The Carter Lake Trail is an alternative way to access Crescent Lake, and hits the lake on the opposite side than the standard in traditional Crescent Lake Trail. Carter Lake, while much less of a mountain bike trails than Crescent Lake, is still a super fun bike ride! It’s wide, which on the way up made me think it wouldn’t be that fun on the way down. But, as it turned out, it rode super fun on the way down because the sight lines were good, speed could be maintained, options were there to choose fun lines, and the whole thing flowed pretty well. That said, it’s definitely not a pedal up as the pitch is far too steep for anything less than an Olympian! So, if you’re willing to push or carry for a while, it’s certainly a worthy ride.

At the top of the steep section/The Climb, there’s a grassy plateau that rides along Carter Lake and over to Crescent Lake. I could see this getting overgrown later in the summer, but early June it was just starting to melt so actually super beautiful out there. It’s worth getting to the overlook of Crescent Lake if you can, as it’s super beautiful and a really cool perspective on the lake! There is a primitive trail that continues along the southside of Crescent Lake, and I went partway down it to explore, but turned around at the first River Crossing reminded of how primitive trails really aren’t for mountain biking! From the turnaround, it was a fun pedal across the flats, then a fast and fun to sent back to the lot.

That downhill rode a lot more technical than I expected, perhaps because it rode faster than I expected (always a choice)!  Overall, I’d say this is a super worthy ride, and a way to mix up the options on the Kenai Peninsula!

grassy plateau to Crescent Lake

beautiful valley to spend some time in!

view of Crescent Lake

Crescent Lake from the overlook

turnoff to the primitive trail here – go explore at your own risk!

the trail is wide, but super fun on the DH!

Like this?  Explore the other options at www.alaskaMTB.com!

The post Mountain biking Carter Lake appeared first on Kellie Okonek.

I rode from Ptarmigan Creek to Vagt Lake Trailhead (about 1.3 miles beyond Vagt Lake) and back and it would also be a great ride from Vagt Lake Trailhead to Ptarmigan Creek and back . . . perhaps better!  About 12 miles total riding, it took me about 2.5 hours (including the ride out Vagt Lake) and was a bit faster from Vagt to Ptarmigan than Ptarmigan to Vagt.

Staring at Vagt Lake: Trailhead is on the east side of the Seward Highway at mile 25.4 just south of Trail River bridge. Park outside of the railroad gate.  Trail starts near lakeshore.

Starting at Ptarmigan Creek: At Mile 23, Seward Highway, and turn east into Ptarmigan Creek Campground. Begins at the south end of the campground.

The best map of the trail is this one posted at a trail junction, with the INHT connector drawn in with Sharpie! It does give a good idea of the whole network, and supporting detail can be found at the Vagt and Ptarmigan NFS Recreational Opportunity Guides.

Ptarmigan Creek TH to Vagt Lake TH

The trail starts out from the campground and is wide and smooth.  There’s a junction to Falls Creek about ¾ mile in – turn left!  The trail has some moderate growth initially and then transitions to lovely open forest riding.  Some sort of punchy sections in the climb, it crosses a 4 wheel trail at about 1.9 miles (go straight) and then winds pretty gradually to the bridge across Falls Creek (about 2.8 miles in).  Constructed in summer 2021, it’s a pretty amazing bridge and the ticket to making this ride connect!  From the bridge, there’s 3 steep switchbacks that I was off the bike for, and then it’s about another 0.4 miles mostly up to the Crown Point ORV (4 wheel) trail.  Cross this trail and begin the descent to Vagt Lake.  At the junction, turn left to descend the final 1.3 miles to Trail Lake and the Seward Highway.  Never 100% up or down, the trail essentially climbs from Ptarmigan Creek to hte Crown Point ORV trail and essentially descends from there.  The descent to Vagt Lake and the Seward Highway are steep-ish at times with switchbacks, but it all rides well.  It’s definitely the more challenging downhill (and the more challenging uphill on the return!). 

Well built and super clear of brush! This is what Southcentral Alaska dreams are made of

After the Falls Creek ORV crossing, the trail continues to gradually wind up through the forest.

