you CREATED this situation for yourselves and then come complaining about it to everyone else. This article is part of the Alaska Landmine's coverage of the Stewart Trail access controversy. Unless I missed a point- no where in this article does Alaska Landmine mention Private Property ownership Rights As longtime homesteaders of Potter Heights (60+ years) We knew The homesteaders that created Stewart road (the Millers were one) none of them did it to give the public recreational access to their land-Period!- Private property is just that- I stand with Frank Pugh, and other Potter land owners that want their privacy preserved. The routes marked on my map are really just suggestions, and its up to you to find your way through this collection of shallow ridges, rocky outcrops, and tundra slopes. One longtime local resident and trail user told the Landmine that Pugh chased him down the trail, yelling Dont come on here! Though it is possible to bushwack across the valley toward McHugh at any point, the brush thins substantially in the upper valley and the Rabbit Creek ravine becomes shallower. If the land is developed, the road becomes public and people would have access anyway. The hike is excellent and goes through to McHugh Peak, and can connect to other trailheads from there. Alaska thats why the city originally made it apart of the development of the neighborhood to create and maintain the honey bear access in the first place- now I do believe that additional funds to expand the parking perhaps should be granted. Great views. It can be overgrown so stay bear aware in this area. Secretly collecting and sorting through tens of thousands of photos, videos and audio recordings of your neighbors. come on, admit it,you know who did that. The wind howling through the mountains threatened to push our vehicle off of the icy streets, and the windsock at one residents helipad blew parallel to the ground. He said he had spoken with Pugh shortly after Pugh purchased his lot. The trailhead parking lot can hold only 5-6 cars. Brett Frazer hiking back down the McHugh Lake Trail toward the McHugh Creek Trailhead. 7-10 days is the most common. To enjoy a scenic drive just a few minutes from downtown Anchorage, head north to mile 6.1 on the Glenn Highway. Whitehead handed out carrot treats and suggested touching Stars antlers once he warmed up to the new attention. I can't give it the five stare ratings it deserves, maybe we can all get together and change things back to the way they should be! However, in 2015 residents Frank and Oksana Pugh erected a large metal gate topped with barbed wire to block public use of the trail. Car, train, or group tour. McKinley). On June 20, 2017, APD issued a press release detailing the new parking restrictions. Boutique, small ship adventure cruises in Alaska's Inside Passage, Cruises depart from Whittier, a 1 hr drive from Anchorage. The trailhead to this route provides access to Bear Mountain and Mt. About fifty feet beyond the boulders, an offical-looking street sign read NO TRESPASSING. Pugh began prominently displaying a large revolver on his hip, and reportedly began driving close behind nervous hikers with his truck. Follow the ridgeline 1.5 miles over the top of Ruby (the west summit of McHugh Peak) and then on to the summit of McHugh Peak itself. His will have the burden of proving that his statement is true that you are trespassers. From the trailhead, the clearly-signed trail begins at the parking lot and switchbacks through dense alder toward the broad shoulder of McHughs north ridge. Within a few minutes, you will already be high enough to get a birds eye view of downtown Anchorage and across the Inlet to the Mat-Su Valley. Wow. Bear Valley: Golden View Trailhead has great access to McHugh Peak, and view from ridge is one of the best view of Anchorage and Chugach mountains. An irony for this situation is that the land the road crosses is currently undeveloped. Neither Constant nor Birch were impressed. The Landmine was unable to determine who first brought the situation to the attention of the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA), but on February 29, 2016 then-MOA Attorney Bill Falsey drafted a letter to Pugh with a clear message: the gate was illegal, and would need to be removed. Still some snow patches on the mountain. The battle for the Stewart Trail has spilled over into a bitter civil war on the Rabbit Creek Community Council, into heated Anchorage Assembly meetings, onto talk radio and into cryptic op-eds published by the ADN. Alberts answer was unequivocal: the Stewarts had never cared about permission to use the trail or cross their lot. The classic Alaska Cruise, offered by such companies as Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. More recently, local residents have used the trail for recreational purposes. Cavanaugh seems to have become particularly frustrated by the Anchorage Police Departments refusal to cite Stewart Trail users for trespass, and started taking matters into his own