tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095331523579939357.post6483100002404934373..comments2024-02-21T09:54:08.306-09:00Comments on The Roaming Dials: "Triple A": All Across the GatesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095331523579939357.post-25241443474251403892022-04-20T16:49:22.761-08:002022-04-20T16:49:22.761-08:00Hi Hunter,
June may be the best time, between sno...Hi Hunter,<br /><br />June may be the best time, between snow of May and bugs of JulyRoman Dialhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11030457377194232207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095331523579939357.post-39992296216158306072022-04-20T13:30:38.457-08:002022-04-20T13:30:38.457-08:00Awesome trip report Roman, thank you! I'm work...Awesome trip report Roman, thank you! I'm working on putting together a solo packrafting route in The Brooks and I'll use this beta for sure. Question: Would you not suggest this route in Mid/Late June? Hunter G. Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08461696847258331634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095331523579939357.post-49914410984027237092022-01-11T11:45:01.614-09:002022-01-11T11:45:01.614-09:00Jamie, I climbed this back in 1986 (!), solo. I re...Jamie, I climbed this back in 1986 (!), solo. I recall that it looked like it wouldn't be easy to protect on lead, but I'm sure you could find anchors for top-roping a second who follows. It took me 45 minutes to get to the top from the saddle via the south ridge. I was no Alex H or Mark L! In my memory it remains an airy, exposed scramble, usualy with both hands and feet on the rock I think. I don't want to sandbag you, tho!Roman Dialhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11030457377194232207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095331523579939357.post-47278056295235821042021-12-25T06:16:14.660-09:002021-12-25T06:16:14.660-09:00Hello Roman:
Great trip report. Sounds like an am...Hello Roman:<br /><br />Great trip report. Sounds like an amazing experience.<br /><br />My friend and his girlfriend and I are planning on paddling the North Fork of the Koyukuk. We were looking to climb Mount Doonerak and looking for some beta. I have climbing experience and was planning on bringing a light rack to make her feel comfortable. How difficult is the scramble? Any information you could provide would be useful and very much appreciated. <br /><br />Jamie<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00056127008620416699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095331523579939357.post-88547148323382952362021-08-09T21:27:30.164-08:002021-08-09T21:27:30.164-08:00Hello Roman,
Thanks for the incredible beta. COVI...Hello Roman,<br /><br />Thanks for the incredible beta. COVID prevented us from running the trip last year, but we just finished an amazing week in the Gates.<br /><br />I espied your signature in the Summit Lake cabin, from your epic Arctic 1000 run in ‘06 - was a highlight for me, even among the world-class wilderness.<br /><br />We took a fun route, would love to be able to share with you.<br /><br />Best,<br /><br />Devin<br /><br />Devin Valencianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095331523579939357.post-57791756364634509412020-06-14T02:49:18.297-08:002020-06-14T02:49:18.297-08:00Hi Devin,
My pleasure to offer some beta.
Here...Hi Devin,<br /><br />My pleasure to offer some beta. <br /><br />Here are some attempts as answers:<br /><br />"obligatory) If you were to gamble on a week in Aug, trying to maximize weather, fall color, sunlight hours, and temps, when would you go? I’ve heard the warm winters have tweaked the seasons a bit, and I figured no one would know better than you."<br /><br />While indeed the season has lengthened, the length of night vs day as a function of day-of-year remains constant. I prefer the longer days of early August. Later August will, likely, have fewer bugs, more intense fall colors, and higher chance of northern lights, but also more rain and colder temps (possibly wet snow, hard frosts if clear), so maybe heavier packs, shorter days and more dark.<br /><br />"Which direction would you hike it? I like the travel logistics of east->west, but I would love to hear from experience."<br /><br />I still like the Haul Road to Anaktuvuk direction. I have done that more times (maybe Anaktuvuk -> Haul Road only once) and that is likely the only reason I prefer it: a frequency bias.<br /><br />"Any must-see side valleys or scrambles? We wouldn’t have climbing gear, but I’d like to find something similar in difficulty to Ariel." If passing Kinnorutin way to Amawk Creek, Doonerak is a must-climb, but somewhat exposed scramble. If going Oolah Pass, then the unnamed valley due east of Cockedhat Mtn is iconic.<br /><br />"we can a) take the Oolah route, or b) take the Trembley/Kinnorutin route. And from when we hit Koyukuk, we can c) take the Koyukuk/Ernie to Ernie Pass, or d) take the pass north of Als Mountain. Which path is most stunning, and most pleasurable to walk? Any specific river crossings to watch out for in Aug? I see you mention the pass north of Als is steep."<br /><br />If I had to make a recommendation, it would probably be the Oolah Pass, Peregrine Pass (north of Als Mtn), Grizzly Creek route. That has been the most popular over the decades. Dearest to my heart, of course, is the Trembly Creek to Kinnorutin Pass and Doonerak route, but I have only done that once, waaayy back in 1986, and it may well be too brushy now. My least favorite is the middle route along Alinement Creek. Brushy and not so scenic.<br /><br />Hope this helps and that you have a good trip!<br /><br />Roman<br /><br /><br /><br />Roman Dialhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11030457377194232207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095331523579939357.post-63969727134046335942020-06-09T20:52:13.355-08:002020-06-09T20:52:13.355-08:00Hello Roman,
