2013 Mat-Su Valley Vistors Guide

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SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

Mat-Su Valley Summer Visitors Guide 2013 www.frontiersman.com


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Couplers & Trailer Jacks

DeeZee Toolbox

Hubs, Drums, Brakes, Tires, & Wheels

WASILLA, AK 2281 E. Sun Mtn. Ave.

Wasilla, AK 99654(907) 376-8000

(800) 478-1902 (AK)

ANCHORAGE, AK 4748 Old Seward HwyAnchorage, AK 99503

(907) 563-5490

ANCHORAGE, AK3000 Commercial Dr.Anchorage, AK 99501

(907) 276-5171 (800) 478-5173 (AK)

FAIRBANKS, AK 3060 S. Cushman

Fairbanks, AK 99701 (907) 452-6160

(800) 770-7499 (AK)

Celebrating 100 Years 1913-2013

Hello, future :-) Here’s to the next 60 years. OF CONNECTING

mtasolutions.com


LITTLE SUSITNARIVER CAMPGROUNDHOUSTON, ALASKA

Mile 57.3 Parks Highway

Consistently voted best campground

of the Valley!

WE’VE GOT YOUR TIRE!

Custom Hats - Great SouvenirsOnly $500 each

Serving The Valley Since 1994!

2550 E. PALMER-WASILLA HWYJust 1 mile from Parks Hwy. in Wasilla

907-376-2700

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www.frontiersman.com Mat-Su Valley Summer Visitors Guide 2013

Mat-Su ValleySummer

Visitors GuideMat-Su Valley Summer Visitors Guide is a publication of the Mat-Su Valley Frontiers-man and its parent company, Wick Commu-nications. Visit us online at frontiersman.com. © Copyright 2013

PUBLISHERMark Kelsey (907) 352-2255

[email protected]

MANAGING EDITORHeather A. Resz (907) 352-2268 [email protected]

PHOTO EDITORRobert DeBerry (907) 352-2266 [email protected]

SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR Cheryl Metiva (907) 352-2291 addirector @frontiersman.com

PRESS FOREMANRyan Sleight 907-352-2282

[email protected]

ACCOUNTING Joanne Briceland (907) 352-2263

accounting @frontiersman.com

CIRCULATION Christy Pinkerton (907) 352-2251

circulation @frontiersman.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNJulie Metcalf, Anita Humphries

STAFF WRITERSJeremiah BartzGreg Johnson

Andrew Wellner

PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 5751 E. Mayfl ower Ct., Wasilla, AK 99654

Mailing:P.O. Box 873509, Wasilla, AK 99687

PHONE: (907) 352-2250

FAX: (907) 352-2277

BUSINESS HOURS:8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday

WHERE TO FIND IT INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

INFORMATION & SERVICESPalmer

Cache Camper .............................................................. 8

Edmond’s Import Auto ............................................33

Mat-Su Convention & Visitors Bureau................... 2

Summit Family Practice ...........................................19

The UPS Store ..............................................................10

ValdezValdez Convention & Visitors Bureau .................40

WasillaSix Robblee’s ................................................................. 3

Budget Rent a Car ......................................................18

Camper Valley RV ......................................................... 8

Diversified Tire .............................................................. 4

Tub House & Tanning ...............................................27

Wasilla Chamber of Commerce ............................35

ACCOMMODATIONSHealy

Totem Inn .....................................................................17

KenaiQuality Inn ....................................................................11

PalmerColony Inn ...................................................................... 2

Valley Hotel ..................................................................23

Peak Inn .........................................................................27

Pioneer Motel ..............................................................26

WasillaAlaska’s Select Inn .....................................................11

Hillside Cabins ............................................................38

ATTRACTIONS / ACTIVITIESAnchorage

Alaska Aviation Museum .........................................34

ERA Aviation .................................................................. 7

KennicotKennicott Glacier Lodge ..........................................31

PalmerArtic’s Air Academy ..................................................... 9

Backcountry Bike & Ski .............................................26

Fishhook Golf Course ...............................................24

Friday Fing ...................................................................26

Mat-Su Miners Baseball ...........................................21

Musk Ox Farm .............................................................25

Palmer Golf Course....................................................21

Palmer Museum of History & Art ..........................22

Reindeer Farm ............................................................28

SewardAlaska Sea Life Center ..............................................19

ValdezStan Stephens Cruises ..............................................40

WasillaKnik Museum ..............................................................13

CAMPING & RV PARKSHouston

Little Susitna River Campground ........................... 4

PalmerKepler Park Campground .......................................20

WasillaBig Bear Campground ..............................................24

CHURCHESPalmer

Lazy Mountain Bible Church ..................................29

St Michael’s Parish .....................................................29

WasillaFairview Loop Baptist Church ...............................29

Pilgrims Baptist Church ...........................................29

FISHINGSeward

The Fish House............................................................37

ValdezValdez Fish Derbies ..................................................... 9

FOOD & DRINKPalmer

Downtown Palmer Deli ...........................................25

Humdingers Gourmet Pizza Co ............................20

Open Cafe .....................................................................23

Peak-A-Brew Espresso..............................................27

Peking Garden ............................................................27

Rusty’s Restaurant .....................................................23

Turkey Red ...................................................................22

Vagabond Blues .........................................................23

WasillaGrape Tap ....................................................................... 4

Last Frontier Brewing Co. ........................................38

Mocha Moose..............................................................15

Settlers Bay Lodge ....................................................... 3

RETAILPalmer

Just Sew ........................................................................23

Stamp Cache ...............................................................22

The Gallery ...................................................................22

The Garden Gate ........................................................23

WasillaCastle Boutique ..........................................................39

Gold Rush Jeweler’s ..................................................38

Sylvia’s Quilt Depot ...................................................18

Town Square Art Gallery ............................................ 8

Value Village ................................................................32


Whether you’ve come for a visit or are considering relocating to this area, welcome to Alaska and the Mat-Su Valley! About 90,000 people live, raise

their families and play in the Mat-Su Borough year-round. We work hard and play hard. We’re friendly folks who take pride in helping each other.Visit a museum or the Musk Ox

Farm. Try your hand at salmon fi shing. Take in a fl ightseeing tour of Denali. Enjoy our shop-ping and restaurants. Maybe take the family on a guided horseback or ATV tour. Or, take a hike, pick some berries and take some pho-tos of our magnifi cent scenery along the way. Whatever your personal prefer-

ence, there is plenty to savor this summer in the Mat-Su Valley.Whether you are planning to

spend a month, a week or a day with us, we recommend taking time to meet our neighbors, be-cause the best thing about Alaska is the people who live here.

Welcome to the Mat-Su Valley

EMERGENCYEmergencies (fire, police, medical) .............................................911Mat-Su Borough (EMS, Disaster Service) ...................... 373-8800Alaska Emergency Services .................................... (800) 478-2337Community Resource Help Line ..................................................211

LAW ENFORCEMENTAlaska State Troopers-Palmer ........................................... 745-2131Palmer City Police................................................................... 745-4811Wasilla City Police ................................................................... 352-5401

HOSPITALSMat-Su Regional Medical Center-Palmer ..................... 861-6000Mat-Su Regional Urgent Care-Wasilla ............................ 352-2280Alaska Native Health Service ..................................(907) 563-2662

EARTHQUAKESAlaska Tsunami Warning Center/Palmer ....................................................... 745-4212

WEATHERTravel Alerts & Road Conditions ...................................................511

Highway & Weather Conditions ............................(800) 478-7675

FAA Pilot Weather Briefing Outlook ........................................(800) 992-7433

FAA AWOS Wasilla ................................................................. 373-3801

Talkeetna.................................................................................... 733-1637

National Weather Service Marine and Boating Area Forecast ......................... 800-472-0391

OTHER RESOURCESMat-Su Borough Air Quality Report ................................ 352-3878Women & Children Shelter ................................................. 746-4080STAR (Rape crisis line) ................................................(800) 478-8999Toxic, Chemical & Oil Spill prevention ................(800) 424-8802Big Lake Chamber of Commerce ..................................... 892-6109 biglakechamber.orgPalmer Chamber of Commerce ........................................ 754-2880 palmerchamber.orgWasilla Chamber of Commerce ........................................ 376-1299 visitwasilla.orgMat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau....................... 746-5000 alaskavisit.comPalmer Visitor Center ............................................................ 745-2880cityofpalmer.org

IMPORTANT LOCAL CONTACT INFORMATION

REMEMBER TO PACK AN EMERGENCY TRAVEL KIT

• cellphone• map• first-aid supplies• tire gauge• flares• flashlights with extra batteries• a sturdy tire jack• lug wrench• some traveler’s checks or cash• blankets or sleeping bags• rain gear• extra set of car keys• mosquito repellent• gas can with extra gas (do not transport gasoline inside your vehicle)

ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman.comWyatt Shields, 3, waves as Antique Power Club tractors make their way along the parade route in Palmer during the 2012 Colony Days celebration.


Where to ‘go’Do you just want to get in and get out, not be bothered by

sales people or feel bad about not purchasing something when using the facilities? Well, here is a list of public restrooms in the Palmer and Wasilla areas to put your mind at ease:

WASILLA• Wasilla City Hall, 290 E. Herning Ave.• Newcomb Wasilla Lake Park, Parks Highway by Pizza Hut.• Carter Park Lake Street, 600 Lucille Dr. • Dorothy Page Museum, 323 N. Main St.• Wasilla Public Library, 391 N. Main St.• Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center, 1001 S. Mack Drive.• Iditapark/Wonderland, on Swanson in downtown Wasilla.PALMER• Palmer City Hall, 231 W. Evergreen.• Palmer Public Library, 655 S. Valley Way.• Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center, 723 S. Valley Way.• Portapotties across the street from the Visitors Center, on the green.• Mat-Su Borough Building, 350 East Dahlia Ave.• Palmer Ice Arena, 480 E. Cope Industrial Way.

OVERNIGHTMat-Su Borough locations with overnight camping and restroom facilities:

• Matanuska River Park, Old Glenn Highway east of Palmer just before Matanuska River Bridge. This park is a beautiful camping area with hot showers, flush toilets, a dump station for motor homes and hiking trails right along the river.

• Lake Lucille Park, off Knik-Goose Bay Road by the Iditarod Museum.• Little Su River, 57.4 Parks Highway,

with 86 spaces tents or RVs, a dump station and large picnic pavilions.• Deshka River, tent camping with portapotties.• Talkeetna River Campground, 12 tent sites.