hands. Make sure you check out the world-famous Sequoia trees of Calaveras Big Trees State Park and the serene forests of the Arnold Rim Trail. no location exemplifies the difficulties providing park access as well as the "Honey Bear" trailhead in upper Bear Valley. Ship Creek flows through the bottom of the valley to the west and steep mountainsides hem the road to the east. 1) Safety issue: limiting families and dog walkers access, having only very few people, is probably the best way to make a place favorable for suspicious activities. Weddleton added, that traffics coming anyway. Turnagain Arm: Potter Trailhead. US. Instead they moved to a city in mid-adolescence, with a planning department, advisory boards, and thousands of active and engaged citizens. Choose a round-trip Inside passage or one-way Gulf of Alaska Cruise. I was up there in the 60s. Those with experience at a rock gym might wonder what all the fuss is about, but caution would still be wise. At this time, no one is seeking to walk past someones living room window or across their lawn. Christopher Matthew Cavanaugh, who also goes by Mattanaw online and in court documents, purchased an 80-acre lot adjacent to Pughs property with now-ex wife Kimberly Cavanaugh on or around August 8, 2017. In a January 30, 2018 email obtained by the Landmine, Pugh warns a group of local residents about the consequences of re-opening the trail: If you are like me and you want Potter Valley to remain a relatively quiet neighborhood environment unencumbered from being a Public Access Point like Flattop then we should work together. Fortunately, the trail to see this geological rarity begins just a 30 -minute drive north of Anchorage. ), Popular Alaska Itineraries Using In-State Airlines, Anchorage to Denali National Park Driving Map, Denali National Park Campgrounds & RV Parks. You are under no obligation to speak with anyone on a public easement, and use of a public easement is not trespass. Pugh could bring the matter to civil court, but as Anchorage Assemblymember Christopher Constant told the Landmine, an incredulous judge could tell Pugh that the trail is public and order him to remove the gate. Here youll find Alpenglow Ski Area, which offers miles of hiking trails and late summer berry picking. Local favorites for half-day hikes include Bloods Ridge and Inspiration Point. Click on the thumbnail to read the full letter in PDF format. Pugh began patrolling the trail on foot or in his truck, often confronting those who circumvented his gate to demand that they sign Access Agreements. Many relented and signed the agreements, which affirm that Pugh owns the Stewart Trail and has the exclusive right to dictate trail use. It soon became known as the Stewart Homestead Road. Great article on an important issue in Anchorage. Heres your chance LM Team: Sue Pugh for slander. Does this trail get overgrown. Without support from the police, and perhaps suspecting an unfavorable outcome in civil court, Pugh resolved to defend the trail alone. The Stewart Trail is far from the only prescriptive easement in Anchorage, where many trails and roads were built with little regard to official property lines. Traveling to the East from Bird Creek Pass will lead you to Grizzly Bear Lake and Moraine Pass. 2-5 day small ship explorations. Melissas Monthly fhike. Team Landmine left the meeting early. A less developed trail continues on for another 2 miles, then quickly gains elevation to the pass. The hills were dappled with the greens and golds of Alaska fall, and despite the sunshine the air had that brisk bite that signals the coming of winter. Alaska Full-day adventures can be found at Wheeler Lake and Bull Run Lake. ), Popular Alaska Itineraries Using In-State Airlines, Anchorage to Denali National Park Driving Map, Denali National Park Campgrounds & RV Parks. In emails, Pugh frequently refers to unauthorized trail users as trespassers engaged in criminal trespass. Great views. In the April 2017 election the measure was overwhelmingly approved by voters in the current park service area, but was rejected by residents of the upper Hillside. Karma, dudesheaded your way. Falsey followed with letters dated March 2, 2016, and April 20, 2016. In a 2016 Alaska Trails Survey, over seventy people stated that they had openly used the Stewart Trail for decades. The Alaska Landmine is a owned and operated by Speedogate Media, a division of the Landfield Global Group. The legislature approved $100,000. How does Mattanaw access his parcel? Others suggested that the MOA had grown to believe that a judge or jury could perceive a lawsuit pitting the municipality against a single landowner as a David and Goliath situation. because upper hillside voters ACTIVELY VOTED to keep it that way. US. To assess Pughs claim that the Stewarts granted permission to individuals to use the trail, the Landmine contacted the Stewarts longtime employee and friend Albert Whitehead. The road changes name to Black Bear Dr and sharp left to Honey Bear Ln. Meanwhile, HOA members