Thanks for the years of inspiration....Hello Roman,<br /><br />Thanks for the years of inspiration. I’m putting together another Gates trip (Haul Road to Anaktuvuk, hiking only, Aug), and I have a couple questions for you:<br /><br />- I’ve studied your trip reports, and it seems like you’ve done this route a number of ways - I see a figure-8 of options. From the Dalton, we can a) take the Oolah route, or b) take the Trembley/Kinnorutin route. And from when we hit Koyukuk, we can c) take the Koyukuk/Ernie to Ernie Pass, or d) take the pass north of Als Mountain. Which path is most stunning, and most pleasurable to walk? Any specific river crossings to watch out for in Aug? I see you mention the pass north of Als is steep.<br /><br />- Any must-see side valleys or scrambles? We wouldn’t have climbing gear, but I’d like to find something similar in difficulty to Ariel.<br /><br />- Which direction would you hike it? I like the travel logistics of east->west, but I would love to hear from experience.<br /><br />- (obligatory) If you were to gamble on a week in Aug, trying to maximize weather, fall color, sunlight hours, and temps, when would you go? I’ve heard the warm winters have tweaked the seasons a bit, and I figured no one would know better than you.<br /><br />Thanks again for everything.Devin Valencianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095331523579939357.post-90036380593477334212020-05-30T10:09:20.132-08:002020-05-30T10:09:20.132-08:00Hi Nonstop,
Unsure if I posted it anywhere in de...Hi Nonstop, <br /><br />Unsure if I posted it anywhere in detail, but this is it: Starting in Anchorage head through Chugach State Park in any number of ways, with the last bit taking Winner Creek Trail into Twenty-Mile River drainage, then work your way over to Whittier (or just start in Whittier).<br /><br />Next: Whittier to Valdez by Sea Kayak (A Prince William Sound Classic) or what I've been studying for more than a dozen years but haven't taken the time to do, by linking Hemlock forest and muskeg meadow walks with fiord crossings by packraft.<br /><br />From Valdez, head up Valdez Glacier and cross over to Tazlina Icefield then onto Nelchina Glacier and out to Glenn Highway. Then head to Talkeetna from Eureka Roadhouse via any number of ways that converge on Talkeetna River and take that to Talkeetna, then the Susitna to the Knik Arm and cross the Knik.<br /><br />I don't know anyone who has done that as one single May/June month long trip, but many of us have done all the pieces.<br /><br />Let me know if you do it!<br /><br />RomanRoman Dialhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11030457377194232207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095331523579939357.post-26093906232352299722020-05-29T17:09:21.907-08:002020-05-29T17:09:21.907-08:00On your guest post on hikinginfinland, you mention...On your guest post on hikinginfinland, you mention the “Big Southcentral Loop” a 500 km loop around Anchorage. I looked on your site but can't find any more information on it? Could you link me to it? Thanks <br />Nonstop.livinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09149876532659608805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095331523579939357.post-42938053732800996652011-05-22T05:27:12.062-08:002011-05-22T05:27:12.062-08:00Awesome journey.. I want to go to AKAwesome journey.. I want to go to AKDavid Hinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10106818690322665048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095331523579939357.post-75231347610093599362011-05-19T23:11:32.294-08:002011-05-19T23:11:32.294-08:00Looks like the trip of a lifetime.
Thanks for tak...Looks like the trip of a lifetime.<br /><br />Thanks for taking the time to share such detail.<br /><br />MCMChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02002777916876297706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095331523579939357.post-73791789179083143292011-05-19T04:56:20.818-08:002011-05-19T04:56:20.818-08:00Epic! Makes me want to go for a trip to Alaska! .....Epic! Makes me want to go for a trip to Alaska! ...but I have some other things to do first. Maybe the Alaska will wait out there for a while.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095331523579939357.post-9335547607762115812011-05-18T02:37:08.306-08:002011-05-18T02:37:08.306-08:00more epic! thanks for sharingmore epic! thanks for sharingselfpoweredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10690224905896399570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095331523579939357.post-90060206539647590322011-05-17T14:28:38.265-08:002011-05-17T14:28:38.265-08:00Amazing trip! What do you guys use to keep warm in...Amazing trip! What do you guys use to keep warm in environments like that? Cant be easy...have you heard of a product called SharkSkins?<br /><br />http://www.sharkskin.com.au/company/technical.php/1/1<br /><br />No affiliation with company myself but they seem to get good reviews. In fact the main complaint with SharkSkins down here in Oz seems to be they are too warm! Wondering if they might be well-suited to the Alaskan environment.<br />(Dont know how heavy they are though).Hughhttp://placesurf.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095331523579939357.post-76900785822375960312011-05-17T11:41:34.770-08:002011-05-17T11:41:34.770-08:00I think the trip would be worth it just be witness...I think the trip would be worth it just be witness the Grayling Wall. Wow.samhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08629434332640594984noreply@blogger.com