Ski Train

The Anchorage Nordic Ski Association runs a train each year out to Curry, Alaska. Curry is north of Talkeetna just east of Denali. The old town is in the valley to the east of Kesugi Ridge (see post from back in September).

Our group of friends has a long history of Ski Train shenanigans. Each year, Alex and Justin (among others) come up with a theme. Last year it was "space on a train." Everyone came as aliens, etc. This year, the theme was "Yo Ho Ho - Pirates v. Pimps." I went as a pirate.

The train boarded from 6-7am. We loaded our gear into the baggage car and jumped on our car. We spent the time decorating our car with lights, pirate posters, streamers and table covers. A large cardboard cut-out of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow loomed from one side of the car.

As the train got rolling we started serving coffee and mimosas. The dawn-lit ride out of Anchorage, along the Chugach and across the Palmer Flats was magnificent. People talked and admired each others' costumes. Highlights were Alex as a rather comely (homely?) wench and Vik as a giant parrot.

As we pulled into Wasilla, more people jumped on the train.

The rest of the ride north was spent playing cards, listening to the roving polka band and enjoying the scenery. We spotted two canids from a distance as we neared Talkeetna that everyone hoped were wolves but were more likely coyotes. Denali poked its head out every once in a while to give us spectacular views.

Once we got to Curry we changed into skiing clothes. Our gear had been unloaded by a bonfire and we sorted through the piles of skis, poles and snowshoes.

We divided up into people who wanted to head up the ridge and those that wanted to poke around in the valley. I headed up the hill with Callie, Megan, Paul, Tommy, Kate and Joe. We kept heading up and people turned back in twos and threes. Eventually it was just Tommy (Kate's brother who was visiting from MN) and I headed up the hill. The sun eventually poked out and Denali reared up above the ridge that had blocked views of it from the valley floor.

Tommy and I reached the top and were rewarded with 360 degree views with Cook Inlet to the South, the Talkeetnas to the north and east and Denali to the west. We poked around on the ridge and bagged some fresh powder for half our descent by avoiding the trail and sticking to the trees.

Once on the trail, things got a bit dicey. My skis didn't have metal edges and so the ice on the way down was a bit treacherous. But I made it with only a few wipe-outs.

We reboarded the train and helped ourselves to a huge meal. Our groups' organizers had outdone themselves with their budget (20 buck a person) and we had a huge meal. It was lovely.

After the train got moving the dance party started up. Our car was a bit crowded and the conductors watched us to make sure people could get through the aisle. But things were fun and everyone was happy.

We made a quick trip up to the polka car to dance. Although it was ridiculously crowded and more resembled a good natured mosh pit than a polka dance.

The rest of the trip back was a dance party that slowed down only about half an hour from Anchorage. We threw ourselves into cleaning up our car in order to keep the NSAA's good will for next year.

Once back in Anchorage we stashed our gear in our cars and then headed up the hill to the Woodshed to continue the party. We sang karaoke and danced. I joined in on Mr. Jones with some friends and got roped into filling in for a friend who had left on Shot Through the Heart.

It was quite a day.

The ADN did an audio slideshow on the event. Our group features prominently in the second half of the presentation. You can see our car as well as when we took over the polka car. I think the back of my head (bandanna wrapped) shows up in a polka car photo.

The Story is here: http://www.adn.com/excursions/v-swf/story/365957.html

My pictures are here: http://picasaweb.google.com/jack.r.mckenna/SkiTrain