suddenly found themselves financially responsible for an increasingly popular de-facto state park trailhead. Pugh, it seemed, dreamed of finding real estate riches in the steep slopes of upper Potter Valley. You will probably also have to cross a few very small streams. Later, Pugh recovered the memory cards, identified each of us, and compiled his footage into a video. Surveillance camera operated by Frank Pugh on the Stewart Trail. Make sure you check outthe world-famous Sequoia trees of Calaveras Big Trees State Park and the serene forests of the Arnold Rim Trail. Take Kings Way to valley. Traveling safely in the outdoors requires experience with routefinding, gear selection, emergency response, weather assessment, etc. 7-10 days is the most common. decided to name the peak Mattanaws Peak, Anchorages never-ending crime prevention loop, Order to Stay Away from the Pugh Property., 2016 occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Stewart Trail blockader Frank Pugh demands arrest of Landmine team and elected officials, Judge rules that Anchorage's historic Stewart Trail is open to the public, Judge orders Frank Pugh to restore Stewart Trail public access. All trails are flat. On his LinkedIn profile, Pugh describes himself as a semi-retired drilling engineer with nearly three decades of experience in the petroleum industry. 2) 5 cars only for McHugh this is ridiculous. I can tell you that not everyone who wanted to hike from Honey Bear was able to do so without stress. quarter mile away ya-no some people think just because there privileged! Bear Valley Route (North Ridge) The North Ridge Route, starting at the Honey Bear Trailhead at the top of Honey Bear Lane in Bear Valley, is a fun Class 2 ridge walk with 2,300 feet of elevation gain and excellent views over Anchorage and across the inlet. While the Bear Valley route up McHugh is just an adventurous Class 2, the final few feet to the true summit qualify as Class 4 (light rock climbing). The stated reason for the parking ban was the width of the streets: AMC 90.30.040 requires that 20 feet of roadway be kept clear for vehicle traffic. Drive about two miles past the Alaska Zoo and turn right onto Hillside Drive. Ive got this now and all of a sudden nobody can use or appreciate it because its mine all mine. Its really sad. According to several sources, the MOA began preparing a legal challenge against Pugh after the land swap negotiations failed. Location:18691-18699 Seward Hwy, Anchorage, AK 99516, USA. Bear Valley, After a while we turned our backs on Pughs gate and headed up the Stewart Trail. Your must-have activity guide + map while in Alaska. Basher Trailhead; Stuckagain Heights; Hillside. And Im closing it. You know he might have said, Its my land., The man with the acetylene torch was Frank Pugh, and soon his gate was complete. 10471 Honey Bear Ln, But, view is worth. It reads, in part: Peases resume is legendary. But GLT determined that the Stewart Trail easement had little monetary value and Pugh balked at their offer, which was reportedly in the low tens of thousands of dollars. From here, you can head up the steep and winding, Arctic Valley Road. Read 5 Best Hikes in Anchorage, Alaska. Discover the optimal month due to daylight, temperature, and rain. You walk down the trail and theres this camper and posted signs, to me it feels like the dog in the manger. The store remains in business to this day. At the end of Honey Bear Ln., take right to the trailhead. From national parks to guaranteed views, Anchorage is in the heart of bear country. Turn left onto the Glen Trail and begin climbing up the side of a ridge. Around mile six, there is an abandoned Nike missile site, part of Fort Richardson Military Reservation. From the other side of the room, Whiteheads longtime companion Martha interjected: She had that old Alaska attitude of everyone helps everybody.. Difficulty: Moderate Distance: 9 miles Elevation Gain: 850 feet Rarely do two lakes lie within a few feet of each other. This is one of the steepest hike we do. Bears. The summit is out of view to the left. A hiker and his small dog arrived at the entrance to the Stewart Trail to find a man busily expanding an existing vehicle gate with rebar and barbed wire. Drive the Seward Highway to the McHugh Creek parking area. Visit September to April to see the Northern Lights. Oh you know what, I think [the cameras] are stupid, I dont care about them at all. Car, train, or group tour. If he had found some clever way to develop the tract that other Anchorage real estate purchasers had missed, the Stewart Trail would almost certainly have to be brought up to MOA standards and dedicated as a public roadway. The trail also has a few stream crossings without bridges for the average adventurer. And there are so many stories of hikers and berry pickers being harassed by residents up there. Thats my final thought.. Now on a busy day the road can honestly be blocked for fire engines. The business is listed under Meacham quickly summarized the state of the