Happy Winter Solstice from Hatcher Pass!
Happy winter solstice everyone! Until I moved up north, I never thought much about solstice (summer or winter), but when you are in a place where the amount of daylight changes so much, there is reason to celebrate. The winter solstice marks our shortest day of the year and the first official day of winter. After this, our days will start to get longer and in just a few months, we’ll be back to plenty of sunshine (and spring skiing).
A common question from people that have not been up north in the winter, is how much daylight do you get? Even though we have less than 5 ½ hours of actual daylight here right now, it doesn’t feel quite this short. Have you ever watched a sunset in the tropics (Hawaii, Mexico, Costa Rica)? Have you noticed that as soon as the sun goes down it gets dark very quickly? Well, we have the opposite affect up here. Even though the sun goes down, our twilights are much longer, so the light seems to last longer than it really does.
Now, it is the darkest time of year, is there really anything to do in Hatcher Pass right now? Why yes, of course! Read more to find out what you should check out on your visit to Hatcher Pass. And don’t forget to reserve your cabin with us so you can spend more time doing these fun activities and less time driving on wintery roads.
Skeetawk
After over 40 years, Hatcher Pass has a ski lift again! Skeetawk is the new downhill ski area in Hatcher Pass that had their first chair running on December 12th this month. With 300 feet of vertical gain and 30 skiable acres, this ski area is a great place for families and beginner skiers to get out in a safe place to enjoy skiing and the mountains. The ski area is located at mile 10.6 on Palmer-Fishhook Road and will be open on weekends and school holidays. Skeetawk is only 4 miles from Hatcher Pass Cabins, so be sure to rent a cabin for the ski vacation weekend!
For Skeetawk’s holiday schedule check out their Facebook post.
When and where was the last ski lift in Hatcher Pass? The last known operating ski lift was up at Independence Mine in the 1960s and 1970s where they had a rope tow and T-bar between the Independence Mine and Gold Cord Mine buildings. Hatcher Pass has a rich history of downhill skiing with other operations including cat and heli-skiing. Alaska Lost Ski Areas Project is a great website that gives known history of the ski areas as well as ski hills across the state.
Icicle Double
What is the Icicle Double? This is the Mat-Su Valley’s premier nordic ski event held every year between Christmas and New Year’s. This two-day ski race is held at Government Peak Recreation Area. This year, the first day of racing will be in the classic style and the second day in the skate style. You can choose to ski a 5K, 15K, or 30K, one day or both days. It is a great family event and also competitive event, world-class athletes are known to show their faces here. If you are really feeling strong, ski the 30K both days and receive the coveted, engraved pint glass which can hold that much deserved beverage once you’re finished.
The race this year is December 26th-27th. Register here. Show up, have fun, bring your friends and family, ski some great trails. Race with your spandex suit for speed, or wear a costume and cheer all your fellow skiers on. Everything goes at the Icicle Double. Only limited cabins left at Hatcher Pass Cabins to rent to rest your weary body after this great event.
The nordic skiing across the Mat-Su Valley is fantastic right now. All the trails are in great shape with active grooming everywhere. Where to ski? Well, how about Archangel Road, Independence Mine, Moose Range, Government Peak Recreation area, those are the most well known nordic trails. But did you know the borough is regularly grooming trails at Crevasse Moraine, Lazy Mountain, and Matanuska River Park?
Independence Mine State Historical Park
Did you think Independence Mine was only a summer thing? Oh no! Although the mine buildings are closed from October until May and you can’t drive all the way up to the buildings, there is still plenty to do in the winter. In the winter, parking is in the large lot near Hatcher Pass Lodge (the red A-frames), this is as far as you can drive. From here your winter wonderland awaits.
Feel like a nordic ski? Take the groomed road all the way up to the mine and ski among the buildings. No skis? How about snowshoes. You can walk up the same groomed trail or create your own in the vast Independence Mine “bowl” which is the wide open valley where the mine resides. Do you have a sled? Go sledding on the popular hill right above Hatcher Pass Lodge.
Only have fat skis? Well this parking area is the jump off point for many classic Hatcher Pass backcountry ski lines. Find a local to point you in the direction of the classic Microdot, or maybe you want to head back to the Pinnacle. If spines are what you are looking for, then Rae Wallace is the answer. Just be sure to check out Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center first for the latest report of conditions. Hatcher Pass can be known for its “touchy” snow pack.
Looking for something more fast paced? Snow machine riding is open from the Fishhook lot (below Independence Mine parking) through the corridor over to the Willow side of Hatcher Pass. Once on the Willow side, the options are endless for riding.
One thing for sure, you can find something to do this winter at Independence Mine in Hatcher Pass. You just have to decide what.
Ullr
This post is about winter and doing winter activities. It would be remiss of me to not mention Ullr. Ullr is a god from norse mythology. Who he is is best described in the Gylfaginning, an old norse text, so I will leave you with that:
“He is god of snow; the one called Ullr. Son of Sief, step-son of Thor. He is so fierce a bowman and ski-runner that none may contend! He is quite beautiful to look upon and has all the characteristics of a warrior. It is wise to invoke the name Ullr in duels.”