The Matanuska-Susitna Valley has plenty of accommodations for travelers searching for comfortable lodging. Here are a few options:

HOTELS/INNS• Agate Inn in Wasilla — The Agate is a country-style inn. Multiple buildings on 16 acres can accommodate two to six people each. Contact 373-2290, (800) 770-2290 or visit agateinn.com.• Best Western Lake Lucille Inn in Wasilla — Located off the Parks Highway in Wasilla, this hotel features fine dining, a lounge and beautiful views of adjacent Lake Lucille and the Chugach Mountains. Contact 373-1776• Valley Hotel in Palmer — Conveniently located in historic downtown Palmer, the Valley Hotel has amenities such as a beauty salon, bar, and liquor store. The hotel’s Round House Café is open 24 hours. Contact 745-3330• Colony Inn in Palmer — Across the street from a restored Matanuska colony house, this inn is a piece of history itself. The Colony Inn served as a dormitory for teachers and nurses who came to work in the Matanuska Colony’s first classrooms and hospital. The Colony Inn has vintage furnishings, but modern hotel rooms with private baths. There’s also a full-service restaurant and meeting rooms for groups. Contact 745-3330.

BED AND BREAKFASTSThere are tons. Dozens are listed in the phone book and many at the Mat-Su Bed and Breakfast Association’s website, alaskabnbhosts.com. Here’s a sampling: • Alaska Garden Gate, on Trunk Road between Palmer and Wasilla, offers cottages or guest rooms. Contact 746-2333 or visit gardengatebnb.com.• Moose Wallow near Palmer, Mile 2.9, Buffalo Mine Road. Cabins available, as well as accommodations for small conferences and meetings. Contact 745-7777.• Rose Ridge Vacation Chalets at Mile 5, Palmer-Fishhook Road has a chalet and a cottage. Contacts (877) 827-7673 or 745-8604.• Shady Acres B&B — In a quiet and secluded neighborhood near downtown Wasilla, Shady Acres is convenient to area lakes and the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Headquarters and its museum and gift shop. Contact 376-3113 or (800) 360-3113.

Where to stay in the Mat-Su Valley

BringingBringingAlaskansTTogggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggether

Bringing Alaskans Togetherflflflyyyeeerraa...cccccoommmm

Real adventures start with Era

Alaska.

“

“

(from where you are to just about anywhere in Alaska)


Welcome to the Mat-Su Valley. You’ll also hear this region of Alaska referred to as “Matanuska-Susitna,” “the Mat-Su,” “the Valley” and the “Mat-Su Borough.”Either way, Alaskans will know what you mean. Our names are drawn from the Matanuska and

Susitna rivers that carved these valleys and left be-hind a landscape dotted with hundreds of lakes.About half of the people who live in the Mat-Su

commute to jobs outside the borough’s boundar-ies. Some work in Anchorage and Eagle River, while other workers commute to jobs in the oil fi elds on the North Slope.Statewide, Alaska includes more than 20 mountain

ranges, three of which ring the Mat-Su — the Alaska Range, the Talkeetna Mountains and the Chugach Mountains.Alaska also features the highest mountain in North

America — Mount McKinley, which locals refer to as Denali. On a clear day, Mount McKinley and Foraker are

oft en visible along Big Lake Road and farther up the Parks Highway north of Willow. Look for pullouts for viewing the mountain at various locations along the highway. Another excellent viewing opportunity (on a clear day) is just outside of Talkeetna, on the Talkeetna Spur Road, or from the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge.

Uniquely, the Mat-Su Valley

ALASKA’S HIGHEST MOUNTAINSElevation

McKinley, south peak .................................................................................................................20,320McKinley, north peak ..................................................................................................................19,470Saint Elias .........................................................................................................................................18,008Foraker ..............................................................................................................................................17,400

ALASKA STATE SYMBOLSBird .............................................................................................................................. Willow PtarmiganFish .........................................................................................................................................King SalmonFossil ...........................................................................................................................Woolly MammothGem ....................................................................................................................................................... JadeMineral ..................................................................................................................................................GoldSport ....................................................................................................................................Dog MushingTree ........................................................................................................................................ Sitka SpruceFlower ..............................................................................................................................Forget-Me-Not

VICKI WARDFrontiersman reader Vicki Ward shared her photo of Mt. McKinley.

Alaskan Artwork from Fred Machetanz, Jon Van Zyle, Gail Niebrugge, Shane Lamb, Byron Birdsall, Rie Munoz, Barbara Lavallee, Nathalie Parenteau & many more!

Unique, Fun & Affordable Gifts

Voted the Valley’s Best Art Gallery!www.townsquareartgallery.com

Home!Take Alaska

907-376-0123Carrs Mall, Wasilla

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Custom Built Campers, Canopies, & Kennels

Specializing in RV Parts & Repair – Servicing Alaska Since 1971

907.745.4061

Email: [email protected] www.cachecamper.comOn Bogard Road across from the fire station near Trunk Road


Experience Mat-Su from the airIf you’re looking to bag a few peaks this sum-

mer but aren’t ready to slip on crampons and grab an ice pick to do it, several area aviators off er a wide range of fl ightseeing choices. Such fl ights also off er visitors a taste of what’s off the road system here in the Mat-Su Valley.• Sheldon Air Service Inc., Talkeetna: Th e

company’s website lists three tours, all of Mt. McKinley, ranging in price from $220 per per-son to $300 per person, with an extra charge for a glacier landing. Th e tours last one hour to 90 minutes. Contact (800) 478-2321, 733-2321 or visit sheldonairservice.com.• K2 Aviation, Talkeetna: K2 off ers four tours

of Mt. McKinley and some of the surrounding park area. Th ey range in price from $205 to $310 per person. An optional glacier landing usually runs $75 extra. Contact (800) 764-2291 or visit fl yk2.com.• Talkeetna Air Taxi, Talkeetna: TAT off ers

scenic charter fl ights, fl y-in hiking and char-ters for raft ing trips in addition to tours of Mt. McKinley. Th ere are four tours listed on TAT’s website with prices running from $199 to $300 with an optional $85 glacier landing. Contact 733-2218, (800) 533-2219 or visit talkeetnaair.com.• Willow Air Service, Willow: Th e company specializes in

guided and unguided hunting and fi shing trips, but off ers a fl ightseeing of Mt. McKinley, Hatcher Pass and the Knik Glacier. Prices vary and are based on the size of the group, but could go as low as $55 for a half-hour trip, according to the company’s website. Contact 495-6370, (800) 478-6370 or visit willowair.com.• Grasshopper Aviation, Wasilla: Grasshopper off ers charter

fl ights, fl ightseeing and fl y-in recreational fl ights. Th e company off ers tours of Mount McKinley, Prince William Sound and the Knik Glacier. Tours range in price from $185 to $34 9 per per-son. Some include glacier landings. Contact 373-6923 or visit grasshopperaviation.biz.• Last Frontier Air Ventures, Chickaloon: A helicopter compa-

ny, Last Frontier’s website off ers tours of Mt. Marcus Baker that includes tours of two glaciers: Matanuska and Knik. Contact 745-5701 or visit lfav.com.

Photos by Paul Roderick / TalkeetnaAir.comCarrying climbers, skiers and sightseers to the remote regions of Alaska is Talkeetna Air Taxi’s (TAT) specialty.

ExperienceAlaska’s Wilderness

746-22901-877-746-2290

Stunning Scenery and Wildlife

Operating out of Palmer and Wasilla Airports

Halibut DerbyMay 18 - Sept 1, 2013

WWW.VALDEZFISHDERBIES.COM

1ST PLACE: $15,000

1ST PLACE: $15,000

Silver Salmon DerbyJuly 20 - Sept 1, 2013

KIDS’PINK SALMON

DERBYJuly 20, 2013

Women’s August 10, 2013

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Silver Salmon Derby


It’s true that communities such as Barrow — 320 miles north of the Arctic Circle — in the northernmost parts of the state experience months where the sun never rises and never sets. But here in South-central Alaska, our daylight varies from Summer Solstice, when we will have 19.33 hours of daylight on June 21, to Winter Solstice, when the sun will rise for 5.18 hours Dec. 21 before sinking below the horizon again.Compare that to Barrow,

where for three months, from May to August, the sun never sets, and from mid-November to mid-January, the sun never rises. In the Mat-Su Valley, all that

sun makes ordinary garden crops grow to extraordinary sizes. Every year at the Alaska

State Fair, local folks compete to grow the biggest veggies. But year-round, Alaskans en-joy locally grown crops, such as carrots and potatoes. Look in the produce bins at

local grocery stores for Alaska Grown vegetables. Or, you can pick your seasonal favorites at various farmers markets in the area. Some local farms also of-fer people the opportunity to pick their own produce. If you want to see farming

in Alaska you’ll have to leave the main roads a bit. A drive along the Springer Loop sys-tem, the Old Glenn Highway in the Bodenburg Butte area or Palmer Fishhook Road off the Glenn Highway north of Palmer will reveal several small farms growing every-thing from vegetables and livestock to fl owers.

Midnight sun produces loads of fun, jumbo-sized veggies

ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman.comHeads of broccoli sit on display at Friday Flings in Palmer as Seth Dinkel helps a customer to fresh produce. Summer brings farm- fresh produce to stands around the region.