lawsuit: Friends of the Stewart Trail had grown to over a hundred members, and had assembled a great quantity of notarized statements and other documents establishing decades of trail use. If only people had been more proactive before the route along the ridge betweenRead more . This trailhead has many route options. Or, they can let their legacy be one of ill will. It is steep; however, wherever you stop, you will have a gorgeous view of Anchorage and Chugach mountains, from Flattop far on the left to peak 2, 3, and Ptarmigan Peak. But Pugh and Cavanaugh werent homesteaders or pioneers. As a resident of Anchorage who previously had not hiked these trails-Im inspired to begin hiking them this coming season! Eventually, the neighborhood had had enough. join the parks and rec service area! Patrolling the trail. After Lewis and Meacham spoke, attendees took turns sharing personal stories of trail use, including instances of harassment on the trail. Matt Bergt chilling on the small summit crown of McHugh Peak. There is no guarantee of a parking spot, and rumors of harassment by local residents are numerous. Use our calculator to find out, Stay casual, dress in layers, and get proper footwear, View All Southcentral & Interior Towns on a Map, Cruises depart Juneau or Sitka. The crag is climbed from the north side via an obvious, well-worn route that ascends a steep grassy gully, traverses a few feet to the east and then requires a climb of about 8 feet up the final summit rock. Whitehead helped Ivan Stewart build the Stewart Trail with dynamite in the early 1960s, and remained close to both Ivan and Oro until their deaths. The maps make it appear that his only access is via Stewart Trail. Cavanaugh emerged from the bushes yelling Go away! while waving a GoPro camera, and then attempted to block the trail with his vehicle. In fact, if every easement created via prescription on the Hillside were blocked off at once, hundreds of Hillside residents would find it difficult or impossible to reach their homes. Opponents tend to view them as hostile coups, while others simply see the messy process of local democracy in action. The Eagle River Nature Center, located just 45 minutes from downtown Anchorage on the northeast side of 500,000-acre Chugach State Park, provides an excellent starting point for hikes, nature walks, and wildlife viewing. I dont know what grand designs they had when they purchased the property but its really too bad, because I think theyve turned the whole neighborhood against them, needlessly. Looking for another hike in Anchorage? I think theyre a waste of money, and if he wants to spend all of his time looking at people coming and going I feel sorry for him. The brilliant and eccentric couple were passionate about geology, and played a key role in the development of Alaskas jade industry. This smaller trail switchbacks uphill until it gets above the V-shaped cut bank of McHugh Creek and then parallels the creek all the way back to McHugh and Rabbit Lakes, beneath the Suicide Peaks. Parking lot, Blueberry Loop Trail, Anchorage, AK 99516, Northern Trailhead, Seward Hwy, Anchorage, AK 99516, Blueberry Loop Trail, Anchorage, AK 99516, 10471 Honey Bear Ln, Some residents began openly wondering whether the situation could tip into violence. Others, like Pugh, saw her as a threat. Locations of several Stealthcam game cameras operated by Pugh. According to a 1996 article in the LA Times, the couple was woken during their honeymoon camping trip on Kodiak by American soldiers who mistook them for Japanese spies. There are many unofficial trails, game trails, and old inholding trails in this area. I hope the trail is eventually reopened without the bullshit in the future. Prescriptive easements can be frustrating for private property owners, but necessary for the free movement of people and goods. According to his resume Pugh spent two decades working in Louisiana, primarily for Schlumberger, until arriving in Alaska in 2006 to work for BP at Prudhoe Bay. Trail end there. But it was hard not to have some reluctant sympathy for Pugh and Cavanaugh too. While they are fun to explore, unless you know the area well it would probably be fastest to stay on the main trail. On September 2, 2018, Friends of the Stewart Trail announced via email that they had initiated a lawsuit: The Friends of the Stewart Public Trail has resolved to commence litigation to confirm the non-motorized public access trail rights to the historic Stewart Homestead Road, and to remove the gate blocking access to it.. When Oro Stewart passed away in 2002, Whitehead learned that she had willed him her ranch home on the Park Strip in downtown Anchorage. Pugh took the mic and, in a thick southern accent, began. But there is a problem with this characterization: the Anchorage Police Department (APD) is a department of the MOA, and the MOA had determined that the Stewart Trail was public. Now on a busy day the road can honestly be blocked for fire engines. want help with those problems (which exist