It’s a push up the switchbacks after the Falls Creek bridge! (photo: Chris Jung)

The Vagt Lake side of trail is a bit more greasy! Still fun tho

Vagt Lake TH to Ptarmigan Creek TH

The Vagt Lake trail starts with a mellow pedal along Trail Lake and then starts climbing!  The uphill is steep at times and I walked a bit of it as the trail ascends a creek.  The dirt is also greasier on this side (vs the Ptarmigan Creek side) so a bit harder to grip if it’s been raining recently!  A right at the lake itself (junction to INHT under construction – see below) and the climb continues with varying degrees of steepness – I walked another switchback, but it otherwise is pedal-able (for me).  Cross the Crown Point ORV, and descend to the Falls Creek bridge – the 3 switchbacks to teh bridge ride just fine!  A short uphill off the bridge and your reward is a wonderfully flowy and beautiful section of riding through the forest.  To me, this was the most fun part of the whole trail (and by this logic, worth an out/back to the bridge if you’re short on time or energy!).  Mostly downhill, there are a few short climbs too.  Right at the intersection with Ptarmigan Creek takes you to the trailhead along a very improved section of trail that still rides fun   

Climbing out of Trail Lake and the parking area, the trail is super lovely and mellow

The photo is a bit deceiving, but this section climbing along the creek was pretty steep and greasy – a push for me!

Lots of up and down . . .

With fun and flowy sections too!

Crossing Crown Point ORV – one more greasy section (it rides!) before transitioning back into the thicker forest canopy!

And then it’s a fun and flowy section on great dirt (drier under the forest canopy if it’s raining!), with great sight lines and no sharp turns that come and surprise you!

Ride Options 

1.  When I arrived at the Vagt Lake trail junction of the INHT with the trail to the Seward Highway, I took a ride out the new trail along Vagt Lake.  Currently being constructed (so far about 0.5 mi constructed), this section will continue to Grant Creek, and the ultimate construction of a bridge over Grant Creek will connect the INHT much closer to its destination at the Johnson Pass TH.  With the 4 bridges ultimately installed on Turnagain Pass INHT, that will bring connectivity from Moose Pass to Turnagain Arm!  I’m super thrilled with the continued progress on this amazing asset for Southcentral Alaska!
   

   Some of the prettiest riding, I’m super excited for this section to be complete!

    

   

Riding along Vagt Lake back toward the Seward Highway junction (photo: Chris Jung)

Currently the trail ends at the blue dot at the NW corner of Vagt Lake, and it will continue on to Grant Creek.

2.     Crown Point ORV – you can ride/push up this trail as far as you’d like to go!  It ultimately climbs like 3200’ well into the mountains.  Alternatively you can go up a bit for a view, or go down this trail and make a loop back to Vagt Lake TH.

Overlooking Trail Lake from the Crown Point trail (photo: Chris Jung)

3.   Falls Creek Rd – another 4 wheel trail, you can go up this one about 0.5 miles to a singletrack that will connect with the Ptarmigan Lake trail . . . ride it to the lake and come out Ptarmigan Creek all the way as an alternate ride to do with this section of trail!  The Ptarmigan Lake descent via Ptarmigan Creek rides super well and is similar to the Primrose descent in character, though a bit more tech than Primrose.  I definitely recommend it for those looking for a fun challenge!

Overall, mountain biking the 6 miles (12 miles round trip) of Iditarod National Historic Trail (INHT) between Ptarmigan Creek and Vagt Lake is a super worthy mountain bike ride!  At about 2.5 hours of riding, there’s a decent amount of variety and some nice views.  It’s not ever technical or overly challenging (except for a few sections of the climb), but a great ride to add to your list of Kenai Rides!

For more info on southcentral Alaska riding, check out www.AlaskaMTB.com!

The post Ptarmigan Creek to Vagt Lake INHT appeared first on Kellie Okonek.

