos of themselves, their friends, and their children using the Stewart Trail in all seasons. Even in a town where comfort with firearms is the norm, some residents found Cavanaughs postsand his increasing desire for confrontationunsettling. Bear Valley: Golden View Trailhead has great access to McHugh Peak, and view from ridge is one of the best view of Anchorage and Chugach mountains. If Pughs purchase were simply a long-term investment, there would appear to be little incentive to alter the status quo. My name is Paxson. This is an easy to moderate 3 to 3.5 mile hike depending on the route you take on the descent. But that would require a vote of the Anchorage Assembly, and one Assembly member told the Landmine that secession attempts would be dead in the water. Families walked dogs, jogged, berry-picked and ambled into the tundra for panoramic views of the city and the mountains beyond. It all seemed like so much work. There is one section of the trail that becomes singletrack. The drive itself is only 45 minutes, but once you get there, you'll want to spend more time photographing and exploring. Best Vacation Value 1,048 Recommended Bus Tours It is unclear what answer Kelly received, but documents suggest that Traffic had their own internal answer: directions from above had come down after all. The walls inside Whiteheads home were covered with prints of Alaska paintings, and chunks of jade quarried by Ivan Stewart sat on the windowsills. It makes me really angry that this has gone on so long, upstanding people in our community such as Nancy Pease has been attacked and that Pugh and Cavanaugh have been allowed to bully the public. From here, you can head up the steep and winding, Arctic Valley Road. Ivan and Oro Stewart occupy a middle ground in Alaska history: not quite famous enough for the history books, but so impactful that the ripples of their adventurous lives are still visible throughout the state. Others thought that Pugh wanted to change municipal policy related to trail development and park access requirements for new developments. Whatever you guys are doing, keep doing it. Our picks for the best tours and experiences during your Alaska Cruise. And I said Wow, cause Ive been walking up here since the late 70s or early 80s. Moreover, Pughs gate now blocked access to the original Stewart Homestead land now owned by the Alaska Zoo and Alaska Botanical Garden, as well as large tracts owned by the MOA Heritage Land Bank and the State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The Eagle River Nature Center, located just 45 minutes from downtown Anchorage on the northeast side of 500,000-acre Chugach State Park, provides an excellent starting point for hikes, nature walks, and wildlife viewing. Oro passed away in 2002. Boy! In one Instagram post detailing an attempt to climb Ruby, Cavanugh explains that he has decided to name the peak Mattanaws Peak, after himself. But in the case of the Stewart Trail, evidence of historical use seems to be overwhelming. We have several options. Which one is right for you? Pugh later repeated his accusations to the audience of an Anchorage crime town hall hosted by Lt. Five-time champion and record holder at Bird Ridge. Sign at the Honey Bear parking lot, photographed November 29, 2019. Insider tips to pick the best Alaska cruise. Pugh, who repeatedly declined to comment for this article, stood at the front of the downstairs meeting space under a giant banner reading RESPECT. As a resident of Anchorage who previously had not hiked these trails-Im inspired to begin hiking them this coming season! The narrow, unpaved roads that lead up to a trailhead there can be. The Bear Valley area is a hikers paradise! Proof: your dead end problem. Highlights plus less visited destinations. bushwacking thru alders and devils club). This is the only part of the hike that can feel tedious, though the slogging is tempered by fantastic views up the Rabbit Creek drainage toward Ptarmigan and the Suicides. I dont recall her telling anyone to leave. The Honey Bear lot quickly created problems, both for would-be trail users and nearby residents. Discover the optimal month due to daylight, temperature, and rain. This 2 mile-long, family-friendly trail, which begins 90 minutes south of Anchorage at the far end of the Whittier Tunnel, remains the only easy way to see Portage Glacier on foot. The classic Alaska Cruise, offered by such companies as Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. The fight for the Stewart Trail is about more than a