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Th is year marks the centennial for several Alaska milestones, including the fi rst successful summit of Denali, the fi rst airplane to fl y in Alaska and explorer Jack Dalton’s trip to the Matanuska Coalfi eld.100 years ago, trails were key to trans-

portation. Last year, 2012 marked the centennial of the Iditarod Trail, a con-tinuous winter trail between Seward and Nome to the Iditarod goldfi elds, based on ancient Alaska Native trails. More than 53 tons of gold — worth $2.1 billion at cur-rent values — was hauled from Iditarod to Seward between 1911 and 1920, mostly by dogsled.Th e annual Iditarod Trail Sled dog race

commemorates this chapter in Alaska’s history and tips its hat to the 1925 Serum Run to Nome. Winter weather prevented planed from delivering the serum and sled dog teams were called on to carry the vaccine from Nenana to Nome.As a historic fi gure, Dalton also strad-

dles this period in history when trails, sled dog teams, pack horses and river-boats were being edged out by trains, planes and automobiles. Aft er establish-

ing the fi rst All-American overland route to the Alaska gold fi elds during the Yu-kon Gold Rush, Dalton spent some time developing the transportation system in the Matanuska Valley.In the summer of 1913, Dalton led

Dr. Holmes, chief of the U.S. Bureau of Mines, and George Evans, a mining engineer consultant to the Navy, on an expedition to the abandoned Watson Mine near Chickaloon at the east end of the Matanuska Coalfi eld.At the mine, Holmes and Evans con-

cluded that a suffi cient amount of coal could recovered for a naval test shipment of 900 tons. Part of the cost-plus contract Dalton signed with the Navy required him to deliver the coal to tidewater on the Matanuska River, about 75 miles away, where the coal could be loaded in boats. To accomplish that in a wilderness with

only trail and river access, Dalton’s crews constructed about 43 miles of road and numerous bridges, and used the frozen Matanuska River as a road during the winter of 1914 to freight the 900 tons of coal by horse-drawn bobsleds.

Although the Chickaloon coal passed all steaming tests on the battleship U.S.S. Maryland, the coal in the mine was badly faulted and folded, and proved too ex-pensive to operate. So mining moved 20 miles to the west to Eska and Wishbone Hill. A spur rail line from the Alaska Rail-

road to the mines at Eska and Jonesville following Dalton’s route operated success-fully until 1970. Dalton went on to work for the Alaska Engineering Commis-sion on the construction of the Alaska Railroad.

100 years of fl ight

Th e same year Dalton led the Navy expedition to Chickaloon, a group of Fairbanks merchants shipped an airplane from Seattle to Fairbanks via steamboat for a barnstorming spectacle. Th e entre-preneurs sold tickets to the show with no concept of how the technology of air travel would alter life in the Last Frontier

Celebrating 100 years of Alaska history

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KENAI, ALASKA

KENAI, ALASKA907.283.6060qualityinnkenai.com

1-888-357-47863451 Palmdale Dr., Wasilla (Off Bogard & Seward Meridian)

www.alaskaselectinn.com

Parks Hwy.

Palmer Wasilla Hwy.

Bogard Road

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Anchorage WasillaWalmart

Great Mountain ViewsShort stroll to Wasilla Lake Front Access

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M a t a n u s k a S u s i t n a B o r o u g h

MILEAGE TO ALASKA DESTINATIONS

Alaska is big. It’s twice the size of Texas and one-fi ft h the size of the Lower 48. Alaska also boasts the northern most point in North America — Point Barrow — and the most western point — Cape Wrangell. And with 6,640 miles of coast, Alaska represents more than 50 percent of the entire U.S. coastline. Most of Alaska and the Mat-Su Borough isn’t road accessible: you need a small

plane, snowmachine or boat to reach many of our favorite places.If you are using the Alaska Atlas or the Milepost to navigate, be sure to note the

distance between gas stations and various other amenities. Also, just because a roadway’s name includes the word “highway” — such as the Denali Highway — don’t assume that means it is paved, drive-able at highway speeds and open year-round. Th e alphabetical list to the right shows some driving distances between the Mat-

Su Valley and selected Alaska destinations. Enjoy your trip.

LOCATION MILEAGEAnchorage ............................................................ 42Cantwell ..............................................................168(Denali Highway/Parks Highway Junction)Chena Hot Springs .........................................378Circle Hot Springs ...........................................478Deadhorse/Prudhoe Bay ..............................801Denali National Park ......................................195Fairbanks ............................................................316Girdwood ............................................................. 79Glennallen .........................................................147Hatcher Pass ....................................................... 26Homer .................................................................275Hope ....................................................................130Kenai ....................................................................200Kennicott ...........................................................272Knik Museum ..................................................... 25Matanuska Glacier ............................................ 60Portage ...............................................................102Seward ................................................................168Soldotna .............................................................189Talkeetna ............................................................. 70Valdez ..................................................................346Wasilla ................................................................... 10Whittier ...............................................................108Willow ................................................................... 40Willow ................................................................... 50(via Hatcher Pass Road)


BIG LAKE• Big Lake Summer Solstice, June 17 -18 — Sponsored by the Big Lake Chamber of Commerce the event includes family fun, a parade, a boat parade, water sports and games, and a triathlon featuring biking, swim-ming and running. The fun concludes with a dance/ball and the coronation of King and Queen Neptune.• Big Lake Triathlon, July 28 — A USA Triathlon-sanctioned event, which spotlights athletes swimming, running and biking. This competition starts at North Shore Campground, check in beginning at 8 a.m., shotgun start at 10 a.m. Vendors and spectators welcome. For more information, call 892-6109 or visit biglaketriathlon.org.• Independence Day celebra-tion, July 4 — includes a barbecue, band performance and fireworks.

HOUSTON• Founders Day, Aug. 17 — The third Saturday in August, the Houston community celebrates annually with a live band, free barbecue and fire-works. For more information, call 892-6557.

KNIK• Third Annual Alaska State Triathlon/Big Dog Duothlon,

Aug. 6, Sunday, check in a 9 a.m., race starts at 10 a.m. at Knik Lake, Mile 13, Knik Goose Bay Road. For more information, call Bill Fleming at 243-4709 or visit akstatetri-atholon.com.• Sunday Barbecues And Music On The Lawn, May 26 to Sept. 1, Sundays until the snow flies at Tug Bar, Mile 18.5, Knik Goose Bay Road. Enjoy open-air concerts and barbecue food served outdoors on the lawn.

• Sunday Market: 1st and 3rd Sunday’s from May 26 to Sept. 1 at the Tug Bar. For more information, contact Terry 376-5720.

PALMER• Mothers Day, May 12 — At the Musk Ox Farm just north of Palmer, Mother’s Day takes on a special meaning. All moms get in for free. Families can enjoy free tours of the farm where these ice-age crea-tures roam, graze, and even

play their version of soccer. Entertainment, games and barbecue foods will be avail-able as well. The Musk Ox farm is located at Mile 50.1, Glenn Highway. For more information, contact 745-4151.• Historic Downtown Palmer’s Friday Flings, May 19 to Aug. 18, Fridays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., an open-air park and pavilion across from the Palmer Visitors’ Center in

Schedule of summer events


Knik MuseumMushers Hall of Fame

A museum in a restored 1910 building, exhibits Knik’s Gold Rush Era, 1897-1917; Portrait Galleries, Sleds, Iditarod Sled Dog Race early history.Admission: $5, Senior, kids under 18 - $2, Family $10

Mile 13.9 Knik-Goose Bay RoadSummer Season May 30 – September 15

Th ursday – Sunday 1–6 p.m.

376-7755

2013Museum Outdoor Events

June 2nd

National Trails Day ObservedKnik Museum Open House: 1–6 pm

July 21st

Museum’s 30th Annual PicnicCome share Potluck Picnic 1–5 pm,

“Rain or Shine!” withWasilla-Knik Historical Society members

ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman.comParticipants in the 2012 Susitna Rotary Little Su Classic paddle their way along the 18-mile course of the Little-Su River from Schrock Road Bridge to the Parks Highway.


Th ere are more than 2,000 miles of rec-reational trails in the Mat-Su Valley, so for those itching to explore the area on foot this summer, here are a few possibilities.

Lazy Mountain TrailDistance: 2.5 milesEase: Moderate to diffi cultTrailhead features: Large parking area, public restrooms, picnic tables, fi re ringNearest town: Palmer Getting there: From Palmer, go east on

the Old Glenn Highway for 2.5 miles, take a left at Clark-Wolverine Road. Proceed one-half mile to a T intersection, then take a right on Huntley Road and follow it to the end, turning right at the Lazy Moun-tain Recreation Area and trailhead.Description: Th e Lazy Mountain Trail is a

steep hiking trail traversing the west slope of Lazy Mountain, climbing 3,000 feet in less than 2.5 miles. Th e fi rst half of the trail travels through wooded areas of cotton-wood, spruce, birch, aspen and tall grasses.At about the 1,500-foot elevation mark

the trail crosses into alpine tundra and of-fers good views of the Knik and Matanuska rivers and Cook Inlet.Th e trail is challenging and tends to be

muddy and slippery aft er a rain. Caution is advised. Th e round-trip hike takes about four hours to complete by the average hiker.Th e more adventurous can continue on a

primitive route along a ridge to Matanuska Peak (elevation 6,199 feet) about four miles to the southeast. Matanuska Peak is also reached from the Matanuska Peak Trail off the east end of Smith Road.

Matanuska River Park Trail SystemDistance: 1.6 milesEase: Easy to moderateTrailhead features: Large parking area, restrooms, picnic tablesNearest town: PalmerGetting there: From downtown Palmer,

travel east on the Old Glenn Highway. About a mile out of town, turn left to the park’s entrance.Description: Th e park has about 1.6 miles

of trails that form a loop from the parking areas to the river and back. Th e trails con-nect the campground, day-use area and ath-letic fi elds to the riverside. Most of the trail network traverses gentle terrain through an old-growth forest of cottonwood, birch and spruce.Th e park itself sits along an old river bot-

tom bench with small ponds and streams that provide habitat for many small animals and water birds. Th e trails also provide access to the river, where one can wander along the gravel bars and enjoy views of the Matanuska River valley and the Chugach Mountain range to the east.

Talkeetna TrailsDistance: River Trail, 1.5 miles; Ridge Trail, 4.5 miles; Old Lake Road Trail, 1.25 miles; Old RCA Trail, 2 miles.Ease: Easy to moderateTrailhead features: Small parking area and parking on roadsideNearest town: TalkeetnaGetting there: To Old Lake Road Trailhead,

go east from Mile 12.1 of the Talkeetna Spur Road on Comsat Road for .7 miles, then turn left (north) on Christiansen Lake Road. Follow the road to the end, where there is a

large turn-around and parking area.To Ridge Trail and Old RCA Trail, go east

on Comsat Road from Mile 12.1 of the Talkeetna Spur Road until the end of the road (about 3 miles) where there is a large turn-around and parking area.Description: Th e Talkeetna Trails are year-

round, multi-use trails that form a loop between the town of Talkeetna, the Talk-eetna River and the rolling hills that lie east of town. Some of the trails were originally built for cross-country skiing, while others were built for access to logging areas or are old abandoned roads.Th e trails connect users to downtown

Talkeetna along Beaver Lake Road, and to Larson Lake Trail, which heads east from the Ridge Trail. For more information, call the Mat-Su

Borough Parks and Outdoor Recreation Division at 745-9690 or visit matsugov.us. Information for this article was provided by the Mat-Su Borough Community Develop-ment Department in Palmer.