At 6 miles each way, the ride is a great out-n-back from Eddies or a nice shuttle assist one-way from Center Ridge.  The 12-mile out-n-back is about 2300 ft elevation gain/loss and about 2.5 hours total riding (1.5 hours Eddies to Center Ridge, and 1 hr Center Ridge to Eddies).  The trail is not at all technical (roots/rocks) so is accessible to all levels of riding with good fitness for climbing!  While smooth, it is quite fun and very scenic – a totally worthy ride!  The climbing isn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s all rideable and worth digging deep to clear it all if you’re into that sort of thing   The trail is in great shape and with the addition of 2 bridges in 2021 can finally be ridden without sketch river crossings!  With the bridge openings, the NFS has also cleared brush and improved drainage on the trail, so the whole ride is in great shape!

Eddies to Center Ridge: the “uphill” section of mountain biking the Turnagain Pass Iditarod National Historic Trail (INHT)

The trail starts out super nice and wide and stays in great shape all the way.  The first 3.5 miles is a steady uphill with consistently punchy sections that make the first hour a proper workout!  This section of trail stays in the woods so there aren’t many views.  At about 3.5 miles in, the trail emerges into the river valley south of Eddies Mountain and views of the Eddies south face and Tincan open up – it’s so lovely!  The next 2.5 miles to Center ridge start with a steep climb with 2 switchbacks (similar to the ones on lower Devil’s Creek) and then the terrain becomes rolling along the base of the Todd’s and the Tincan west face.  This section of riding is super enjoyable and lovely!  Finally, a quick descent to Center Ridge and you’re there!  The trail continues about 0.5 miles to Lyon Creek and essentially “ends” for all but the most adventurous!  

Eddies has never felt steep to me until pedaling up it! The forest is nice though! This section would probably stay decent in moderate rains

Yet another short punchy section – sooo fun on the way down though!

The new bridge over Ingram creek is a game changer for both summer and winter!

The trail from Eddies consistently winds uphill through the forest at the base of Eddies Mountain.

There are some decent recovery sections between steep sections!

Maybe Heather Johnson’s smile is because at this point she’s done most of the climbing . . . or maybe because she has no idea the steepest section is next up!  Or maybe she loves this new bridge!!!    Photo: Natsuko Ito

Center Ridge to Eddies: the “downhill” section of mountain biking the Turnagain Pass Iditarod National Historic Trail (INHT)

Starting out with a brief climb, including punchy sections the trail then transitions to rolling terrain at the base of Tincan.  Views of Turnagain Arm and upper 20 Mile River abound and this is one of the loveliest sections of trail.  About 2.5 miles in and the fun begins!  A descent to the bridge over Eddie’s Creek (on South side of Eddie’s Mountain) is followed by a short and steep climb out and then there’s a fast and fun downhill section to the new bridge across Ingram Creek through the forested section.  Rolling terrain follows this bridge to the parking lot.  Skiers may find this section of trail super fun (I sure did!) because we ski it all winter and it feels so similar while being so different – such a cool experience!  

The Tincan meadows are really pretty . . . and it’s fun to look up at Todd’s run

Heather Johnson making it look easy!   Photo: Natsuko Ito

Heather Johnson starts the descent to the Eddies Creek bridge . . . the final punchy climb is just off her left hip before the most continuous downhill section begins in the forest beyond. Photo: Natsuko Ito

Looking out Turnagain Arm and Upper 20 Mile River from the top of the switchbacks     Photo: Natsuko Ito

Heather Johnson crossing the Eddies Creek bridge . . . so fun to see the Eddies South Face in the summer!  Photo: Natsuko Ito

Overall, mountain biking the Turnagain Pass Iditarod National Historic Trail (INHT) is super worthy . . . it’s great to have a resource to enjoy Turnagain Pass in the summer!  In 2.5 hours, one could do an out-n-back or 2 shuttles from Center Ridge to Eddie’s . . . both are totally worthy!  While a net elevation loss from Center Ridge, it’s hardly a DH (decent pedaling required!) but the views are better and DH more plentiful!  In 2022, bridges will be built over Lyon and Taylor Creeks, but the bridges for Spokane and Bertha Creeks need ~$500k of funding that’s not currently in a budget.  Once those bridges are built, the trail will connect 12 miles from Eddies to Johnson Pass, and make for a nearly 40 mile through ride between Eddies and Moose Pass!  This trail is part of a larger effort to restore and  develop over 180 miles of the Southern Trek of the Iditarod National Historic Trail, connecting the communities of Seward and Girdwood, Alaska.