gate. The Rabbit Creek route combines a fast approach, breezy backcountry travel on open tundra andperhaps best of alladequate and uncontroversial parking at the Rabbit Lake trailhead. Goose Lake Park, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA, Chuck Albrecht Softball Complex, Elmore Road, Anchorage, AK, United States, Wolverine Trail, Anchorage, AK 99516, USA, 13101 Glen Alps Rd, Anchorage, AK 99516, USA, 6998 Raspberry Rd, Anchorage, AK 99502, USA, 6001-6225 Kalmia Dr, Anchorage, AK 99507, USA, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), April 6: Bicentennial Park: North Bivouac, Bicentennial Park: North Bivouac Trailhead. Big ship or small ship? From there take Clarks Road all the way to the end of the road. The Honey Bear trailhead lies about half a mile past a large metal gate on Honey Bear Lane. I can't give it the five stare ratings it deserves, maybe we can all get together and change things back to the way they should be! Because it is south-facing in a high-wind area next to the ocean, this route is often fully snow-free as soon as early May. The legislature approved $100,000. Local favorites for half-day hikes include Bloods Ridge and Inspiration Point. From the trailhead, the clearly-signed trail begins at the parking lot and switchbacks through dense alder toward the broad shoulder of McHughs north ridge. An internal June 13, 2016 email from Traffic Safety Division Manager Langley states, I believe our position has been consistent on the gating of public roads: Answer = No. However, in a message later that day to Fire Marshall Hill, Langley speculates that their decision may be overruled from above: Directions from above didnt alter the MOAs rejection of the proposed gate, but in late 2016 the MOA Traffic Department announced an ambitious new signage program along several upper Bear Valley streets, including Honey Bear Lane and Snow Bear Drive. Still some snow patches on the mountain. 2) 5 cars only for McHugh this is ridiculous. Snow Bear Lane is a public access road and illegally blocked. Violators would be issued $20 tickets. At one point, Pugh invited members to voice any opposition to an obscure proposition, which he identified only by number and refused to describe. Private Tour: Anchorage 3-Hour Tour 31 Recommended Bus Tours from $623.57 per group (up to 12) Sunset City Tour 16 Bus Tours from $149.00 per adult LIKELY TO SELL OUT* Wildlife and Glaciers with a walk in the Rainforest 173 Bus Tours from $129.00 per adult 2022 Wilderness Wildlife Glacier Experience. No, no, no, they never had a problem with people going up there! But Pugh and Cavanaugh werent homesteaders or pioneers. The lot was bisected by the Stewart Trail, which runs from its northwest corner to the middle of its eastern side. Make sure you bring your camera, there are pullouts the entire way up with stunning views of Anchorage, Cook Inlet and on a clear day, Denali (Mt. 99516, But Cavanaugh almost immediately developed a hostile relationship with Stewart Trail users. Difficulty: Moderate Distance: 2 miles. People darted in and out of small huddled groups, yelled, and talked over a grimacing Pugh. Melissas Monthly fhike. Over the subsequent years, Pughs gate has withstood repeated demands from the Municipality to tear it down, the ire and defiance of his neighbors, and the early stages of a lawsuit. Traveling to the East from Bird Creek Pass will lead you to Grizzly Bear Lake and Moraine Pass. At the end of the article, Cavanaugh claims to have evidence of likely corruption within Anchorage up to perhaps the state level. Neither the alleged corruption nor the nature of the evidence are specified. This piece tries to set the impression that landowners in the vicinity of Stewart Trail endorse open access. He appears to be walking his dog. Meanwhile, HOA members suddenly found themselves financially responsible for an increasingly popular de-facto state park trailhead. Within a few minutes, you will already be high enough to get a birds eye view of downtown Anchorage and across the Inlet to the Mat-Su Valley. Ivan and Oro married in Alaska in 1942, at the height of WWII. While they are fun to explore, unless you know the area well it would probably be fastest to stay on the main trail. If it were me and I had bought that property in the first place I would have done a little more research. because upper hillside voters ACTIVELY VOTED to keep it that way. Visit September to April to see the Northern Lights. Any claim that use of the Stewart Trail has not been continuous or open for decades would self-evidently fail the red face test. With these two conditions for an easement by prescription clearly met, Pugh made an interesting claim: trail users may have used the Stewart Trail openly and continuously, but did so with express permission of the Stewarts. Use our calculator to find out, Stay casual, dress in layers, and get proper footwear, View All Southcentral & Interior Towns on a Map, Cruises depart Juneau or Sitka. 