Alyeska Pushing Summer Activities

Five years of work on trails pays off

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By Kate McPherson
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Story Created: Jul 28, 2012 at 9:05 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Jul 29, 2012 at 10:40 AM AKDT

GIRDWOOD - Small pockets of snow are visible on Alyeska, a reminder of one of the biggest ski seasons in history.

The resort has no problems drawing crowds during the winter, and now, it’s focusing on ways to sustain numbers during summer.

Mountain staff have spent five years building a bike trail system, and riders are impressed.

"I want to get beyond the cross country stuff and I like going down hill, and this is the perfect mountain for that,” said Dan Michaud, a mountain bike rider from Anchorage.

Last year was the first time bikers could access the 12 miles of trail using the chair lifts.

“The trails were fairly new so they were a little more square and jagged but you can tell even from week to week they get a lot smoother from all the people going over the trails,” said Michaud.

“So it's definitely getting a little more speed going, I love it, I wish they could've come up with this ten years ago,” he said, while gearing up in the paring lot on a sunny Friday afternoon.

This summer, a bike school was opened offering lessons for all abilities.

“What we've been able to do is make this down hill mountain biking sport accessible to everybody,” said Garth McPhie, the director of the Mountain Learning Center.

“From those that are just learning to mountain bike to those who are already quite comfortable going fast on bumpy terrain,” said McPhie.

 

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