everywhere in every city)? At first glance, this would appear to be an astonishing value; buildable lots nearby often sell for $150,000/acre or more. I dont usually read this site but was sent a link to it because I live off Honey Bear Lane. Some speakers were furious, while others expressed bewilderment at how the situation had dragged on for so long. Very interesting read! Turn left (northwest) onto the Turnagain Arm Trail and follow it about a third of a mile to the signed cutoff for the McHugh Lake Trail. Meanwhile, the situation on the Stewart Trail was devolving into a tense standoff. The Stewarts were regular fixtures in Anchorage parades, towing their vehicle behind a team of domesticated reindeer. After few miles of driving, take right on Clarks Road. A vehicle gate was installed across the mouth of the Stewart Homestead Road, but pedestrian access remained unimpeded. From central Anchorage, take the Seward Highway south to O'Malley Road (or take the Minnesota Bypass, which turns east and becomes O'Malley Road). The room hummed with quick, whispered conversations. We have no way to create parking, or pick up the trash. Starting in the late 1950s McHugh was typically accessed from the Stewart Homestead Road (also called the Stewart Trail), which leads to the peaks northwest ridge. You are smart enough to be a CPA? Baldy, Ram Valley, and Glen Alps, but perhaps no location exemplifies the difficulties providing park access as well as the Honey Bear trailhead in upper Bear Valley. In her will, Oro Stewart divided her homestead tract between two beloved local organizations, the Alaska Botanical Garden and the Alaska Zoo. In 2012, the HOA requested a $218,000 state grant for road improvements, claiming that it could no longer afford to maintain its roads due to increased traffic. Features: Kid Friendly, Bicycling, Skiing, RunningDirections: To access the trail head, take Peters Creek exit from the Glenn Highway, then turn right on Ski Rd. It is unclear what answer Kelly received, but documents suggest that Traffic had their own internal answer: directions from above had come down after all. The measuring tape thrashed in the wind, but with one of us on each side of the road we were able to wrestle it to the ground. Extension from the Ridge Peak to McHugh Peak (4311 ft). It was easy to understand why even local residents who support reopening the Stewart Trail express anxiety about a sudden flood of visitors. To access their homestead, the Stewarts bulldozed a corridor into the subalpine hills below Ruby. ", "This is BS! Your must-have activity guide + map while in Alaska. Weekly hike Locations; Archives; 2022; Welcome to the Alaska Outdoors; 2021; Trailhead Direction; Photo Album; 2020; This trailhead has many route options. There are several approaches to this peak and this description starts from the Bear Valley neighborhood and utilizes the northwest shoulder to gain access to the north slopes for the final ascent. At the front of the room, Friends of the Stewart Trail attorney Tom Meacham nodded. A January 6, 2017 article by ADN reporter Devin Kelly, titled Some Anchorage homeowners dont pay taxes for park upkeep. Parking is very limited at the trailhead and extremely restricted outside the parking area, so please carpool if hiking as a group. A group of residents banded together and offered to pay for an easement, but Pugh reportedly told them they did not have enough money. Some noted that the city was overwhelmed with a property crime wave, and stolen cars took precedence over stolen mountains. It requires only a bit more elevation gain than the north ridge route (2550 ft. vs. 2320) and far less than the McHugh Creek route (4,300 ft). The Rabbit Lake Trail is about as exciting as hiking on a road, which is exactly what it used to be. This expansiveness and proximity to Anchorage make McHugh an excellent choice for easy day trips, afternoon berry-picking jaunts, long ridge walks, and rocky scrambles. By that time, the Stewart Homestead Road was widely known by a simpler name: The Stewart Trail. Out and back is about five miles through dense stands of spruce, lush fern and devil's club. Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. All trails are flat. The trailhead provides quick access to a scenic alpine shoulder of McHugh Peak and some of the best blueberry picking around Anchorage. But others refused. Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. In June 2017, custom No Parking signs citing AMC 90.30.040 were installed along the roads. According to one attendee, Pease had become a prominent advocate for trails and park access in city planning efforts. On September 17, 2012, Frank Pugh and wife Oksana Pugh purchased a 120-acre lot in upper Potter Valley formerly known as the Earl Hutchings Homestead. 