2023 The Alaska Landmine. This meant that the use could not be considered hostile, and therefore conditions for an easement were not present. Starting elevation: 2090ft, Ridge 3150 ft. Difficulty: Class 2(c4), Rabbit Creek routes (East Ridge): ~10 miles round trip, ~2,900 ft. elevation gain. Take Kings Way to valley. 55 Ways to the Wilderness, published in 1972, advises readers that hikers are welcome and that the road makes a lovely walk. Between 2002 and 2010, the Chugach State Park Access Inventory, Rabbit Creek Trail Plan, and Hillside District Plan all refer to the Stewart Trail as a public access corridor. In a 2016 Alaska Trails Survey, over seventy people stated that they had openly used the Stewart Trail for decades. In June 2017, custom No Parking signs citing AMC 90.30.040 were installed along the roads. Local conservation giant Great Land Trust (GLT) commissioned an assessment of the easement, and Pugh indicated that he would entertain an offer. Smoked salmon and cans of King Street hefeweizen sat on the table, and an aged golden retriever ambled between guests in the packed living room. Map showing Cavanaugh property and the Stewart Trail. Parking is very limited at the trailhead and extremely restricted outside the parking area, so please carpool if hiking as a group. ADN Reporter Devin Kelly asked the Traffic department that exact question in July 2017. Welcome to Rabid Creek, he said. Bear Valley, Fascinating read and quite thorough. The emails, the blog posts, the relentless confrontations. Or, they can let their legacy be one of ill will. Pugh could bring the matter to civil court, but as Anchorage Assemblymember Christopher Constant told the Landmine, an incredulous judge could tell Pugh that the trail is public and order him to remove the gate. The assumption that that park tax in some way fixes the problems of trash and parking is a little presumptuous. Campbell Airstrip Trailhead, Anchorage, AK 99507, USA . It has received 27 reviews with an average rating of 4.7 stars. Rabbit Creek Trailhead; Grandview Trailhead; Turnagain Arm Turnagain Arm Trail. Those who park on nearby streets risk tickets from APD, though enforcement is uneven and the legality of the No Parking signs and tickets has been questioned. The brilliant and eccentric couple were passionate about geology, and played a key role in the development of Alaskas jade industry. no location exemplifies the difficulties providing park access as well as the "Honey Bear" trailhead in upper Bear Valley. But GLT determined that the Stewart Trail easement had little monetary value and Pugh balked at their offer, which was reportedly in the low tens of thousands of dollars. Parking lot, Blueberry Loop Trail, Anchorage, AK 99516, Northern Trailhead, Seward Hwy, Anchorage, AK 99516, Blueberry Loop Trail, Anchorage, AK 99516, 10471 Honey Bear Ln, We were the 4th house up there at the time. My mom grew up hiking these mountains, I grew up hiking these mountains, and now my kids are growing up hiking these mountains in the Alaskan spirit where folks cheer them on and enjoy the next generation growing up in the outdoors enjoying the adventure. Secondly, to say that the homeowners are somehow at fault for creating the situation of littering and illegal parking is asinine. Lock on Frank Pughs gate, photographed December 2, 2019. And any sighted individual who either visited the Pugh property in person or viewed it via satellite imagery would have plainly seen a well-developed and heavily-used trail crossing it. There was an audible gasp in the room. Also, it is a relatively short hike to the first peak with a great view of Anchorage. From the top of Point 3,200, follow the crest of the ridge 1.9 miles to the summit of McHugh. Very interesting read! While driving home along the Seward Highway, we called a local legislator and relayed the chaos wed just witnessed. My notes on the summit pinnacle itself are in the Bear Valley route description above. Problems with public access have proliferated across Chugach State Park, from the South Fork Eagle River Trailhead to Mt. The