Forums Splitboard Talk Forum Upcoming Spring Alaska Trip: Bomber or Eklutna Traverse Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total) Author Posts April 12, 2013 at 5:41 pm #578592 acmcmurray 39 Posts Hey all, A few of us PNW splitters are heading up to AK for over a week and are looking at a few traverses and tours. I was wondering if anyone had any beta, information, route info on the following: Bomber Traverse Eklutna Traverse Anything near Thompson Pass/Valdez Anything near Hatcher’s Pass/Turnagain Arm Cheers! April 12, 2013 at 10:21 pm #667793 PowLicious 10 Posts Just got back from Valdez/Thompson and I believe they just got a 5 foot plus reset up there, which is nice. Anything off the top of the pass is pretty straight forward, skin up…ride down. I highly recommend sleds if you have them to access terrain. Some of the best is pretty far back. Towards Valdez the snow pack is more maritime and also more susceptible to warm temps at this point. If you go into town there’s a shop called the Prospector that can give you beta on any of the lines near town and snow conditions. From Thompson Pass looking south you’ll see the main gullys (there’s 3), the Little Matterhorn, towards the center, Berlin Wall behind Gully 3, and Python in the left corner. Here’s a picture: The opposite side (Worthington Glacier side) has some really cool ski mountaineering options like Tones Temple, but you’ll need to have the gear for glacier travel. If you’re feeling confident check out the Books (you’ll see them on the way to Valdez, sweet sweet spines) but they are sled/heli access and the sled access is difficult at best. It’s also a good bit of glacier travel just FYI. That’s pretty vague but I’d be happy to get more specific if you know what type of terrain you want to get into. Have fun! April 12, 2013 at 10:31 pm #667794 AK 23 Posts One option would be the Snowbird Hut which is located near Hatcher Pass: http://americanalpineclub.org/p/snowbird-hut In my view, Thompson Pass is the place to be right now with Turnagain coming in second. You could get to the Pass and just start skinning off the highway into some great terrain. For intel you should try and get Matt Kinney’s book which is a great intro to the area. http://www.thompsonpass.com/Home/Home/Home.html There is also great ridding out of the Pass near town or across the Lowe river. This area can be accessed by parking at mile 19, crossing the river and you are in great terrain. A sled would be very helpful but this is doable on skins. Stone Mtn is where you would be. Others probably have info on the Bomber traverse. Good luck! April 13, 2013 at 5:28 am #667795 D-GREEN 336 Posts I was going to suggest the Snowbird Hut as well which is just a small piece of the Bomber Traverse. I think it has better riding options than the Eklutna Traverse. Both Thompson and Turnagain are unbelievable passes, but they are not traverses nor do they have huts to hike to and stay in. It sounds like you’ve done your homework though. So fly up here, check out the weather and snow conditions of each place and pick the best one. You never know until you go, and you do not have to reserve the huts, just show up. Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total) You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