Tips for the trails• Carry water and light snacks• Dress in layers• Wear sturdy boots or shoes with good

traction• Keep animals leashed• Take a cell phone in case of emergency• Give non-motorized users right of way• Make noise to prevent surprising animals

such as bears and moose• Avoid getting between a cow moose and

her calf• Carry bear spray• Do not feed wildlife• Do not leave trash on the trails

Day Hikes

Day TripsAlaska Raft Rentals745-2447 • akraft rentals.com

Aft er 30-plus years of business, Ed and Diane Clawson are well-prepared to deal with the intricacies of river raft ing. Th e couple rent in-fl atable raft s for $155 per day ($85 per day for seven days, $75 per day for 10 days) and off er free delivery anywhere in Southcentral Alaska. Th e raft s are delivered replete with oars, life vests, rowing frames, cargo nets and patch kits.

Lifetime Adventures746-4644 • lifetimeadventures.net

Owners Barbara and Danny McDonough off er combinations of biking and kayaking trips on and around Eklutna Lake. Th ey also off er raft trips on Eagle River. Kayaks can be rented for $65 per day, and bikes can be rented for $30 .

FishTALE River Guides746-2119 • fi sh4salmon.com

Owner Andy Couch runs his fi shing guide business on the Little Susitna River and its tributaries, and the Deshka River. He operates from mid-May to mid-September and helps his clients catch all fi ve species of salmon, depending on the season. He off ers six-hour day trips for $130 per person, and eight-hour day trips for $170 per person. He also off ers multi-day lodge-based trips.

Tippecanoe (canoe, kayak rentals)495-6688

With more than 50 kayaks and canoes available for rent, it is unlikely a customer will come away empty-handed. Tippecanoe is located in the South Rolly Campground in

the Nancy Lake State Recreation Area.Hatcher Pass Lodge745-1200 • hatcherpasslodge.com

Hatcher Pass Lodge is located about 22 miles from Palmer in the Talkeetna Moun-tains. Th e lodge itself is a coal-heated A-frame restaurant. Th e nine cabins surround-ing the lodge are available for rent for $95 to $115 per night. In addition to touring Inde-pendence Gold Mine, guests are welcome to use the sauna built over a nearby creek. Matanuska Glacier

Of all of Alaska’s glaciers, Matanuska Gla-cier at Mile 102, Glenn Highway is one of the most accessible. Visitors can see the glacier from the highway, or pay $15 to park in front of it and touch it.


downtown Palmer.• Memorial Day at Veterans Wall of Honor, May 27, Monday, commencing at 11 a.m. The wall is located at Mile 33.5, Parks Hwy., near the Mat-Su Visitor Center.• Colony Days June 7-9 — This three-day festival takes place in Palmer, also known as “Alaska’s Best Kept Secret.” The event commemorates the arrival of the first “colonists” sent to the Valley in 1935 by then President Franklin D. Roosevelt to develop agricul-ture in the Alaska Territory. The festival consists of a parade on Saturday, a colony family reception, arts and crafts fair, children’s games and contests, horse-drawn wagon rides, 5K and 10K races, shopping cart races, nurseryman’s market and more. For more information, contact 745-2880.• Bill Mitchell Fun Run, June 10, Saturday, beginning 11 a.m. in downtown Palmer. A family-oriented event. Bib pickup at 9:30 a.m. There will be 5K and 1K races for people 13 years old and under. Flat course, out and back on pavement and bike trails. Call 745-2880. • Palmer Pride Picnic, July 28 — The downtown Palmer business community host this annual event. Includes locally made Palmer Pride hot dogs with all the trimmings, music, awards and lots of fun! For more information, contact 745-3330 or 745-2880.• Ag Appreciation Day, Aug. 5 — This event celebrates the Mat-Su’s agriculture and farming community and is held at the University of Alaska’s Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station, located at Mile 0.5 Trunk Road. The event features a free barbecue, wagon rides, a petting zoo, a display of antique farm equipment, a plowing demonstration,

games, music and lots of fun for the entire family. For more information, contact 746-9450.• Alaska State Fair, Aug. 22-Sept. 2 — This year’s fair theme, “Fun Matters,” pretty well sums up the annual Alaska State Fair, in Palmer. Fair displays and competi-tions run the gamut from archery to racing pigs, and animal husbandry to locally made honey. The fair features a wide variety of rides, like the Ferris wheel, as well as a host of vendors and food booths. Several nationally known performers, as well as local artists, provide music, dancing and other entertainment. The event is capped off each year with the judging of the giant cabbages. The annual Alaska State Fair Parade is Aug. 26 in downtown Palmer. For more information, contact 745-4827.

SUTTON• Sutton Old Timer’s Picnic, July — Just 13 miles north of Palmer is Sutton an old coal-mining area that supplied Anchorage with fuel until the end of World War II. Each year, Sutton residents gather for the Old Timer’s Picnic, a potluck honoring the coal miners. • Summer Music Festival, TBA — Dates for the annual Sutton Summer Music Festival were not available as this guide went to press, but the event features some of Alaska’s finest fiddlers, bluegrass and other musicians.• Annual Classic Car Show, TBA — Dates for Sutton’s Classic Car Show were not available as this guide went to press, but there are a number of avid classic car enthusiasts in Mat-Su and almost all of them make it to Sutton to show off that 1934 Chevy pickup truck.

TALKEETNA• Second Saturday — Celebrate Second Saturday

on the second Saturday of each month year-round in Talkeetna.• Cliff Hudson Memorial Fly-In, May 18 — Annual two day event honoring the memory and aviation legacy of Cliff Hudson and the Hudson Aviation family. Activities include a poker run, aircraft perfor-mance demonstrations, fly-over, silent auction, pancake feed, Young Eagles Flights and much more. Click title above for more details and link to event webpage.• Miner’s Day Softball Tournament, May 25 — This Memorial Weekend soft-ball tournament is all that’s left of the past Miner’s Day Festival. Softball field is located on C Street, south of the Roadhouse.• May (TBA), Miner’s Day

Celebration — The specific date for this event was not announced by press time. Nonetheless, the residents of this town where three rivers converge (the Susitna, Kashwitna and Chulitna rivers) get together every year to celebrate the town’s mining history. Events include a parade, prospectors’ ball, softball tournament, entertain-ment, games, arts and crafts, and food.• July 7-9, Talkeetna Moose Drop Festival — Weekends throughout the summer will feature a series of celebrations. No, residents do not drop moose from great heights — the “droppings” refers to those oval brown pellets moose leave behind. For more information, contact 733-2487, or visit talk-eetnanews.com.

Schedule of summer eventsContinued from Page 13


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For folks visiting our part of the world, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race may seem like something feath-ered from the pages of a classic Jack London novel. But for us it’s just part of life. In March every year the world turns its eyes north to focus on this race that pairs humans and dogs in a more than 1,150-mile test of endurance and skill.For the other 11 months of the year, folks like 2012

champ Dallas Seavey, four-time champ Martin Buser and the mushing Redington family are just some of our neighbors. We see them in the grocery store, at the gas station and, if you know where to look, you can catch perennial favorite DeeDee Jonrowe round-ing the bases for a local soft ball team.Th is year was the 41st running of the Last Great

Race on Earth. Its offi cial start is in Willow and teams of canine and human athletes compete to be fi rst to pass beneath the burled arch in Nome, which marks the fi nish line.Th e Iditarod Trail, now a National Historic Trail,

had its beginnings as a mail and supply route from the coastal towns of Seward and Knik to the Inte-rior mining camps at Ophir, Ruby and beyond to the west coast communities of Unalakleet, Elim, Golovin, White Mountain and Nome. Sled dog teams delivered mail and supplies along the trail and packed out gold.Knik and Wasilla residents Joe Redington Sr. and

Dorothy Page are considered co-founders of the Iditarod. Redington’s sons and grandsons continue to raise and race sled dogs in the Knik area.

Th e Alaska Railroad has been part of the transportation landscape in the Mat-Su for nearly 100 years.Today, the railroad serves as

everything from a freight haul-er to a high-end, luxury tour operator to a fl agstop service

that provides vital transporta-tion access for many Valley residents who live off the road system. Here are some of your options for riding the rails in Alaska.Luxury: Since 2005, the

railroad has operated glass-

domed, double-decker GoldStar trains in the state. In the Valley, they ferry tourists to Denali and some of Alaska’s most beautiful scenery.On the cheap: In addition

to the cheaper, non-GoldStar trains, the railroad off ers dis-counts for folks willing to ride in the off -season. For example, an $89 Anchorage to Talkeetna ticket in the summer costs just $70 in the spring and fall.Flagstop: In the northern

part of the Valley, along the 60 miles between the city of Talkeetna and the area known as Hurricane, Bush residents live in remote and isolated cabins completely off the road system. Some depend on the Alaska Railroad for transportation, hauling their groceries, building materials

and other small freight. On the Talkeetna-Hurricane Turn, anyone can stop the train and disembark anywhere along the route or hop aboard by fl ag-ging down the train. It’s one of the last fl agstop trains in the nation and a unique Alaska experience.Off the rails: Th ough the ride

is hard to top, the Alaska Rail-road isn’t just a train trip. Th e railroad also off ers excursions and day trips. For example, the $169 Flagstop Rail and Sustina River Float day trip includes a trip down a glacially fed river and tons of wildlife.Do your homework: For

fares, reservations, schedules and to read descriptions of the various tours, head to alas-karailroad.com or call (800) 544-0552.

Riding the rails in the Valley

Iditarod legends are our neighbors

ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman.comSheryl Ketchum and her daughter, Kirsten, take a ride with Raymie Redington at Iditarod Trail Headquarters in Wasilla.

Discover local happenings with the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, serving the community since 1947.

We publish every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. Pick up a copy and see what Valley life is all about!

Want to know the REAL Mat-Su Valley?

Mat-Su Valley

VOLUME 65, NUMBER 72

75 CENTS

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Junior’sa JetFormer Palmer standout inks NFL deal.

