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| 123 |    Photos Map |
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| Last Updated:
July 07, 2010
Please help this site! Since I no longer live here, it is important that users verify the data. If this date is longer than a year ago please email me and let me know the information below is still valid. If I don't get verification on this trail, I may remove it from the site. |
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Difficulty |
If you come by way
of Indian Valley, the bushwhacking and/or
post holing in certain areas can be
frustrating. By way of Hidden Valley, a very steep mountain to get back up on your return. Otherwise- very easy. I give it a moderate. |
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Connects With |
Indian Valley Hidden Valley and Lake |
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Miles One Way |
With Ship Lake as
the destination; 7 miles from the Glen Alps Parking Lot (via Powerline
Pass/Hidden Valley)
9 miles from Indian Valley Trailhead. |
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Miles
from
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Via Hidden
Valley: 20 minute drive from downtown. Via Indian Valley: 40 miles down the Seward Highway. |
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General Vicinity |
Chugach State Park | |
Season |
May to September | |
Description |
One of my all time
favorite places to backpack!, a perfect example of a glacial
valley. It looks like a giant dipped its finger down the valley
as if it were licking the frosting off a birthday cake. I'm so into this
place! Space does
not allow me to praise all the great things I love about this place. The best way to get to Ship Lake is via
Hidden Valley.
As
you head up the slope, the peak on the left is known as The Ramp for
obvious reasons. The left peak is known as the Wedge. When
you get to the top, get out your windbreaker and camera because you're going to
be snapping pics like there's no tomorrow. Take your time
and explore the ridge. Don't say you'll do it on the way back
because your a** will be too whupped from climbing back up and you won't
be as motivated. Carefully descend down and easily ford Ship Creek to get to the panhandle part
of the Lake. This is the best place to set up your tent as the
scrub is like a mattress. Make sure the opening of your tent
faces down the valley so you can get a great view of the distant peaks
as you drift off to sleep. My hike on this trail this past week served as a
reminder of two things. 2) Not to discount the trails on/near Powerline
Pass due to foot traffic. Monday, August 2, on my way to Ship Lake
Pass via Powerline Pass, I walked right
up on a BIG Grizz! After backing
off and letting him saunter on his way, I continued on over Ship Lake
Pass only to be standing eye to eye with 10 Dall Sheep; the closest not
10 yards away.
***** Description: See Hike #30 in 50 Hikes in Alaska's Chugach State Park for the full description. This hike has a very long approach, first down Powerline Pass and then up towards the Ship Lake Pass/ Hidden Lake. I recommend following the books advice and heading towards Hidden Lake, checking it out (and possibly camping out), then going up the ridge towards the saddle between Hidden Peak-and The Ramp. For a day hike, the approach is long down Powerline Pass-- but you can bike to the ford across Campbell Creek to save a lot of time-- especially if you are "jaded" towards the Powerline Trail due to overexposure. If you do bike you have to stash your bike at the ford, per regulations. Still, that would save 30 minutes each way, minimum. We walked it. We were able to boulder across the creek-- you can also just walk through with your shoes off if it is late summer. Once you get to the trail decisions in the book, decide if you are going to approach The Ramp from Ship Lake Pass or from the Hidden Lake ridge. There are a lot of trails going up Ship Lake Pass-- I recommend following the book so you get up the ridge and diagonally approach the Ramp. Once we got towards the saddle between Hidden Peak and the Ramp we side-tracked over the tundra to lessen the steepness, but it was still steep and tough. Once at the saddle it was AMAZING-- below us were the true headwaters of the Middle Fork of Campbell Creek, 2000' below us, below almost shear walls, formed from the last remnants of snow in this isolated valley. Then we hiked the ridge to the top of The Ramp-- easy from the saddle to the upper base of the ramp, then a steep scrabble to the top. It is a "ramp"-- relatively gently sloped coming up from the back of the Wedge & Ship Lake Pass, and almost vertical on the Middle Fork Valley side-- Other positives: seeing how Ship Creek starts from an alpine lake was very cool. It was incredible to see the start of what winds way over by Muldoon and then turns into the lazy, muddy Ship Creek we all know downtown. The Ramp is deceptive from Anchorage-- it looks like a perfect peak, and the top is small compared to Flattop, but there are a few "tops", with very little footing. We stayed at what seemed the natural top-- could have scurried down a little and then back up, but choose not to because of the fall potential to either side. Where we stopped had a register in a jar, so I assume it was the highpoint. Because this trail is back a ways, it looks less tall than some other front range peaks-- but it is an impressive 5240' above sea level.... The trek back was long--- when you see bikes whiz past you going 20 mph you are REAL REAL envious after this long day hike. Warnings: As I always say when you are off the major trails: bring bear spray and/or a gun and make noise if the trail is not very populated when you go-- however, there were a lot of people heading to Hidden Lake when we went in early August. I suspect that the route would have a lot of early summer post holing because the snow lingers long near Hidden Lake. Avalanche danger would be very high on the approach in winter, and some pretty scary slopes (the "gentle ones" on the Ship Lake Pass side) without crampons in winter and early spring.
*****
In "Important information" you stated (in my hike for Hidden Lake and Valley), "At the start of the trailhead you will have to cross Campbell Creek using a line of medium size boulders. . ." There is now a bridge over the creek, although when I went (July 5 2008) the bridge was marked with "do not trespass" signs. Since the creek was high, we trespassed anyway. The bridge is fairly massive - probably 4 feet wide. Just FYI. Thanks for the great site! My wife and I hope to get out more this summer! ***** |
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Important Information |
Be aware that via Indian Valley you will
encounter many sections that will require you to bushwhack. Try to
stay on the upper sections of the mountain ridges till you get halfway up Ship
Lake Valley where the terrain turns to scrub. Be warned: Indian Valley can be clogged with snow right up to mid
June. I usually pack snowshoes just to be sure. If you are with a group, an option is to leave a car at the Indian Valley Trailhead and start the hike at the Glen Alps Trailhead. The huge boulder in the middle of the valley has a deep crevice that is perfect for putting your food away for the night. If the prospect of climbing back up that mountain via Hidden Valley is daunting to you, break it down into small increments and only concentrate on the section you are climbing. You should give yourself an hour. Bottom line; it's a bitch but pace yourself and you'll succeed. If you come in late August and/or September, have a big bowl or Ziploc bag when you descend the mountain as there are a messload of blueberries for the picking. |
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Etc. |
The Glen Alps
Parking Lot requires a $5 parking fee (bring exact amount). The
price for an annual parking pass is $40. You can
purchase a pass at the Federal Building at 4th and F or the
Atwood Building on 7th and E, 12th Floor. Here are the directions for getting there: take the Seward Highway to the O'Malley exit and head east. After a few miles, follow the signs to Glen Alps. Make a right on Hillside Drive then a left on Upper Huffman. Turn right on Toilsome Hill. This road will twist and wind up the hills for about two miles. |
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