Crow Pass Traverse

My old buddy and long-time friend Josh Hodge flew out from Michigan for a visit in the last frontier. Our itinerary for the week was aggressive. After Josh's arrival, and with 3 hrs. of sleep we arose at 5 am Saturday morning and embarked on our traverse of Crow Pass between Girdwood and Eagle River AK. This section of trial follows the historic Iditarod trail which originated in Seward and terminated in Nome. This trail was opened in 1910 to support the gold mining stamped to Iditarod west of Fairbanks. My concept was to hike Crow Pass, then hike and float Upper Winner Creek trail and 20 Mile River respectively which also follows the historic Iditarod trail in the opposite direction we would take over Crow Pass. My buddy Joe Park was able to accompany us over Crow Pass and provided valuable insight and intelligence on the route, having done it before. The trail guide published by the DNR says this is a 21 mile hike. Joe recommended we start in Girdwood and hike toward Eagle River, a strategy that afterward Josh and I were glad to have followed. The elevation gain is more severe for the first several miles from this direction, but the rest of the hike is a gradual sloping grade.

The major notable hazard of Crow Pass trail is a river crossing about half way. Though the sign at the Eagle River Nature Center read ominously, we found the crossing depth of the upper Eagle River to be slightly over the knee, and the FPS was manageable. 

The morning was cold and rainy over the pass, but cleared as we approach Eagle River.

Top of the pass looking up. I believe this is Raven Glacier. From this point on the weather was so inclement, we dared not hazard exposing our smart phones; so these pictures only cover Crow Pass trail-head to top of the pass.

Notes:

1) The fjord of Eagle River spans two braids of the river. Both braids are marked on either side with posts. Make sure to cross both braids by walking in a straight line from post to post. Lock arms with others in the party, heaviest person on the up-stream side, the others tailing down-stream.

2) The trail from Eagle River fjord to ER Nature Center is poorly marked, or washed out in several sections. This section of trail runs through ER valley, so risk of getting lost is minimal, but it will save time to keep a sharp eye out for dead ends or fragmented marker spots.