Pioneer Ridge

 Today the Valley Wanderers had planned to hike the Pioneer Ridge Trail as far as we could comfortably go. The reviews said from the first picnic table to the second was horribly overgrown, so we didn't know if we would tackle that part or not. I hoped we could make it all the way to the ridge, but since it's a very long and very steep trail, I wasn't so sure I could even make it after the longs hikes of this past week. We started with 6 then Virginia caught up with us. She tends to leave later and catch us because she is an amazing athlete, and we're just happy hikers. It was a little slippery but not too muddy to the first table. The trail is in excellent condition on that section. We took a break there then started up through the heavy brush which was quite wet from yesterday's rain. It was also fairly muddy. Some of the group put on grippers, but I didn't. They certainly would have been helpful but I was doing fine. We got to the 2nd table which was almost covered with brush. I couldn't even see it until Diane pointed it out to me, on a little trail slightly below the main trail, Too my surprise, I saw Bella standing on top of it. She had no trouble finding it. That was pretty funny. I had worried she might have trouble, but she out hiked us all, except for maybe Virginia. We all went a bit higher to a nice overlook where we all took another break. From there several decided to head on down. Virginia, Diane, and Erin wanted to continue to the ridge. I joined them. In fact they even insisted that I lead. I am a bit slower on the uphill than any of those ladies. But they were content to follow my steady pace. I felt pretty good and we did move at a reasonable pace. Now above the tree line, Bella was running in every direction, chasing squirrels and leaping from rock to rock. I'm sure she walked twice the distance the rest of us did. The views toward Knik Glacier were incredible. There were some clouds floating in and out but Pioneer Peak itself was always mostly in view. We could see a few sheep or goats in the distance along the peak. Happily, we all made it to the ridge where we took a nice long break and had some food. It was kind of chilly and I had to put my coat back on. There was some wind adding to the chill. But it was still quite nice. Virginia decided that she wanted to climb to the top of Pioneer Peak. She is a much faster hiker than the rest of us, plus it was a bit late in the day. So, she took off on her own up the peak. We explored a little and looked toward the peaks across the valley to the other side of the ridge. We could see where the Eklutna High Ridge Traverse would go from Pepper Peak to Yudikench, and to Pioneer Ridge. It looks like a very long trip but I sure would love to do it someday. I'm not so sure I could do it in one day like some of the faster hikers do. But it does look like an amazing trip. Bella ran up and down the mountainsides and I had to keep calling her back. I almost felt she wanted to spend the rest of her life out there chasing ground squirrels. We made our way down along the long ridge through rocks and scree until we came to the place where the others had turned back. Soon after that we put on our gripers for the long muddy steep trip back down to the cars. I don't know how I would have made it still standing, without those grippers. It's so muddy and steep, plus you can't see your feet through the brushy overgrowth. We mostly stayed together on our way down, but Erin was a bit faster. She waited for me when I lagged a bit behind. Bella ran from the leader to the last one and back, through the mud all the way to the car. We hiked just under 10 miles and had an elevation gain of over 5200 feet. I'm sure Virginia had a terrific climb, and she did text me later so I knew she made it back down. Our whole group is a bit in awe of her ability to climb anything. She must have been a mountain goat in some past life. But we were all delighted that we made it to the ridge. That was my goal for today. Although, with an earlier start and the right preparations, I do want to climb to the Pioneer Peak South Peak someday.

Knik Glacier

View on the back side of Pioneer Ridge

Pioneer Peak