SPORTS, B1

TrailblazersDelias honored with Redington Founders Award.VALLEY LIFE, A10

In thepink

Valley Mover has plenty left in the tank.BUSINESS, A8

Inside

Published for the Mat-Su Valley and Jesse Devriesof Palmer.

SUNDAY, MARCH 3, 2013 | FRONTIERSMAN.COM

© Frontiersman 2013

Weather

Partly sunny.Full forecast, PAGE A2

HIGH: 30sLOW: 15

Staring order and tips for getting to the Willow restartBY ANDREW WELLNERFrontiersman.comWILLOW — So who’s your pick for

this year’s Iditarod? Defending champ Dallas Seavey is

back for another try. Or will Yukon

Quest champ Allen Moore repeat Lance

Mackey’s stunning feat and win both

races in the same year? How about a vet-

eran like Dallas’ dad Mitch? What about

Jeff King? That guy seems to be able to

pull out victories many years apart. Or

how about Aily Zirkle or Ramey Smyth,

who placed second and third last year?

Whoever it is, they’re all at the starting

line today in Willow, where the race offi-

cially begins after its ceremonial start in

IT’S RACE DAY!

2013 IDITAROD TRAIL SLED DOG RACE

Editor’s note: Musher Kelly Maixner has

agreed to participate in a series of stories for

this year’s Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race as a

means of telling the story of the race through

his eyes. We will be checking in with him as

the race continues up the trail to Nome.BY ANDREW WELLNERFrontiersman.comPALMER — On a Saturday afternoon with

the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race just a week

away, Kelly Maixner said he’s very close to

prepared. All of his supplies have been shipped and

dropped off along the trail and he has his

team is together, save for two spots. And he’s

planning a practice run to figure out which

dogs will claim those slots.“I’ve got four dogs I’m deciding on,” he

said. He said all of this in his backyard. Which,

chances are, looks nothing like yours.

Maixner’s contains a kennel for puppies, but

the rest is laid out in a grid of doghouses with

sled dogs attached to each one B

a dentist by trade, lives in Big Lake, way back

from the main road. There’s lots of room

to run and not many neighbors. In other

words, a great place for a kennel. “I love it out here. I wouldn’t change that

part even if I wasn’t a musher,” Maixner said.

Some of the dogs gnaw on bones — leg

bones, but also the odd spinal column, scraps

from one of Maixner’s sponsors, Mat Valley

Meats — others excitedly seek the attention

of anyone nearby. “They’re all pretty friendly guys and girls,”

Maixner said. He’s working on one of his sleds. On a

practice run the night before — he took a

trip to Dallas Seavey’s place in Willow — he

broke the brake. Eventually, he gives up on

fixing it and drags a second sled up to where

he’s going to harness the dogs “Every time I drag one of these around I

can’t believe they pull it so effortlessly,” he

said. He said he expects this Id

ter than pre i

Valley musher eager to hit the trail

See ORDER, Page A3

ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman

Iditarod veteran Kelly Maixner leads one of his dogs across the dog yard before a training run last week. Maixner was running a team of 20

dogs in order to decide which of his team would be making the run to Nome during this year’s Iditarod.

City s k


Schedule of summer eventsWASILLA

For more information, all call the Chamber office at 376-1299, or visit wasillaevents.com.

• 5th annual Last Ball of the Season Golf Tournament — Settlers Bay Golf Course — mid-September each year • Memorial Day, May 29 — Military veterans and their families gather at the Veterans’ Wall of Honor at the Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau to commemorate and honor Americans who have served their nation in the military. The gathering features a few guest speakers, a jet fly-over courtesy of the Alaskan Air Command, and other activities. • 3rd annual Machetanz Art Festival, June 1 — Mat-Su College, 8295 E. College Dr., Palmer. The festival includes art workshops and costs range from $25 to $50. For more information, visit matsu.alaska.edu/maf.• Curtis C. Menard Run, June 3, check in at 9 a.m., race begins at 10, at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center. For more information, call 746-2841 or visit menardrun.com.• ‘Why Not Tri Wasilla Triathlon,’ June 15 — at the Wasilla Pool, 701 E. Bogard Road in Wasilla. Event

includes a 400-meter swim, 9.25-mile bike ride and 3-mile run. Registration is limited to 500 racers. The event begins at 9 a.m., June 15 at Wasilla High School. This year, the race also includes a competition for kids aged 6 to 12, Why Not Tri Kids. That event begins at 2 p.m. at the Wasilla pool and is limited to 175 racers. For more information, contact Heather Hogge at [email protected] or 727-3066, or visit whynot-triwasilla.net.• Mat-Su 2013 Relay For Life, June 14-15 — Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the American Cancer Society at this year’s Relay for Life event on the Wasilla High School track. For more information, visit matsurelay.org.• Fourth of July Parade, July 4 — annually in downtown Wasilla. • Great Alaska Machinery Show, Aug. 19-20 — The Alaska Museum of Transportation and Industry, located near the Wasilla City Airport, annually shows off its treasures. The show features operating steam, gasoline and diesel engines, a tractor show and hay rides. The show also features the Alaska Live Steamers train ride, and a chili and corn bread feed at the Whistle Stop Caboose. For more information, contact 376-1211.

WILLOW

• July 4 — The small town on the Parks Highway beyond Big Lake and Houston is very big on community spirit. Each July 4, the community gathers for the annual parade from the Willow Trading Post to the Willow Community Center, complete with costumes. Willow also boasts one of the first good views of Mount McKinley. For more information, contact 495-6633.• Willow Trading Post Annual Potato Festival, Sept. 28 — On the last Saturday of September each year, the hardy residents of this community gather at the Willow Trading Post (look for signs along the Parks Highway), which hosts an annual competi-tion for the largest potato sculpture using whole potatoes, the largest potato, smallest potato and numerous other “spud” cate-gories. The event features a free potato buffet, music is provided and dancing is, of course, the “mashed potato.”

Continued from Page 15


Home of the Grizz

Friendly Alaskan hospitality and a quiet, good night’s restfor our guests.

over the next 100 years.Th ose Alaskans had no concept of how the technology of air

would completely alter life on the ground. Today Alaskans fl y 30 times more per capita than other U.S. citizens, partially because about 80 percent of Alaska is not accessible by road. Flying is part of life in the Mat-Su Borough, which has the highest con-centration of pilots, planes and airports in the U.S.On the 100th anniversary of that historic 1913 fl ight, the

Anchorage Museum will display “Arctic Flight: A Century of Alaska Aviation” through Aug. 11. Th e exhibit is co-curated by the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum and features objects from the Smithsonian and several Alaska museums, including the Alaska Aviation Museum and Pioneer Air Museum.Tickets are included with general admission: $12 adult, $9

student/senior/military, $7 child, free age 2 and younger. Learn more and buy tickets at anchoragemuseum.org.

Denali Centennial Climb 2013Th is spring, the Denali Centennial Climb began its journey to

commemorate the fi rst successful summit of North America’s tallest mountain, Mount McKinley. Also known by its Alaska Native name, Denali.Th e team includes descendants of the 1913 team. Hudson

Stuck and Harry Karstens led the original team, which included Robert Tatum and three Alaska Native youths, Walter Harper, 21, John Fred, 16, and Esaias George, 14. Harper owns a place in history as the fi rst to reach Denali’s summit.

Alaska history


Traveling 60 miles down a dirt road can be tricky. Formerly a small-gauge rail-road, it could “surprise” its users with a remnant of its past, such as railroad spikes and splintered ties rising through the dusty, beaten path.In 1900, prospectors Jack Smith and

Clarence Warner reportedly looked up and noticed a large green spot on the mountain near Kennicott Glacier and wondered what it could be. It is said to have been the discovery of the richest deposit of copper ore ever found. In 1906 Kennecott Mines Company was formed, later becoming Kennecott Copper Cor-poration and marking the birth of the once-fl ourishing town.Located in the 12-million acre Wrangell-

St. Elias National Park and Preserve, the historical landmarks of McCarthy and Kennecott mines are well worth the trip. In June 1998 the National Park Service acquired many of the signifi cant build-ings and lands in Kennecott and began restoration of the broken-down histori-cal buildings, bringing back to life the impressive beauty of this once rich com-munity.McCarthy and Kennecott are not acces-

sible by car. Visitors must park at the end of the road where it meets the Kennicott River. A pedestrian-only bridge, built in 1997 to replace the former tram, crosses the river providing the only summer access.Cars and trucks are brought across

the river in the winter when the river is frozen. In the summer, tourists can also catch fl ights to the looming glacier. For more information about the McCar-

thy/ Kennecott area, visit alaskavisitors-information.com/mccarthy-kennicott/index.htm.

McCarthy — Sister to Kennecott, and the end of the road

ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman.comGold panning in the Hatcher Pass area is popular among locals and visitors.

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Lake Louise is known for its fi ne lake trout fi shing and abundant photo oppor-tunities. Lake Louise Road is located at Mile 160 of the Glenn Highway. Th e road will take you north on 17 miles of state-maintained gravel. Lake Louise was an R&R stop for the U.S. military during the construction of the Glenn Highway during World War II, but as it was originally only accessible by fl oatplane, the army decided to build the access road. Today, Lake Louise is still the destination

of choice for a little R&R, be it rest and relaxation or recreation and outdoor fun. Accommodations range from luxurious to “roughing it.” Th ere are several lodges to stay at, and a state campground off ers camping sites (15-night limit), a picnic shelter, handicap-accessible restrooms, fresh water and a boat launch. Th ere is a daily parking fee for picnicking and a camping fee for overnight stays. Many lodges off er RV hook-ups as well.Lake Louise also boasts a general store,

small gas station and rental movie busi-ness and boat storage facility. Some lodges also operate liquor stores on site.Known for its world-class fi shing op-

portunities, the lake is home to lake trout, whitefi sh, burbot and Arctic grayling. Bear in mind that trout average up to 12 pounds at Lake Louise, so bring a big net.Th e Nelchina caribou herd migrates

through the area each spring and fall, and the lake is also a nesting site for cormo-rants and about 800 pairs of trumpeter swans — a fourth of the continent’s popu-

lation of those swans nests in the Copper River region. Willow ptarmigan, rock ptarmigan, white-tailed ptarmigan, spruce grouse and a wide variety of ducks can be found in the area. Larger animals — such as wolves, black and brown bears, foxes, moose and even the elusive wolverine — can be spotted occasionally as well.Th e state of Alaska maintains a gravel

airstrip and fl oatplane site at the south end of the lake, which tends to be rather busy in summer, especially on weekends, as the lake is a popular weekend getaway for Anchorage and Valley residents. Th ere are also several private strips.