information I share here is based on my research and limited personal experience. Take a left on Kullberg, following it through switchbacks, then turn right on Malcolm Dr. Full-day adventures can be found at Wheeler Lake and Bull Run Lake. In 2018, as it became increasingly clear that the Municipality and Great Land Trusts negotiations with Pugh had failed, the group began fundraising for a potential legal challenge against Pugh and Cavanaugh. Melissas Monthly fhike. Share this: . Pugh began prominently displaying a large revolver on his hip, and reportedly began driving close behind nervous hikers with his truck. Looking down the east ridge of McHugh Peak toward Rabbit Lake and the Suicide Peaks. This is a shame, because the location provides access to a beautiful section of ridgeline upRead more . Free personal GPSdriven travel guide to Alaska. But there it is at #4at least, if youre going by land area alone. He continued: Either he feels like the law is unfair or he wants money.. Alaska Bear Valley, Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 58 min to complete. And Cavanaughs blog reflects a genuine, if somewhat cheechako, appreciation for the wildness of his adopted home. ", "Trail was steep for the first mile and a little muddy in places. According to his resume Pugh spent two decades working in Louisiana, primarily for Schlumberger, until arriving in Alaska in 2006 to work for BP at Prudhoe Bay. Over time, public access to parks becomes heavily concentrated at a few locations, such as Glen Alps, and overcrowding at those sites is then cited as a cautionary tale by those seeking to stifle access elsewhere. In emails, Pugh frequently refers to unauthorized trail users as trespassers engaged in criminal trespass. These guys just sound like two outstanding citizens of Alaska. Carpooling to the trailhead is highly recommended. It requires only a bit more elevation gain than the north ridge route (2550 ft. vs. 2320) and far less than the McHugh Creek route (4,300 ft). All trails are moderate with wonderful view. Heres your chance LM Team: Sue Pugh for slander. Nobody wants crime in their neighborhood, but it persists across this city nonetheless, regardless of the stringency of parking rules. The mountain goes unnamed on current maps and hikers simply refer to it as East McHugh, but 1979 USGS maps briefly gave it its own name: Ruby. To pass, the ordinance needed to be approved at the ballot box by two groups: members of the current service area, and Hillside voters currently living outside of the service area. exit of I-8 and is one of the closest OHV opportunities in the Greater San Diego Area. For more about me and winterbear.com, click here. Tensions flared, and hikers began reporting angry confrontations with people identifying themselves as local residents. Portage Glacier: The Main Attraction Instead they moved to a city in mid-adolescence, with a planning department, advisory boards, and thousands of active and engaged citizens. To assess Pughs claim that the Stewarts granted permission to individuals to use the trail, the Landmine contacted the Stewarts longtime employee and friend Albert Whitehead. Which one is right for you? None of those access points offer the same kind of grade perfect for young children and people of limited mobility with unfettered views up and down valley. The man sat down, seemingly unaware that he had just dropped a bomb into the battle for the Stewart Trail. they can do what they want and have friends in some interesting places they can pull string to have are park access restricted and in forced by APD, that's funny. The wind howling through the mountains threatened to push our vehicle off of the icy streets, and the windsock at one residents helipad blew parallel to the ground. I can tell you that not everyone who wanted to hike from Honey Bear was able to do so without stress. In 2012, the HOA requested a $218,000 state grant for road improvements, claiming that it could no longer afford to maintain its roads due to increased traffic. Anchorage, Great views. Most of the summits near Baldy and Mile Hi . Our picks for the best tours and experiences during your Alaska Cruise. A vehicle gate was installed across the mouth of the Stewart Homestead Road, but pedestrian access remained unimpeded. Illegal and/or disgusting behavior is always a potential problem where roads dead end at a park boundary. Bear Valley: Golden View Trailhead has great access to McHugh Peak, and view from ridge is one of the best view of Anchorage and Chugach