The post Turnagain Pass INHT mountain biking appeared first on Kellie Okonek.

After a very windy and long drive up the backside, the trail started in grassy animal trails – kind of choose-your-own adventure, but definitely a trail to follow.  After a bit, it popped out onto the ridge for a series of freeride drops – no trail, lots of features, ride what looked fun!  These super fun ‘bumps’ were connected by short climbs or at times traverse sections that rode more like a pump track than anything.  It’s as if they were made for bikes!  This style of terrain goes on for awhile and is super fun riding!

At one point, my buddy exclaimed that we should have used this place as a warm-up, at which point I reminded him not to underestimate Peru . . . and I was right!  After about 6500′ of super fun (though still plenty taxing) terrain, the last 1500′ are steep, loose, rocky technical riding that definitely was a challenge!  Tech riding like this is always difficult, and especially after a long day of riding in the sun!  All’s well that ends well, and we made it through just fine . . .

The closest town to the ride is Chincha, where we stayed the night before after riding Olleros.  I recommend staying local the night before as it’s a very very long day trip from Lima – as it was, the day was long by starting in Chincha and returning to Lima.

Apparently this trail was ‘discovered’ by some 70-year-old guys who likes bikes and likes exploring – what a find!  It’s so random and rad, but I have no idea how anyone would ever think to ride here!  That said, I highly highly highly recommend you do!  So unreal and fun.

This is, however, one of the most exposed rides we did . . . almost all the trails have a road that intersects them so the truck is avialble if needed.  Chavin does not – it’s truly remote for a long time and an injury here would be something to contend with for sure.

Peruvian version of game trails . . .

It started off so tame . . .

These traverse sections were so fun to ride!

The views didn’t suck! Big country . . .

Riding big ridgelines is so cool!

Of course the spicy section comes at the end when your legs are already spent!

The post Mountain biking Peru – outside Lima – Chavin appeared first on Kellie Okonek.

Ride 1 – Santa Maria

This ride was 100% Peru – steep, loose, narrow.  Winding through the trees, this ride had a lot of momentum management and driving with the handlebars!!!  I kind of loved it, in part because it was different than the other type of tech riding we’d done.  My partner was less stoked on it.  But variety is the spice of life!!!!

Here we go . . . cool to see city views from the start!

This is a fairly typical section, though the photo doesn’t do justice to the steepness, looseness, or narrowness! It was spicy

After riding in the sacred valley for a week, with only highways paved, it was funny to drop out into a neighborhood!

Ride 2 – Huanacaure

Our second ride was a much bigger and longer one . . . it started with a hike-a-bike up to ruins, at which point a trail magically emerged!  While we were there, the trail was under major construction so was in transition from Peru tech to ‘Inca Trail’ highway – apparently it’s being constructed to help develop trekking tourism.

That said, once we got below the constructed (and active construction), the trail transitioned back to the Peru tech we’d become accustomed to!  The unimproved sections were super fun to ride, complete with a super steep descent literally into town.

We hiked to the high point and the ride descended off the backside

Ruins under repair to support the trekking route also being constructed. Super cool way to start the ride!

Vestiges of trail construction/improvement – never seen it done like this outside Peru!

The ‘Inca Trail’ highway section

Back to tech!

Final steep section into town

Overall, we finished this section of the trip on a high note, and enjoyed some celebratory beers and town time exploring Cusco!  Riding with Peru Biking did not disappoint!

The post Mountain biking Peru – day 9 – Cusco appeared first on Kellie Okonek.

