A Guide to Surviving Winter in Anchorage: Active Edition
Portage Glacier.
We all slow down in the winter to some extent, but that doesn’t mean we stop being active. Alaska is a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts, as long as the weather cooperates to allow for certain activities (rain and 45 degrees suggests indoor hot yoga). Staying active and spending time in nature is crucial for self care during the dark months.
Ice Skating. Ice Skating is classic old school way to get outdoors with family and friends. For those who don’t own ice skates, Play it Again Sports will rent them to you for $12/day. Make sure to remember to bring a thermos with your favorite hot drink. Hand warmers are always nice to have, as well as some warm boots for the drive home. The city of Anchorage will wet-mop regularly at Westchester lagoon, as well as Jewell, Cheney, Delong and Goose Lake which makes for a nice smooth skate. For those heading south out of Anchorage try Potters Marsh it is right off the highway, but the views of Turnagain Arm are stunning. Certain weather patterns can create great ice skating conditions at Portage Lake if you’re up for a drive out of the city and want to ice skate to a massive glacier. There aren’t many places in the world where you can casually ice skate to a glacier on a Sunday, so why not take advantage? If you head 35 miles north of Anchorage, Rabbits Slough is another beautiful place to skate, its an extensive network of ponds and streams, that is part of the Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge off the Glenn Highway.
Foggy day skating at Westchester Lagoon.
Try a new workout class. Certain days it just feels like too much work to go outside, especially with the temps, which makes for a perfect opportunity to work out indoors. Anchorage offers an incredible variety of workout class options, the trick is figuring out what works for you. The best part about trying new classes, other than the obvious benefits of exercising, is that most studios will offer your first class for free.
Portage Glacier.
Ice Climbing. Hands down the scariest sport I’ve ever tried is ice climbing. Imagine yourself on a 90-degree wall of ice, with spikes on your feet, and daggers in your hands. You feel like a superhero, but also like you may die at any moment. Its the scariest and most exciting things you might ever try. Some local guide companies that will teach you, as well as provide the necessary gear are Nova, MICA and the Alaska Guide Collective. If you fall in love with the sport, don’t miss out on the Valdez Ice Climbing festival during presidents day weekend. It’s a great way to meet climbing partners, and get involved in a really cool community.
Nordic Skiing. Sign up for a nordic ski race. Anchorage has some of the best nordic ski trails in the country. A great way to stay motivated to get out on the trails is to sign up for a race, and then give yourself training goals. Some fun races include Ski for Women, the Oosik, Tour of Anchorage. These races are a lot of fun to do with friends, and there is oftentimes a beverage or food reward to look forward to at the end. The link below has more details on where to ski in and around the city: https://www.alaska.org/destination/anchorage/cross-country-skiing.
Winter Hiking. Alaska has huge mountains, that must be celebrated! I’m talking about downhill skiing and snowboarding. Southcentral Alaska provides a wide array of terrain suitable for all levels from beginner to expert. My favorite low-key place being Arctic Valley, I learned to ski there in the nineties! It’s run by volunteers, and it’s only open on the weekends, which is great when it snows during the week, and then the powder is untouched until Saturday! There is also Alyeska Resort in Girdwood which is our big resort and boasts the longest continuous double black diamond run in North America. and Hilltop Ski area in Anchorage. Anchorage is also a great kickoff point for backcountry skiing, but be sure to be prepared with beacon shovel and probe, and take an Avalanche rescue course through AIARE. If money is not an option, Southcentral Alaska offers some of the best heli-skiing in the world. For those who don’t want to drive all the way to Valdez (5+ hours) and want a closer option to Anchorage, check out Chugach Powder Guides in Girdwood, or Majestic Heli-ski in Sutton.
Alyeska Resort, Girdwood Alaska.