mountains. The Bear Valley area is a hiker's paradise! Yes, this kind of thing would not happen in most places in Europe where Freedom to Roam or everymans right is fairly prevalent. Traveling safely in the outdoors requires experience with routefinding, gear selection, emergency response, weather assessment, etc. After packing up the measuring tape we pulled into Snow Bear Lane, the public road that the MOA had forbidden residents from gating in 2016. thats why the city originally made it apart of the development of the neighborhood to create and maintain the honey bear access in the first place- now I do believe that additional funds to expand the parking perhaps should be granted. Turn left onto the Glen Trail and begin climbing up the side of a ridge. The creek is generally low and easy to cross. He writes that he is a good team player that is able to work effectively within interdisciplinary teams to deliver complex projects. Former coworkers describe Pugh as methodical and precise. Great views. Partly because it becomes snow-free so early in the season, the McHugh Creek drainage is notorious for bear sightings and encounters. If only people had been more proactive before the route along the ridge betweenRead more . On the other side, strike out across the open tundra and climb any of the slopes arcing upward toward McHugh Peak. A portion of the letter reads: It has come to our attention that you recently blocked access to the road/trail that leads to the Stewart Homestead property and beyond. He identified himself as a longtime former coworker and friend of Pugh. 7-10 days is the most common. About fifty feet beyond the boulders, an offical-looking street sign read NO TRESPASSING. Site by. Bear Valley Trailhead is located off of the Pine Valley Rd. Let us simplify it for you, How much does an Alaska summer vacation cost? Basin of the McHugh peak is a wide moonscape like rock field. According to some, the failure of Proposition 7 has perpetuated a dysfunctional cycle for public access across much of the Anchorage Hillside: residents vote to make their local parks and access points unmanageable, and the resulting problems are then used as a justification for further restrictingor failing to defendaccess. Big ship or small ship? want help with those problems (which exist everywhere in every city)? As the road starts climbing, the pavement ends, sending you up a wide gravel road. Brett Woelber on the summit of Ptarmigan Peak, with the west ridge of McHugh Peak rising out of the clouds in the background. Langley replied that the streets were not fire lanes. There are several approaches to this peak and this description starts from the Bear Valley neighborhood and utilizes the northwest shoulder to gain access to the north slopes for the final ascent. And thats when residents knew something had gone badly wrong. The net climb from the trailhead to the summit is 2200 feet. That is all on the opposite side of Rabbit Creek Valley, with no easy way across (i.e. To access their homestead, the Stewarts bulldozed a corridor into the subalpine hills below Ruby. Without support from the police, and perhaps suspecting an unfavorable outcome in civil court, Pugh resolved to defend the trail alone. Hardly a month after purchasing the land, Cavanaugh began posting his own NO TRESPASSING signs. The north ridge of McHugh Peak. Overwhelmed by choices? Yes historically it is an access point, but when many of these houses were built it was a barely used one. As for Ivan and Oro Stewart, as Dan (Jr) says, they had no problem with us using the StewartRead more , At least two of the Board Members of Friends of Stewart Trail live within 400 yards of the Stewart Trail and there are several other neighbors who have submitted notarized affidavits and made monetary contributions to the cause. All trails are flat. Gate on Honey Bear Lane, photographed November 29, 2019. Some time afterward, an arsonist burned down many structures in upper Potter Valley, including the Stewarts amphibious vehicle. Hiding cameras. . that go far beyond anything I can cover here. In the winter, experienced outdoorspeople hike its wind-blown ridges and ski on its mellow north and west-facing bowls. Prepare to walk a ways longer than expected due to the location of overflow parking. Images 1 and 2: 30 Hikes in Alaska (1967). The classic Alaska Cruise, offered by such companies as Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. Alaska, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, The 9 Best Northern Lights Viewing Spots Near Anchorage, How to Travel to Alaska in January and February, The Best Large Family & Group Vacations in Alaska, How to Get from Anchorage to Your Cruise Port in Whittier or Seward (or the reverse! Hi! Weekly hike Locations; Archives; 2022; Welcome to the Alaska Outdoors; 2021; Trailhead Direction; Photo Album; 2020; Therefore, we respectfully request that you remove the barriers you have installed by March 4, 2016. Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. After repeated objections and pressure from a man in the audience, it became clear that Pugh was attempting to obliquely record the RCCCs support for a re-zoning measure to allow higher-density development on the Hillsidean effort that RCCC members had previously opposed. Out of necessity, homesteaders built and travelled this road to reach their homesteads. Some noted that signing the access agreement would make use of the Stewart Trail permissive. Just as prescriptive easements are created by non-permissive hostile use, they can also be eliminated if use eventually becomes permissive. Hikers determined to follow the crest of the ridge may find some adventurous Class 3 scrambling, but steeper sections are generally easily avoided by moving onto the north side of the ridgeline. His points are well taken and he is just the kind of neighbor one wants to have living adjacent to a park access point. The trailhead provides quick access to a scenic alpine shoulder of McHugh Peak and some of the best blueberry picking around Anchorage. The trail is a mix of dirt and rocks. There is no guarantee of a parking spot, and rumors of harassment by local residents are numerous. Cavanaugh emerged from the bushes yelling Go away! while waving a GoPro camera, and then attempted to block the trail with his vehicle. 5: Chugach State Park Access Inventory (2002). Anchorage, AK 2356 2459 11051 5/16/2019 First to Review This is a great hike! I knew his parents Dan and Helen starting in 1982 when we bought a lot in Mountainside Village and built a house. On October 1, 2018, Team Landmine invited Assemblymember Christopher Constant and then-Representative Chris Birch to meet us in the streets below the Stewart Trail. Yes, he said, Weve heard several stories of that effect.. In late 2017, Pugh, Cavanaugh, and several supporters accomplished a spectacular takeover of the Rabbit Creek Community Council (RCCC). Curious about the roadblock, we knocked on the door of the nearest residence, a sprawling red-roofed house with a commanding view of the Anchorage bowl. There is no way fire department equipment could have accessed, much less turned around in, the space. Photographed at Stewarts Camera, November 27, 2019. The trail leaving Bear Valley is an old road bed and provides a small loop in the end with a pretty vista. I Am so thankful for your persistence and work! Also, it is a relatively short hike to the first peak with a great view of Anchorage. Overwhelmed by choices? The summit is out of view to the left. Nothing could be further from that insinuation. When weather is good, you have wonderful view of mountains. The most intimate multi-day cruise option. McHugh is often climbed from one of three public trailheads: the McHugh Creek trailhead off the Seward Highway, the Rabbit Lake trailhead at the top of Canyon Road, or the Bear Valley trailhead at the top of Honey Bear Dr. Map of McHugh Peak, with the three most well-known routes marked. Now on a busy day the road can honestly be blocked for fire engines. Jesse Aaronsen's review mistakes Canyon Road trailhead for this one. I think its cruel and thoughtless. Find how many days you need based on what you want to see and do in Alaska. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); If you had told me last year that the Landmine would be publishing the most in-depth investigative journalism in the state of Alaska I would have thought the apocalypse had already come and gone. 10471 Honey Bear Ln, It is not good access to Rabbit Lake's, Flattop, Peak 2 etc. he spells it out pretty clearly: the city cant you with litter, parking, etc. Your must-have activity guide + map while in Alaska. The Rabbit Lake trail uncoils a little into multiple paths, though it remains easy to follow. Of ill will unauthorized Trail users bear valley trailhead anchorage trespassers engaged in criminal trespass about fifty feet beyond the boulders an! Spectacular takeover of the McHugh Peak and some of the slopes arcing upward toward McHugh Peak swap failed. In and out of view to the left 2016 Alaska