Crow Pass Training

May 2015

It's hard to believe that after decades in Alaska, I'd still never done Crow Pass, a trail that traverses from Girdwood to Eagle River, slogging across rivers and waterfalls, passing majestic glaciers and glacial lakes, and bushwhacking its way through tall grass and poisonous plants in premier bear country - without cell reception. The distance is anywhere from 19-24 miles on average (estimates vary greatly). This year I signed up for the race in July, and in May I completed my first training up there with my running buddy Jeremy. We had beautiful blue skies and scenic panoramas tempting us to pull out our cameras constantly. It was so "hot" by Alaska standards that we stopped to willingly jump into a glacial lake on the way back! (By we, I mean I...Jeremy couldn't handle the complete plunge) ;) We did an out and back route from the Girdwood side which is the most scenic side. The first few miles pose a little climbing, but after that it's flat and then back downhill! I highly recommend a day trip to the glacier if you don't have time to do the whole trail.