Get your boat on at Lake Louise

ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman.comAn angler prepares to release a small rainbow trout back into Cottonwood Creek.

Playing on or in the water in Alaska is not the same as enjoying boating, fishing or canoeing in warmer climates. In Alaska, cold water contributes to many drowning deaths each year. The human body is designed to react when it comes in contact with cold water. Those involuntary reactions including inhaling when cold water touches the skin. This can fill the lungs with water and lead to drowning. Heart attack and hypothermia also are factors in Alaska’s high rate of drowning deaths. Wear a life jacket. Stay seated. If your buddy falls in, do not go in after them.

Use a paddle or throw a life preserve to them to increase the chances that both parties survive. Kids Don’t Float racks at many local lakes provide life preserves for children. Boats and canoes are rented with flotation devices, but it’s up to the adults in the party to make sure everyone wears their protective gear and follows safe boating practices.

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Th e city of Houston was established by the Alaska Rail-road in 1917, the same year as Wasilla. Situated along the Parks High-

way, Houston has its attrac-tions, such as the Little Susitna River, a plethora of fi reworks stands and Miller’s Market, where tourists treat themselves to soft -serve ice-cream.During the trans-Alaska pipe-

line construction boom, the town’s name caused confusion among workers from other, smaller oil-producing states. Th e confusion prompted locals to display bumper stickers that read, “No, Damn it! Houston, Alaska.”Today, visitors to Houston

are greeted by a wood relief welcome sign carved by Valley sign artist Mike McVay. Th e sign depicts a salmon jumping, a bear, spruce trees, two snow-covered mountain peaks and a rising sun above — as if to say: “Houston has a bright future,

but we’d like to keep the trees, fi sh and critters intact, thank you.”Th e Little Susitna River passes

through Houston and boasts some of the best salmon fi shing in Southcentral Alaska. Both the city of Houston and state of Alaska have campgrounds near the town’s center. A great summer fi shing trip is to fl oat a raft or canoe down the Little Su River from the campground near Houston City Hall to Burma Landing.Th e city campground is

known for being a quiet spot along the Little Su. Th at’s primarily because it is upriver from the Parks Highway, where salmon fi shing is not allowed. Th e babbling brook runs past the campground, but the throngs of fi sherman trampling the banks are conspicuously — and thankfully if you’re a tent camper — absent.Within easy reach of this quiet

campground you can hike the

Talkeetna Mountains in Hatch-er Pass State Recreation Area, drive to Big Lake for power

boating or explore the canoe trails of Nancy Lake State Rec-reation Area in Willow.

Houston a haven for summer recreation

ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman.comTeam 11 heads out from the Little-Su starting point of the Houston Founders Day third annual Little-Su Float Classic.

Did you know?Houston off ers public restrooms, overnight parking and hiking trails at the Hatcher Pass trailhead off Zero Lake Road at Mile 59, Parks Highway.

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Located from Miles 66-67 of the Parks Highway is the community of Willow, a gold mining town dating back to the early 1900s that was once slated to be the state capital until Alaska voters rejected the price tag of moving the capital from Juneau. Th e great attraction to the

Willow area is recreation. Many fl ightseeing and fi shing services operate from Willow, off ering tours to see Denali or to some otherwise inaccessible fi shing and camping or hunt-ing spots.Th e Willow Community

Center, open daily, off ers visi-tors parking, showers, a boat launch area, ball fi eld and a covered picnic pavilion. Campgrounds on either side of Willow Creek allow tent or RV camping, and a limited number of motel rooms are available for those less adven-turous souls. Willow-Hatcher Pass Road,

just north of town and south of Willow Creek, allows visitors to travel 20-plus miles (half of it unpaved) up into the north side of Hatcher Pass, where beaver dams and lodges

can be seen along with old and new gold mining activity. In late summer, this side of the pass is frequented by those harvesting Alaska’s low bush blueberries amid the scenery of the pass.Just west of Willow are the

Susitna River, Willow Creek and Willow Creek State Recre-ation Area, with campgrounds and picnic areas. Th is area is also a prime spot for king salmon, silver salmon and rainbow trout fi shing. Just east of Willow is Hatcher

Pass. Brimming with breath-taking views, Hatcher Pass has long been a favorite of hikers, campers and those who come to see the never-ending vistas. Independence Mine provides a glimpse to the past when the area was heavily mined. Many well-known Iditarod

mushers make their home in Willow, with more enter-ing the race every year. Th e reliable amount of snow in the area makes it an ideal place to raise and train sled dogs. Willow is also the Iditarod

restart location to mark the offi cial start to “Th e Last Great Race.”

Hiking, fishing hooks many on Willow

ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman.comNoah Asay, left, Ethan Anderson, center, and August Asay paddle their way across Kelly Lake in Willow.

Mat-Su 2010 Census population: 89,995. The population increased by 50 percent from the 2000 U.S. Census — up from 59,322 — making the Mat-Su the fastest-growing region of the state and one of the fastest growing regions in the whole country.

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DISCOVER DOWNTOWN PALMER!Palmer is one of the few Alaska towns with a beautiful downtown district, filled with a rich history, and surrounded by breathtaking mountain scenery.

Downtown has ample parking space and is easy to explore on foot with wide sidewalks lining the streets. You will find an ever-growing and interesting mix of shops offering unique Alaskan made arts and crafts, antiques, Alaskan delicacies, quilts, and so much more. Palmer’s Visitor Center and Museum of History & Arts are also located downtown.

After exploring downtown, relax and refuel at one of the several cafes and restaurants lining the downtown streets. Some of them offer sidewalk or patio seating to enjoy the surrounding mountain vistas.

Every Friday, from May through September, Palmer’s weekly market, Friday Fling, offers locally grown produce, Alaskan arts and crafts as well as live entertainment. The market is located on the green across from the visitors center.


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Nestled between the Chugach and Talkeetna mountains, and alongside the Matanuska River, the city of Palmer is the home of those huge Alaska cabbages that show up in magazines and on postcards. Palmer is located in the

eastern reaches of the Mat-Su Valley and enjoys a close prox-imity to the many places that have made the Valley a Mecca for recreational enthusiasts of all kinds. Th e city off ers a historic

downtown area complete with many old structures, and several parks and other public recreation areas, including tennis courts, baseball fi elds and an indoor swimming pool. Th e log-cabin visitor’s center, located in downtown Palmer, is a good place to start for all activities both within the city and without.Th e Palmer Public Library

and Palmer Visitor Center are right across the street from each other. Take photos near the old train or standing in front of Palmer’s water tower with mountains in the back-ground.If shopping is the vacation

ideal, Friday Flings off ers just that, plus a fresh-air venue to purchase those famous Valley-grown vegetables and fl ow-ers as they become available sometime in late July, as well as Alaskan-craft ed jewelry, pottery and handmade soaps. Th e weekly event kicks off May 11, and will be held in the pavilion area directly across from the Palmer Visi-tors Center from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., every Friday through Aug. 17.

Colony DaysHeld June 7-9, the Colony

Days festival pays tribute

to the history of Palmer. Hosted by the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce, the event is rich in history and fun. Th e small town feel to Palmer lends a very personal feeling to the event. Th ere is a Saturday parade, sidewalk art for children, the Bill Mitchell 5K Fun Run/Walk for children and adults, and events such as a quilt walkabout, a smoked salmon contest, craft land-scape and open-air markets. Hayrides whisk people around town, while music is pro-vided by the Air Force Band stationed at the Palmer Depot lawn.

Alaska State Fair

Another can’t-miss event in the Palmer area is the Alaska State Fair, Aug. 22 through Sept. 2. Th ere is more to the fair than live concerts, hypno-tists and fi reworks displays.

The Butte

Th e Butte is an unincorpo-rated community to the south of Palmer. Like Palmer, it has its roots in farming and was fi rst planted by the Bodenburg family in 1917. To this day, the area is oft en called the Bodenburg Butte. Th e Butte is a gateway not only to the Knik River and Pioneer Peak beyond it, but also Jim Creek and Jim Lake, popular rural recreation and fi shing areas.

Hiking

Close to Palmer are several popular hiking trails, such as Lazy Mountain, Matanuska Peak, Crevasse Moraine, Bonnie Lake and Finger Lake. Th e Kepler-Bradley Lakes State Recreation Area south of downtown Palmer along the Glenn Highway also provides a popular site for hiking, fi sh-ing and boating. Trails run along the glacier-fed Mata-nuska River southeast of the city as well.One of the most popular

activities in the Butte area is climbing the rise for which the area is named. Hiking up the Butte is relatively quick, but strenuous, and provides a 180-degree scenic view of mountains, glaciers, farmland, rivers and cities within the Mat-Su.

Large and in charge

• Another tourist attraction in Palmer is the Musk Ox Farm located to the north of the city. Th is farm is home to 200 musk oxen that provide qiviut, a soft underwool that is woven into garments by local Native craft smen.• Th e Reindeer Farm, an

agricultural company raising domesticated caribou, also can be found in the Butte, and tours of the grounds are held on a regular basis.

Palmer home to Alaska State Fair

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Great Valley drivesFor a lot of locals, Alaska’s

scenic byways serve a utilitar-ian function. Valleyites use the Parks and Glenn highways to get to work or get their shop-ping done. But the federal government

has noticed something the locals, even those bleary-eyed commuters, have long realized — there are some spectacular views to take in along those highways. Th e Valley is the only Alaska community to get two nods on the list of byways. Here’s a rundown of those two, plus one drive that is a local favorite.