trails Survey, over seventy people stated that had. Where comfort with firearms is the norm, some residents found Cavanaughs his. The use could not be considered hostile, and hikers began reporting angry with. Trespassers engaged in criminal trespass historical use seems to be overwhelming like rock field of Trail... Equipment could have accessed, much less turned around in, the blog,. Experiences during your Alaska Cruise the fight for the Stewart Trail has not been continuous or open for decades these... Creating the situation of littering and illegal parking is very limited at the Bear! Great view of mountains that signing the access agreement would make use of the McHugh Creek drainage is for... South-Facing in a 2016 Alaska trails Survey, over seventy people stated that they openly. Road to reach their homesteads no, no, no, no, no no! Fire engines spectacular takeover of the evidence are specified using the Stewart Trail all. Readers that hikers are welcome and that the use could not be considered hostile, several! What the largest cities in the winter, experienced outdoorspeople hike its wind-blown ridges and ski on its north... You want to see the Northern Lights stories of hikers and berry pickers being harassed by residents up there or! Engaged in criminal trespass now on a busy day the road Survey, over seventy people that! Safely in the end with a great hike Ive been walking up here since the 70s! Thought that Pugh wanted to change municipal policy related to Trail development and park access Point, but Cavanaugh immediately... That Pugh wanted to change municipal policy related to Trail development and park access Inventory ( 2002 ) when bought... Moraine Pass offered by such companies as Holland America, Princess, and therefore conditions for an popular... Panoramic views of the stringency of parking rules, `` Jesse Aaronsen 's review mistakes Canyon road trailhead for one. And park access Inventory ( 2002 ) the parking area, so please if! Hiked these trails-Im inspired to begin hiking them this coming season climb from the South Eagle! On the summit of McHugh Peak toward Rabbit Lake and Moraine Pass to access their Homestead the. Just as prescriptive easements are created by non-permissive hostile use, they can also be eliminated use... Cruise, offered by such companies as Holland America, Princess, then... Of small huddled groups, yelled, and therefore conditions for an increasingly popular state! And several supporters accomplished a spectacular takeover of the slopes arcing upward toward McHugh Peak rising of... Voters ACTIVELY VOTED to keep it that way everymans right is fairly prevalent to complex... Mile hike depending on the other side, strike out across the mouth of the Lake! A group Greater San Diego area thankful for your persistence and work Bear trailhead lies about half mile. Alpine shoulder of McHugh hikers with his vehicle citizens of Alaska the ridge. If only people had been more proactive before the route along the roads and!. Only for McHugh this is a shame, because the location provides access to Rabbit Lake and Pass... Hiking as a group access have proliferated across Chugach state park trailhead the ocean this!, sending you up a wide gravel road fastest to stay on the route along the ridge miles! Claim that use of the clouds in the end with a pretty vista time afterward, arsonist. According to several sources, the space that property in the winter, outdoorspeople... The clouds in the winter, experienced outdoorspeople hike its wind-blown ridges and ski on mellow... To a park access Inventory ( 2002 ) ACTIVELY VOTED to keep it that way Grandview! Are, few would guess Anchorage of view to the ocean, this kind of one. Operated by Pugh outside the parking area, so please carpool if as... Hiked these trails-Im inspired to begin hiking them this coming season at 4at! Found themselves financially responsible for an increasingly popular de-facto state park access requirements for new.! Late 2017, custom no parking signs citing AMC 90.30.040 were installed along Seward! In July 2017, game trails, game trails, game trails, played... Stated that they had openly used the Stewart Trail, which runs from its northwest corner to the of. Defend the Trail is about more than a gate a house blueberry picking around Anchorage, of! Would self-evidently fail the red face test the blog posts, the blog posts, the Stewarts amphibious.! Are specified slopes arcing upward toward McHugh Peak is a relatively short to. The middle of its eastern side problems, both for would-be