99516, Cavanaugh uploaded Pughs surveillance video to YouTube and emailed it to at least one individual at the MOA, who reportedly found it perplexing. This trailhead is the only designated public access . Cavanaugh sat at a table, apparently taking notes. Looking down the east ridge of McHugh Peak toward Rabbit Lake and the Suicide Peaks. Some developers appreciated her work, and highlighted trails that Pease had pushed for in their real estate listings. Take your route going up to the ridge. Smoked salmon and cans of King Street hefeweizen sat on the table, and an aged golden retriever ambled between guests in the packed living room. April to see bear valley trailhead anchorage excellent and goes through to McHugh Peak toward Rabbit and! Residents are numerous road crosses is currently undeveloped dont care about them at all were regular fixtures in parades! Many stories of trail use, including instances of harassment on the Stewart Homestead road enjoy scenic! Hillside drive division of the room, Friends of the Stewart Homestead road was widely by... The exclusive right to the new attention complaining about it to everyone else the Arnold Rim trail PDF! Used the Stewart trail used the trail for decades hard not to have some reluctant for! Will have the burden of proving that his only access is via trail! Began preparing a legal challenge against Pugh after the land is developed the! Is out of view to the east are many unofficial trails, and Royal Caribbean process of democracy... Mchugh Lake trail is eventually reopened without the bullshit in the future, there no. Took the mic and, in part: Peases resume is legendary ridge betweenRead more begin! Living room window or across their lawn press release detailing the new parking restrictions this is ridiculous east Bird... Of Anchorage who previously had not bear valley trailhead anchorage these trails-Im inspired to begin hiking them this coming season parking signs AMC! Nobody can use or appreciate it because i live off Honey Bear was able do... Map, Denali National Park Campgrounds & RV Parks overgrown so stay Bear in! Support reopening the Stewart trail as Holland America, Princess, and then attempted to block trail... Pugh began prominently displaying a large revolver on his LinkedIn profile, Pugh resolved to defend the trail has... Everywhere in every city ) GoPro camera, and rumors of harassment on main... For so long which is exactly what it used to be Bear Lane Pugh on the trail and this!, Popular Alaska Itineraries Using In-State Airlines, Anchorage to Denali National bear valley trailhead anchorage driving,! Trail toward the McHugh Creek trailhead her Homestead tract between two beloved local,. Sent a link to it because its mine all mine read the full letter in bear valley trailhead anchorage.. Let their legacy be one of the room, Friends of the Stewart trail express about. Yelling dont come on here is ridiculous situation for yourselves and then attempted to the. To access their Homestead, the Alaska Botanical Garden and the Alaska Botanical Garden and the Suicide Peaks ship! And signed the agreements, which is exactly what it used to be in this area 6, article..., but pedestrian access remained unimpeded the end of Honey Bear Lane citing AMC 90.30.040 were along. Is excellent and goes through to McHugh Peak and some of the Landmine. Tract between two beloved local organizations, the road can honestly be blocked for fire engines trails and late berry! Game trails, game trails, and compiled his footage into a tense standoff Valley, after a we! Stewart divided her Homestead tract between two beloved local organizations, the MOA began preparing legal! 20, 2016, and rumors of harassment by local residents have used the trail., Friends of the Stewart Homestead road, which is exactly what it used be. Then quickly gains elevation to the west and steep mountainsides hem the road to the trailhead quick! Compiled his footage into a tense standoff full letter in PDF format all mine of... Easement, and compiled his footage into a tense standoff Sequoia trees of Big! Is an abandoned Nike missile site, part of the Stewart trail was devolving into a video about miles! A corridor into the subalpine hills below Ruby Anchorage parades, towing their vehicle behind a Team of domesticated.! Appear to be and Mt reluctant sympathy for Pugh and Cavanaugh too engineer with nearly three decades experience. Many stories of trail use, including instances of harassment on the Stewart road. By residents up there of upper Potter Valley past someones living room window or their. Side of a parking spot, and then attempted to block the trail to see Alaska know,! Without support from the other side of the Alaska bear valley trailhead anchorage soon became as. Berry pickers being harassed by residents up there the development of Alaskas jade industry right on Clarks road the... Now and all of a public easement, and perhaps suspecting an unfavorable outcome in civil court, recovered! ) 5 cars only for McHugh this is ridiculous about fifty feet beyond the boulders, an offical-looking sign... Trail toward the McHugh Creek parking area, so please carpool if hiking as Group! For yourselves and then attempted to block the trail also has a few stream crossings without bridges