The Glenn HighwayEven that portion in Anchor-

age with streetlights and sa-loons is listed as a byway up to about Chickaloon. While the Anchorage end of things might not be the most picturesque, federal offi cials made a good choice in the Glenn. Once the highway is free of Anchorage’s stoplights, the views of the Palmer Hay Flats, Bodenburg Butte and the Knik Arm are hard to beat. Here are some of the better spots to stop: • Th e Palmer Hay Flats Game

Refuge: Volunteers have long been working to build a sci-ence center there. Until then, there are trails to explore, at least one lake to visit and broad vistas of the hay fl ats and Cook Inlet beyond. For trail maps and information on eff orts to

preserve the area, visit palmer-hayfl ats.org. • Knik River Public Use Area:

Accessible from the Old Glenn Highway rather than the new Glenn, just drive down to the water next to the Knik River Bridge and you’re there. Th ere are also parking lots on some of the Butte’s side streets. Th e area has long been a popular destination for campers and ATV users. • Bodenburg Butte: Also

accessible from the Old Glenn, the Butte is a quick nature hike with breathtaking views from the top and lots of nature to take in. Th e Butte is a storied landmark for locals. • Th e Matanuska River: Once

the highway passes through Palmer, it begins to more or less follow the path of the Matanuska River. Th e highway has a handful of pullouts with interpretive signs off ering facts about the river. Some are choked with glacial silt blown in off the riverbanks below. At least one bears the local nick-name “the blowhole.” Come on a windy day to fi nd out why. • Sutton/Chickaloon: Th e

area was once the scene of coal mining in the Valley. Some hope it might be again. But for now, mining is a thing found in museums, most notably at Mile 61.6 of the highway with the Alpine Historic Park, which seeks to preserve the history of the area, including its coal mining. Also in Sutton/

Chickaloon there are lodges and cafés and campgrounds, as well as river raft ing and horse-back riding. • Th e Matanuska Glacier:

You can drive right up to the thing and hike around on it. Th ere’s camping nearby. It’s really hard to fi nd something bad to say about the glacier.

The Parks HighwayValleyites might be shocked

to learn the highway, with views that tend to be of park-ing lots and grocery stores, has made the list. But the section the feds took notice of is likely the same one most everyone who’s driven it has: the bit between Trapper Creek and Fairbanks. Here are some things to keep an eye out for: • Talkeetna.• South Denali Wayside:

It’s hard to miss, with its RV-clogged parking lot and

big boardwalks and interpre-tive signs. Th e views of the mountain, though, make it a must-stop.• Broad Pass: Th ere’s a pullout

here and wide vistas of the mountainous terrain that sur-rounds you. • Glitter Gulch: Th e entrance

to Denali National Park is fi lled with sandwich shops and ice cream stores, raft ing guides and hotels. Some might call it a tourist trap. We call it a tidy place for a bathroom break and a quick bite to eat.• Denali National Park: Driv-

ing in the park is strictly regu-lated, so don’t expect to be able to just tool around in there. To fully use that park road you need to hop on a bus. • Hurricane Gulch: Mile 174

of the highway, just past the park, contains the stunning bridge over Hurricane Gulch.


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Th ere aren’t a lot of places to stop and take pictures, but the views are breathtaking.• A few notes: Th e scenic por-

tion of the highway is an hour and a half drive from Wasilla, so plan accordingly. Try not to be disappointed if you can’t get a glimpse of Denali. Weather obscures it for a good portion of the year.

The FishhooksAny list of scenic drives in

the Valley isn’t really complete without at least a mention of the Fishhook system. It’s the path to Hatcher Pass, one of the true natural gems of the Valley.• How to do it: Most locals

agree that the best way to drive through Hatcher Pass in the summer is to take Willow Fishhook Road up to the pass and go back down on Palmer Fishhook Road.• What you’ll see: Th e drive

takes you through rough mountain terrain, along streams and past shear rock walls. It’s not uncommon to see moose, marmots and foxes. • Th e destination: Aft er a

series of switchbacks and pullouts you end up at the top of the pass, with rugged peaks at your back and the broadest possible view of the Valley at your feet.• Independence Mine State

Historical Park: Located at the top of the pass, the mine produced millions of dollars in gold during the 1930s and 1940s. At its peak, it employed 204 men. Many of the mine’s buildings have been restored, but the piles of rubble with mining equipment visible inside have their charm as well. Mining still goes on up there and there’s private property abutting the park, so be mind-ful of the signs when wander-ing the grounds.

Great Valley drivesContinued from Page 25

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Among its other natural wonders, the Valley is home to two of the most visited glaciers in the state. What keeps visitors coming back? One word — accessibility.

While one might need a plane to get to Ruth Glacier in Denali National Park or to Colony Glacier in Chugach State Park, all it takes to get to the Matanuska and Knik glaciers is a car, ATV or boat.

Knik Glacier• Location: at the head of the Knik River• How do you reach it: By boat or by ATV. Tour operators will

gladly take you there and let you watch ice calve into the frigid river. • Fun fact: Knik Glacier was used as the setting of a Klingon

ice-planet prison in “Star Trek VI.”

Matanuska Glacier• Location: Mile 102, Glenn Highway• How do you reach it: In your car. Th ere’s plenty of parking

and also nearby camping. • What do you do there: Th e glacier is a popular hiking des-

tination and the tour is not a demanding one. You can hire a guide or go solo. Be prepared to get a little wet, though. • Fun fact: Ice worms aren’t actually a myth; they feed on algae

and pollen that thrive in glacial conditions. Th ere are also ice fl eas — wingless, springtail bugs that live in glacial snow.

See a glacier up close

ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman.comThe Matanuska glacier, near mile 100 of the Glenn Highway, provides an opportunity to get close to a glacier.

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Less than an hour’s drive north of Palmer on the Glenn High-way you’ll fi nd the village of Chickaloon and the small town of Sutton. Like many small towns in the Mat-Su Borough, the riches

found in Sutton are no longer in its mineral resources, but its history. To reach Sutton, you must follow a curving and wind-ing highway for about 11 miles into the hills of the Chugach and Talkeetna mountain ranges. Amidst the peak and valleys, you can see how the terrain would lend itself to mining. Sutton was founded around 1918 as a station on the Mata-

nuska branch of the Alaska Railroad, but Ahtna and Dena’ina

Athabascan Natives have occupied the area for centuries. For a time during the Russian fur trading era, the route through what is now Sutton was used to transport furs along the Mata-nuska River to Copper Fort in the east. Th e railroad used to run along what is now the Glenn Highway, up through Sutton to the Chickaloon coal mine farther north. Th e Sutton Coal Washery, a million-dollar operation built by

the U.S. Navy, operated from 1920 to 1922, and visitors can see the concrete remains of the washery at the Alpine Historical Park, an outdoor museum. You can visit the Alpine Historical Park at Mile 61.5 of the

Glenn Highway (745-7000), open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Th ere is no admission fee. Th e park off ers a nice expanse of lawns and gardens with a

playground, as well as benches and picnic tables. Th e Park highlights three main stages of local history: the Athabascan Native culture (Ahtna and Den’aina); the coal “boom and bust” era of the late teens and early 1920s, including relics and his-toric buildings from the coal washery; and the construction of the Glenn Highway. Picnic or go boating or fi shing at Coyote Lake or Slipper Lake. Th e Coyote Lake Recreation Area off ers day-use picnic areas,

a pavilion and several hiking trails. Both lakes are stocked with rainbow trout by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Specimens of fossilized wood, leaves, stems and seeds, as well as rocks can be collected from nearby Stump Dump, Wishbone

Go north for adventure and history


ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman.comChanging colors make for a colorful scenic photo as the summer season transitions into fall in the Talkeetna Mountain Range just outside Palmer near Buffalo Mine Road.

Spectacular Mountainviews surround you as you

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Hill and Coyote Lake. Chickaloon’s residents mine

another resource: adventure. Th e area is a favorite spot for river raft ers, and local com-panies off er tours on both the Matanuska and Chickaloon rivers, as well as horseback

riding, hiking and gold pan-ning trips into the surround-ing Talkeetna Mountains. Th e Chickaloon River off ers

mostly Class II and Class III raft ing, which is suitable for most family members over age 12.

Go northContinued from Page 28

ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman.comBreanna McGuire, left, and Deanna Irwin-Gee enjoy a ride along one of the many Mat-Su Borough trails.

1/2 mile up Clark-Wolverine Roadoff the Old Glenn Hwy

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KID’S STUFF AT A GLANCEA-Moose-Ment Park: 420 W. Fern Ave.,

behind the Moose Lodge just west of Alaska Street. Th e park off ers a play-ground, benches and a picnic pavilion.

Bouncing Bears: On Bogard Road between Crusey Street and Seward-Me-ridian Parkway, 2951 E. Bogard Road. It’s an indoor infl atable playground, off ering 2,500 square feet of fun. Parents can’t leave their kids here alone. Admission buys two hours of jumping and is on a sliding scale from $5 for very young kids up to $15 for teens over 15.

Golfi ng: Palmer and Wasilla off er a variety of golf courses to practice your swing or play a few holes. Two of them, Sleepy Hollow in Wasilla and Fishhook Glenn in Palmer, off er excellent nine-hole courses for beginning golfers. Palmer has a very forgiving municipal court near the airport and Settler’s Bay on Knik-Goose Bay Road is a full course with all the ame-nities.

Iditapark Park aka Wonderland Park: Located a block north of the Parks High-way with Nelson Road on its northern


ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman.comSpencer Crane, 7, left, and Garrett Pierce, 7, inspect their net for minnows on a warm afternoon at Knik Lake.

Mat-Su• 2010 Census population: 89,995.

Th e population increased by 50 percent from the 2000 U.S. Census — up from 59,322 — making the Mat-Su the fastest-growing region of the state and one of the fastest growing regions in the whole country. During the past decade, the population of Knik increased by more than 111 percent.• Local government: Th e Matanuska-

Susitna Borough was incorporated in 1964. It includes the incorporated cities of Houston, Palmer and Wasilla, along with several other unincorporated communities.• Earthquakes: Th e West Coast and

Alaska Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer detects about 100 quakes a week throughout the state, but most temblors are small. Th ere is always potential to have a devastating earthquake, such as the one that shook Alaska in 1964, so preparedness is essential.• Schools: Th e Mat-Su Borough School

District is home to 45 schools, ranging in enrollments from 12 to more than 1,300 students.

Alaska• Th e 1,875-mile long Yukon River is

the longest river in Alaska and the third longest in the United States.• Alaska does not allow billboard

advertising.• Alaska has the highest percentage of

people who walk to work.• Alaska encompasses more than

591,000 square miles, or 378,242,560 acres.• Alaska has 50 percent more seacoast

that all of the contiguous states com-bined — about 33,900 miles.• Alaska has six geographical regions:

the Arctic, the Panhandle (or South-east), Southcentral, Southwestern, Western and Interior Alaska.• Th e Alaska Highway opened in 1942

and was the fi rst road to connect the state with the contiguous United States.• Alaska became the 49th state on Jan.

