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ePaper created 2016-04-04, 21:01:23 | version 1.33.0
61° NORTH Making sunshine tracks Eklutna trek is a springtime adventure T he Eklutna Traverse crosses from Eklutna Lake on the north to Girdwood in the south. The route stays high and links the Eklutna, Whiteout, Eagle, West Fork and Raven glaciers. Five huts along the way are in dramatic locations with spectacular views. While the Bomber Traverse in the Talkeetna Mountains is a lesser undertaking, and a good step- pingstone to the Eklutna Traverse, both traverses are great introductions to ski mountaineering. Most of the Eklutna Traverse is low-angle, despite climbing the toe of the Eklutna Glacier and the Raven Head- wall. These glaciers have fields of crevasses, but with a thick layer of seasonal snow, most of the crevasses are covered. The huts break the Eklutna Traverse into five legs from Eklutna Lake to Girdwood. Many skiers do one leg per day over five days, but planning for six days allows time to ski a few peaks, enjoy the huts, or wait out a storm. Strong Nordic skiers with light touring gear can do this trip in a long day, but don’t let that fool you. It requires solid mountain skills and good conditions. Day-touring the Eklutna is best during firm skating conditions. The difficulty is catching skateable conditions across 5,000 feet of relief. Jessie Haffener and Sam Galoob weigh their 43-pound packs before heading up to the Eklunta. We camped on this trip so we lugged the extra weight of stoves and tents. By sleeping in the huts, your packs should weigh 35 pounds, max. Unnec- essary gear equals unnecessary agony. Maddog rappels the end of the Eklutna Glacier. Most groups climb up this dangling ice tongue. It’s not a hard climb, but it is climbing, and ice-climbing skills are needed. If descending the Eklutna, it is a simple rappel, if you know how to set up a V-Thread ice an- chor. The Eklutna Glacier has receded over a mile in the past 20 years. It will continue re- treating into the deep upper basin where most of the glacier ice remains. Once retreated into the basin, probably in the next five years, it will be an easy climb on and off. Most of the Eklutna Traverse is on glaciers that do have crevasses. Stay roped together if you are new to glacier travel. One crevasse fall is enough to kill you. After racking up a few hundred days on glaciers, in a variety of seasons and locations, you may consider unroping on glaciers. By Joe Stock