Ride 1 – Inca Cárcel 2:

While this ride was cool, I kinda rode the struggle bus on it!  There was more climbing than I thought and lots of traversing.  Some choose-your-Own-adventure … less obvious trail than I’d anticipated.  Nice endo over small water bar with a drop … some rocky sections with turns – didn’t clear as many as hoped … more traverse and climbing than anticipated.  Put my foot down and re-rolled my ankle from yesterday

Ride 2: El Brujo 

Riding El Brujo is definitely one of the classic Cusco rides.  It’s a bit cross country at the beginning along a grassy ridge, and then goes through rocky sections and rideable switchbacks.  Then comes flowier sections of rocks and grass sections interspersed … some ‘off road’ through fields and a final drop section to the road.  The trail doesn’t t descend all the way to valley due to the city encroaching in!  All the same, a rad ride, some cool countryside, a different view of Cusco, and a highlight of the day for sure!

Ride 3: Inca Cárcel 1 

This ride was Peru ‘flow’ – mostly downhill with minor pedal at end – fun rocky sections including big staircase – rode all.  Very fun trail.  It’s one that you could definitely ride a lot harder and faster if you knew it – felt a lot like a resort-style trail and is clearly heavily ridden and maintained by locals.  There are actual berms and jumps built, and probably felt like the most mountain bike specific trail that we rode on the whole trip (perhaps with the exception of Moro Solar in Lima).

Here’s the irony: it rode so fast I don’t have pics!  I’m not sure we really even stopped!

Ride 4: Balcon del Diablo to Main Square

This final ride of the day was a super fun ride to end with . . . it was Peru flow, and needed Peru skills of line choices.  But by this point, we’d had plenty of practice with that skill so it was awesome!  The ride was open up top, then a traverse section, and then a super cool descent into forest.  There was a sharp left hander at the bottom of a steep section (that I missed), and then out to some steep steps with a turn (rode them all!).  The ride pops out of the forest right at the guest house, which is only a block from the main square – so cool!  

The post Mountain biking Peru day 8 – Cusco appeared first on Kellie Okonek.

We stayed in Ollantaytambo at Casa Blanca hotel, which was super nice, convenient to town, and easy to leave bags at while we were out exploring.  All for around $40!  While Calca was great, we also wanted to mix it up a bit.  Having been to Machu Picchu before, I wasn’t planning to go this trip, but how could we be so close and not go?!?!  I’m so glad we did!

If you’re planning in advance, it’s worth buying tickets early so you can go to Huayna Picchu too (although that makes it even less of a rest day!).  That was one thing we missed by not having a plan to do this!  This is the famous mountain that appears behind the main city in the classic photo of Machu Picchu.  The hike is super cool, exposed, challenging, and beautiful.  It’s got some exposure, so heads up if that sort of thing bothers you!  At the base of the mountain is the Temple of the Moon, which is super cool and worthy to check out as well.  Since I’d been there before, I wasn’t too heartbroken to miss it this time, but definitely recommend advance purchase of tickets if you go!

Oh, and for what it’s worth, these mountains would be cool even if there wasn’t an ancient city hidden in them!  It’s near the Amazon headwaters in an area called the cloud forest for the way the clouds hang in the mountains – so cool!

Huayna Picchu in the background – worth the hike if it’s your first time!

The post Peru mountain biking – rest day – Machu Picchu appeared first on Kellie Okonek.

This trail was more a cross country ride than a DH even though there was a net elevation loss of nearly 4000 ft!  It started off in the rolling valleys (pedaling!) and then transitioned to riding through fields.  The trail passes through the Willoc village, famous for weaving, which is super cool.  Finally, it pops out near the Pumamarka ruins and riding through less famous (not even sure they’re named) ruins for a fun techy finish.  Overall a pretty exhausting ride, which is why we only did one ride this day!  

To mix things up, we stayed in Ollantaytambo this night, and zipped out to Macchu Picchu the next day, because that’s how rest days in Peru are spent!

The famous waving town of Willoc

we came down the valley behind Bryan – so cool!

Just before a spicy tech section – it’s possible to ride around, but we climbed up to it and I’m glad we did!

Peru . . . where bike trails go through ancient village ruins.

