Backcountry Skiing

Every now and then you stumble upon some very cool little scene, some nugget that just feels right. During our stay in Anchorage, we kept hearing people suggest that we try skiing up at Hatcher Pass, about 90 minutes north of Anchorage above the town of Palmer. Finally, we loaded up the Dodge Ram rental truck and headed for the hills.

Hatcher Pass is in the Alaska front range and like much of the surrounding landscape is a craggy, snow covered part of the state’s endless mountains. As soon as we drove in we were immediately reminded of a combo of Austria’s Silvretta Group and the Sierra Nevada. It just looked like a great place to ski lots of peaks, and better, there is a small lodge sitting all alone at the end of the road with small private cabins.

We parked at the lodge to see if there was room available and were soon unpacking ski gear in our own small cabin. The owner of the place, Hap Wurlitzer, checked in on us to make sure we were all comfortable and also to make it clear that he is a great character. Eyeing my unusual skin color, he remarked, “What the hell happened to you? How did you get so dark in Alaska?” Our kind of guy.

We told him we would be skiing until late but he assured us salmon burgers and beer would be waiting. The evening was shaping up to be perfect, and it was, we climbed to the top of the peak above the lodge, dropped into a steep couloir at sunset, skied that remarkably good Alaskan powder all the way down and then hung a left and made one last turn at the lodge’s door.

The mountains hanging above the lodge are not huge, but they are ski peaks, with big, open bowls, couloirs, and plenty of options. Get up high and Denali becomes the dominant landmark to the north while south stretch endless layers of mountain peaks.

The Hatcher Pass Lodge

Some good beers in Alaska

Later that night we had dinner with Hap and he told us the story of the area. Originally a mining town, the mountain has some varied history of mountain activities. There had at one time been a rope tow for the old gold miners to ski, later it became the spot to backcountry ski, so popular in fact that backcountry races were held in the early 80′s from the lodge up to summits and back down (maybe ski mountaineering was invented in Alaska?), but then the snow machines took over until recent seasonal closures has caused their numbers to drop. Finally, today there is a big mix of users, from backcountry skiers, lots of nordic skiers, snowboarders and of course people playing on sleds.

We felt right at home staying in the lodge, loved the friendly people we ran into and thought Hap was the ultimate hut keeper. All on its own, Hatcher Pass is probably not a reason to go to Alaska, but with all the other draws Alaska is obviously a must visit for every mountain sport lover. Just remember, when you do go schedule in some Hatcher Pass Lodge time. For more info, visit Hatcher Pass Lodge

The Hatcher Pass Lodge Sauna

Hap Wurlitzer, Hatcher Pass Lodge's owner in the kitchen

YES, sun in Alaska

Dan Oberlatz and friends bootpacking

Climbing rocks to ski powder

Interior of the Hatcher Pass Lodge

Hatcher Pass Lodge views

Dan Patitucci skinning to Marmot Peak

Janine Patitucci skiing above Hatcher Pass

Alaskan sunset