By Eric Troyer
Trip Location: Steese National Conservation Area, Steese Highway
Access: Pinnell Mountain Trail, Twelvemile Summit (milepost 85.5, Steese Highway)
Trip Date: Friday, July 3, 2015
Trail or route conditions, wildlife sightings and any highlights from the trip: A little less smoke than in the Fairbanks area, which was nice. Too hazy for long views, though. Quiet hike. Songbirds and a pika. This hike is not well known, but it is described in the book Outside in the Interior. It’s a nice little dayhike, about 6 miles round trip. Follow the Pinnell Mountain Trail about a half-mile from Twelvemile Summit then head to the dome to your left (west). Climb over that dome, across a saddle, then climb the next peak. That’s McManus (though not its official name).
