Trip Reports - Fairbanks Area Hiking Club

Far Mountain Trail and Traverse

December 29, 2015 By Don Kiely

Party: Eric Troyer

Trip Location: Far Mountain Trail and Traverse, 1 mile up to 29 miles, total elevation gain for whole traverse about 9,300 feet.

Access: The trip starts and ends at Chena Hot Springs Resort. You can park in the resort parking lot if you’re going to do a short day hike and plan to use their facilities. Otherwise, park in the large open area on the east (left) side of the road just before the entrance. To access the trail, take the first road on the east side of the road before the Monument Creek bridge, then your first left after the cabin and your first right off that road/trail.

Trip Date: Saturday, June 13, 2015

Trail or route conditions, wildlife sightings and any highlights from the trip: Far Mountain can be done as anything from a short outing to a several-day backpacking trip. Short trips can be done anytime, year round. The complete traverse is best done earlier in the summer because of the few water sources are more reliable then. [Read more…]

Mount Healy Trail via Bison Gulch

December 21, 2015 By Don Kiely

Party: Eric Troyer

Trip Location: Mile 243.5 Parks Highway, just north of the Nenana River Canyon.

Access: The trip starts and ends at the Bison Gulch parking pullout. To access the trail, cross the highway (carefully!) and follow the obvious trail up the steep, gravel bank.

Trip Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Trail or route conditions, wildlife sightings and any highlights from the trip: The trail hasn’t changed much for many years. It is still steep, sometimes eroded and disappears or braids in places, but it is fairly obvious for most of the way. Still lots of places to stop, take in the views, and have lunch or a snack. [Read more…]

Chena Dome Trail Trip Report

November 3, 2015 By Don Kiely

Party: Eric Troyer

Trip Location: Chena Dome Trail, 29 miles officially, but probably more like 30 or 31. (The official trail guide also shows 8300 feet elevation gain, but my GPS said it was almost 9300)

Access: Two trailheads: Miles 50.5 and 49.4, Chena Hot Springs Road

Trip Date: Saturday, May 30

Trail or route conditions, wildlife sightings and any highlights from the trip: Late May is an excellent time to hike the Chena Dome Trail, which is as much route as actual trail. The weather is sunny but generally cool, with few thunderstorms (which aren’t great for ridge hikes). The hiking trail/route is dry, but several pools of water and snow patches are available. Several varieties of wildflowers are out, as are many species of songbirds. I also saw two caribou, who were as curious about me as I was about them.

[Read more…]