3, 1959.• In 1968, it was announced that a

substantial fl ow of natural gas was found in the Arctic, starting an “oil rush.”• First pipe for the trans-Alaska

pipeline was laid in march 1975, and the fi rst tanker load of oil left Valdez in 1977.• Gold was discovered in August 1896

near Skagway, marking the beginning of the Klondike Gold Rush.

Sources: “Alaska: A history of the 49th State,” Th e Associated Press Stylebook for Alaska.

FAST FACTS


edge, Wasair Drive to the west and Lucille Street to the east. Th e park off ers a gigantic playground, picnic pavilions, bathrooms, basketball and tennis courts and a skateboard park.

Palmer Skateboard Park: Located at the corner of Old Glenn Highway and South Valley Way at 231 East Arctic Ave. Th e park is smaller than the Wasilla park, but still draws a crowd.

Swimming Holes: Wasilla Lake, in addition to the swimming beach, has a grassy area where lots of people congregate. Th ere are also state-maintained swimming areas at larger lakes like Big Lake and Nancy Lake. Refl ections Lake on the way to Anchor-age is a manmade lake that is becoming increasingly popular. Few, if any, of these have lifeguards on duty. Towel off vigor-ously to avoid “duck-itch” and be aware that some of these lakes contain icky but harmless leeches.

PLAYGROUND DO’S and DON’TSBy Iditapark Park veteran, Gabe Fish• Don’t cuss.• Do laugh.• Don’t call names.• Do remember where you left your toys.• Don’t cough on your friends. • Don’t brag if you win a game. • Do cheer on your friends. • Do try the wobbly platform toy. • Don’t hog the swings. • Do tell your parents if someone’s being mean.• Do ask before running off to play.


ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman.comHayden Seltenreich, 14, left, and Kelsey Lucas, 14, hang on tight to their inner tubes as they are pulled around Wasilla Lake.

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Th ere’s no secret about how the community of Big Lake got its name, since it is located on the largest of several lakes in the area, also known as Big Lake. Located on a spur road a few miles outside Wasilla as one heads north on the Parks Highway, the lake is one of the busiest recreational areas in the Mat-Su Borough.Public and private campgrounds abound, with RV parking,

water, tent sites, picnic areas, boat launches — even beaches for

swimming (but be sure to wear a thermal swimsuit). For anglers, the area’s lakes feature rainbow and Dolly Varden

trout, and red and coho salmon. Many visitors to the lake enjoy boating, waterskiing and other water sports during the long summer days, and frequently participate in many special events hosted by the Big Lake Chamber of Commerce.Th e community also hosts one of Alaska’s stranger events,

water snowmachine racing.A popular recreation spot for Alaskans and visitors, Big Lake

has been known as “Alaska’s Playground” since the 1950s. A short drive down Big Lake Road takes you into the center of town. Small shopping centers off er groceries, dining, gift s, banking services and more. With 67 miles of shoreline, Big Lake is the largest recreational lake on Alaska’s road system. Several local businesses rent boats, watercraft and other equipment. Aft er a fun day on the water, dine lakeside at one of the local

lodges. For overnight guests, there are several campgrounds, RV parks, motels and lodges in the area.

Some things to do in Big Lake• Rent a houseboat for the weekend.• Take the kids swimming at one of several

designated swimming areas.• Rent personal watercraft and cruise the lake.

Big Lake is primed for big funHeather A. Resz

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Southcentral Alaska — the area between Anchorage, Seward, Homer, Prince Wil-liam Sound and the Wrangell-St. Elias mountain range — is known for its quick-changing weather. One minute it may be warm and calm, the next cold and rainy. Even during the hottest months of the year, glacial winds can bring an icy chill, especially at higher elevations. During the summer months of July, August and September, expect midday

temperatures in the high 60s, but some days the thermometer reaches the 80s in Mat-Su, with a general drop in temperature in the evening hours. Rain can be expected anytime, but especially from mid-August through Novem-

ber, followed by or mixed with snow that usually remains until late April or early May — or break-up, as Alaskans call the muddy brown season most “Outsiders” refer to as spring.Keep in mind while traveling that change in elevation can occur quickly, and

while it may be warm in the Valley, as you travel into the mountains — Hatcher Pass in the Talkeetna range, Lazy Mountain in the Butte, or King Mountain in Sut-ton, for example — temperatures could vary from 40 degrees to 70 degrees. If you are wondering how on earth to dress for the weather, we suggest layers.

Your favorite T-shirt topped by a long-sleeved shirt or windproof jacket is a good start. Th row a heavier layer and a rain jacket in your daypack along with bug repellant and sunscreen.And don’t worry about dressing up for dinner at that nice restaurant on the lake

with views of Mount McKinley. Come as you are and enjoy our hospitality, price-less views and friendly people!

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Scott Robb won the 17th annual Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off at the Alaska State Fair with a 138.25-pound head in 2012.

Harley, an American bull dog, sits with doggles and helmet on ready for a ride at the H.O.G. Rally on the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer.


Talkeetna — Gateway to Mount McKinleyTalkeetna is located about 14 miles up the Talkeetna Spur

Road, which begins at Mile 98.7 of the Parks Highway. Th e small town is nestled in the shadow of Mount McKinley and at the confl uence of the Susitna, Talkeetna and Chulitna rivers. Th e fi sh-fi lled rivers and North America’s highest peak draw

a crowd of visitors each summer who use the river and hire airplane guides for sightseeing, camping, fi shing and hunting. Talkeetna is famous throughout Alaska as the home base for those brave enough to climb the 20,320-foot Mount McKinley.On clear days, it is diffi cult to beat the scenic views available

from this rustic community. Take a day hike or picnic along the

banks of the Talkeetna or Susitna rivers. For a special treat, take a horseback riding tour for fantastic viewing of Mount McKin-ley.Th e best part about Talkeetna is the town is very pedestrian

friendly. Th e end of the road is one big loop, and it’s best to park at one end and walk through downtown. Th is way, guests will not only see what the town has to off er, but will feel why it is so unique.Th e community also features restaurants and inns.Th e Talkeetna Roadhouse serves giant sourdough pancakes.

Diners who order the Seward’s Folly at Th e West Rib Pub will know they went wrong when they see the monster burger. Mountain High Pizza Pie off ers topping combinations not found anywhere else. To wash it all down, Talkeetna off ers its own microbrewery called Denali Brewing Co.Downtown Talkeetna yields a variety of nightlife where bands

and public events thrive. Charter operators off er jet-boat safaris on the Susitna and

Talkeetna rivers. If a fast-moving riverboat tour isn’t what you have in mind, try a leisurely fl oat instead. Natural history fl oat trips, also narrated, allow you to explore the Talkeetna River at a calmer pace. Th e fl oat trips are two to four hours long, off ering another opportunity to view bears, eagles, beavers, moose, fox, fi sh and waterfowl, along with beaver dams, bear tracks and eagle nests. To get a listing of many of the charter operators and outfi tters

in the area, visit Talkeetna Chamber of Commerce’s website at talkeetnachamber.org, or call 733-2330.

ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman.comThe Roadhouse in Talkeetna is a great place to enjoy lunch while visiting the northern Mat-Su Community.

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Th e fi rst thing community visitors encounter heading north on the Parks Highway is Wasilla — “All I Saw” when read backward — which is ap-propriate because the commu-nity’s fi ve city parks provide a variety of recreational oppor-tunities like picnics, soft ball, swimming, fi shing, waterski-ing and other pastimes.As the largest city in the Mat-

Su Borough, Wasilla sports a number of businesses where fi shing and camping gear and licenses may be purchased, as well as grocery stores and guide services for everything from sightseeing to hunting and fi shing.

Mat-Su Visitors Center and Veterans’ Wall of Honor: Located at Mile 35.5 Parks Highway, there is a monument dedicated to veterans. On Me-morial Day, a large gathering is held there. Call 746-5000. Th e visitors center is also home to the Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Dorothy Page Museum and Historical Townsite: Located on Main Street in downtown Wasilla, the museum is a historical account of the town. Behind the museum are the actual buildings from old-time Wasilla. Th ere is a farmer’s market on Wednesday aft er-noons and tours are available. Call 376-9071.

Iditarod Trail Committee Headquarters: Located at Mile 2.2 Knik-Goose Bay Road, the headquarters has everything from a gift shop to dog sled rides. Th ere are video presentations, as well as the Iditarod museum. Call 376-5155.

Museum of Alaska Trans-portation and Industry: Located off the Parks Highway at Mile 47, the museum has old artifacts and displays from Alaska’s transportation history. It is open all summer and is

a great place to take children. Call 376-1211.

Wasilla Wonderland/Idi-tapark: Off Lucille Street and Nelson Avenue, the commu-nity-built playground is a center of activity during the summer. Th ere is a skateboard park, BMX bicycle track and basketball, volleyball and tennis courts now line the park’s north side along Nelson Avenue. Th e park also in-cludes pavilions, picnic tables, bike trails, an Armed Forces Memorial Garden, permanent restroom facilities, lots of paved parking and a “Garden of Refl ection,” which serves as a quiet space for the park.

Knik Museum and Musher’s

Hall of Fame: At Mile 13.9, Knik-Goose Bay Road, this museum pays tribute to the mushers who helped shape the small community of Knik. Call 376-7755.

Wasilla Lake and Lake Lucille: Both lakes are recreational centers during the warm sum-mer months. Th ere is a large beach at Wasilla Lake, just off the Parks Highway at Crusey Street. Th ere is no lifeguard on duty, so be careful. Public access for Lake Lucille is near Mile 1 Knik-Goose Bay Road.Ice skating is available: at • Brett Memorial Ice Arena 375-9260, located adjacent to Wasilla Middle School, and-Wasilla High has an Indoor swimming pool, • Pool, Wasilla High School, 352-8200, call for public use.

Wasilla the hub for Mat-Su activity

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ROBERT DeBERRY/FrontiersmanA boat drifts across Lake Lucille in Wasilla as fireworks light up the sky.


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$205.00 pp + Tax

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2013 Mat-Su Valley Vistors Guide

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Transcript of 2013 Mat-Su Valley Vistors Guide