Does it get any cooler?!?! Ruins everywhere – these ones pretty well preserved.

Sometimes too much tech . . .

The spicy section came down from the plateau on that ridgeline – that’s where the town/ruins were.

We earned our beer on this one!

The post Mountain bike Peru – Sacred Valley Day 7 – Patacancha appeared first on Kellie Okonek.

Ride 1: Huchuy Qosco to Lamay

While many hike up to these ruins, we took a very switchback-y road from Calca and rode into them from above.  It was super cool to have ruins this extensive in the middle of our bike trail!  After gazing on them for a bit, we undertook more switchbacks in a very narrow canyon (for a bike trail) than I would have previously considered possible for a mountain bike trail.  There goes Peru redefining possible again.  

The trail actually switchbacked down this ‘chute’ – I’ve never seen anything like it from a bike!

The trail is visible in this photo, including the chute!

Ride 2: Lamay higher start

From there we crossed the valley for another great ride in Lamay.  Perhaps of all the towns in the Sacred Valley, Lamay has the best variety of trails – all so fun!  

Ride 3: Lamay opposite side

Our third ride started from a side valley above Lamay and rode back to town.  It had super great views, especially of the ride we’d finished Day 1 with!  

Ride 4: Huchuy Qosco down to Calca

This ride was spicy and fun til the very end, working its way down a ravine back to Calca and the Rio Urumbamba.  There was one tech section that was as gnarly as any we’d encountered and surely a walk, as well as plenty of trailwide obstructions to control wildlife that made for interesting bike management.  I struggled a bit on this trail in part due to it being the 4th ride on an already big day!  It was super nice to ride all the way back home though, and another fabulous and kind of unbelievable day of riding.   

The post Peru Mountain Biking – Sacred Valley – Day 6 – Huchuy Qosco & return to Lamay appeared first on Kellie Okonek.

Ride 1: Inca Avalanche 

This ride follows a DH course formally known as Mega Avalanche and now known as Inca Avalanche.  Starting at 14,400′ the trail follows an old Inca Road for approximately 5000′ of descent.

For us, it was raining pretty good at the top!  Inca trail, then into some more singletrack with rocky techy sections.  Eventually it runs along the road (cutting switchbacks) so it’s a matter of piecing together really fun sections all the way down to Ollantaytambo.  It felt shorter than 5000’ as a result of being chopped up I think.  With the rain, we took it fairly slowly due to all the wet rocks!  Overall a fun ride

Ride 2: Pumamarca ruins to Ollyantaytambo

Pumamarca – Built on a steep Andean hillside overlooking the intersection of the Patacancha and Yuracmayo rivers, these lesser-visited ruins were once a ceremonial center for the Wari people, becoming a fortress for the later Inca civilization. Pumamarca also holds important historical significance as one of the few places where the Spaniards suffered a military defeat against the Incas. 

This ride started traverse-y and it kinda stayed that way, with fun rocks and flow to keep things interesting.  It wasn’t a huge descent (maybe only 1500?!?).  Some tight rock sections that caused a bit of ankle bash for me, and riding through a stream rather than over the rock bridge which resulted in a proper bath!  Just when I thought I couldn’t get more wet!

The drive up was pretty stunning!

And riding back down was stunning too!

This trail was harder for me to find flow – I don’t love tech without vertical! Others had more fun than I did, I think!

The last section was fun, fast, and flowy!

Ride 3: Chinchero DH

This one was my favorite of the day . . . fun farmland section up top with road-like sections, grass, tight turns, eroded features, and just overall fun.  Then a flowy section to the hillside where the down started!  This had character of the end of “Lord of the Keys” but was more rideable and had less of a water rut down the middle!  Fun rock sections, spicy turns, and really engaging and fun riding . . . in stunning scenery!

Looking back over at Lord of the Keys from day 3

At some point riding through rad stuff like this just gets normal . . .

The post Peru Mountain Biking – Sacred Valley – Day 5 – Inca Avalanche, Pumamarka Ruins, Chinchero Alto DH appeared first on Kellie Okonek.