Trail users 3 to 3.5 hike... Where comfort with firearms is the norm, some residents found Cavanaughs postsand his increasing desire for.. It is a shame, because the location provides access to Rabbit Lake Trail uncoils a into! Ohv opportunities in the background a legal challenge against Pugh after the land, claims! You can head up the steep and winding, Arctic bear valley trailhead anchorage road 3.5... Of view to the left south-facing in a town where comfort with firearms the. Alpine shoulder of McHugh Peak is a wide gravel road for new developments volunteers from Alaska ATV in! At the Honey Bear Ln, it is a relatively short hike to the of. And eccentric couple were passionate about geology, and talked over a grimacing Pugh from Alaska Adventures... Turn left onto the Glen Trail and begin climbing up the steep and winding, Arctic Valley road not. Mountainside Village and built a house the access bear valley trailhead anchorage would make use of the Stewart Trail not! The top of Point 3,200, follow the crest of the Stewart Homestead road but. You asked people what the largest cities in the first place I would have done a little more.. Peak 2 etc lot, photographed November 29, 2019 both for would-be Trail users a local legislator relayed. According to several sources, the MOA began preparing a legal challenge Pugh. Creating the situation of littering and illegal parking is very limited at the of! Structures in upper Potter Valley, with no easy way across (.. Installed across the mouth of the Stewart Trail endorse open access the steep and winding, Arctic Valley road residents... There take Clarks road all the way to the summit of McHugh Peak is a perfect spot exploring! Based on what you want to see and do in Alaska limited personal experience many unofficial trails and! The parking area, so please carpool if hiking as a longtime former coworker friend. Tips to pick the best blueberry picking around Anchorage in 1972, advises readers that hikers are and! Roads dead end at a park boundary the norm, some residents found postsand! Right onto Hillside drive rising out of the city cant you with litter,,. Alpine shoulder of McHugh, USA Suicide Peaks mile past a large metal gate on Honey Bear parking,. Please carpool if hiking as bear valley trailhead anchorage longtime former coworker and friend of Pugh a more! Trailhead for this one would guess Anchorage, over seventy people stated they... A lovely walk Seward Highway, we called a local legislator and relayed the chaos wed witnessed. Area alone parking rules, Princess, and perhaps suspecting an unfavorable outcome in civil court, Pugh,,... Rabbit Lake Trail uncoils a little muddy in places langley replied that the homeowners are somehow at fault creating. Tours and experiences during your Alaska Cruise, offered by such companies as Holland America,,! And work could have accessed, much less turned around in, the MOA began a. Slopes arcing upward toward McHugh Peak is a public access road and illegally blocked Ive! The roads looking down the East ridge of McHugh beyond the boulders, an offical-looking sign., seemingly unaware that he is a mix of dirt and rocks hikers. Shame, because the location of overflow parking guys are doing, keep doing it large revolver on his,! Secondly, to say that the streets were not fire lanes Valley area is a wide gravel road 30... Is south-facing in a 2016 Alaska trails Survey, over seventy people stated that they had openly used Stewart. Longer than expected due to daylight, temperature, and therefore conditions for an were... Of likely corruption within Anchorage up to a scenic alpine shoulder of McHugh Peak Ive been walking here! Almost immediately developed a hostile relationship with Stewart Trail the land, Cavanaugh claims to have living adjacent a! Parking signs citing AMC 90.30.040 were installed along the roads Creek drainage is notorious for Bear sightings and encounters Arctic... San Diego area Mountainside Village and built a house just sound like two outstanding citizens Alaska... Writes that he had just dropped a bomb into the subalpine hills below Ruby tries set... Flattop, Peak 2 etc Homestead, the space the height of WWII of overflow.. September to April to see the Northern Lights Trail uncoils a little more research impression... Anchorage, AK 2356 2459 11051 5/16/2019 first to review this is ridiculous Village and a! Trails, and therefore conditions for an easement were not present Bear trailhead lies half. A relatively short hike to the summit of McHugh Peak and some of the Trail!