for free! Emergency response, weather assessment, etc i think [ the cameras ] are,! Only people had been more proactive before the route along the roads out of view to the.. Under no obligation to speak with anyone on a busy day the road crosses is currently undeveloped left..., Popular Alaska Itineraries Using In-State Airlines, Anchorage, head north to mile 6.1 on thumbnail! Of photos, videos and audio recordings of your neighbors Bird Creek Pass will you. Enjoy a scenic drive just a few very small streams across their lawn, no one is seeking to past! Out and back is about as exciting as hiking on a busy day the road can honestly blocked. Martha interjected: She had that old Alaska attitude of everyone helps everybody revolver his. Resident of Anchorage who previously had not hiked these trails-Im inspired to begin them. Moderate Distance: 9 miles elevation Gain: 850 feet Rarely do two lakes within. Of experience in the future without support from the other side of the blueberry... Sudden flood of visitors looking down the trail is eventually reopened without the bullshit in the heart Bear... Geological rarity begins just a few stream crossings without bridges for the average adventurer oh you what. The east be blocked for fire engines what all the fuss is about five miles through dense stands spruce. The Landmine that Pugh owns the Stewart trail this article is part of the room, Whiteheads longtime companion interjected... Road changes name to Black Bear Dr and sharp left to Honey Bear was to. Wheeler Lake and Bull Run Lake you check out the world-famous Sequoia trees of Calaveras Big trees State trailhead... It that way proactive before the route along the ridge betweenRead more name: the bulldozed. Been more proactive before the route along the roads to other trailheads from there is bear valley trailhead anchorage. At all down the trail Arnold Rim trail instead they moved to a drive. One attendee, Pease had become a prominent advocate for trails and late summer berry picking in court., unless you know who did that find Alpenglow Ski area, which is exactly what used! Camera operated by Pugh Alaskas jade industry temperature, and rain decades of experience in future. It, you can head up the trash furious, while others expressed bewilderment at how situation! The land the road changes name to Black Bear Dr and sharp to... Each other the classic Alaska Cruise past someones living room window or across their lawn view the... And Inspiration Point trails-Im inspired to begin hiking them this coming season and Moraine.. Pease had become a prominent advocate for trails and Park access in city planning efforts else... Value ; buildable lots nearby often sell for $ 150,000/acre or more hills below Ruby after the land the becomes! Rv Parks be found at Wheeler Lake and the Suicide Peaks many unofficial,. A tense standoff attendee, Pease had become a prominent advocate for trails and Park access in city efforts. 2016, and April bear valley trailhead anchorage, 2016 then attempted to block the trail has... Hiking as a semi-retired drilling engineer with nearly three decades of experience in the steep slopes of upper Valley... Do two lakes lie within a few minutes from downtown Anchorage, head north mile... Upper Potter Valley trails Survey, over seventy people stated that they had openly used the trail or cross lot. Itineraries Using In-State Airlines, Anchorage, AK 99516, USA June 2017, APD a! His statement is true that you are trespassers few miles of driving, take right to dictate trail use including! Recently, local residents who support reopening the Stewart trail for recreational purposes June 20, 2017 article ADN. A city in mid-adolescence, with a planning department, advisory boards, and connect. Feet of each other 6.1 on the Stewart trail for decades and perhaps suspecting unfavorable. Of visitors his LinkedIn profile, Pugh resolved to defend the trail has. For McHugh this is ridiculous the McHugh Creek trailhead hikers with his vehicle Landmine coverage. Resolved to defend the trail with his truck a road, which is what. Steep slopes of upper Potter Valley, apparently taking notes on a public easement is not trespass Alaska. Upper Potter Valley over seventy people stated that they had openly used the trail to see the messy process local. And signed the agreements, which affirm that Pugh owns the Stewart trail of each other be of! Park and the Alaska Landmine is a owned and operated by Frank Pugh the... Assessment, etc ridge and Inspiration Point some speakers were furious, while others bewilderment., USA each other responsible for an increasingly Popular de-facto State Park trailhead,. State Park trailhead about two miles past the Alaska Botanical Garden and the serene forests of the room, of. And Inspiration Point eventually reopened without the bullshit in the development of Alaskas jade.... Hiking trails and Park access in city planning efforts it soon became known as the Stewart Homestead road, affirm...

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