Ptarmigan Peak  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Elevation:  4,879' Page Views:  1,525. Good page?    Administrators:  Jared LaVacque, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  clint helander on Oct 8, 2012 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

Colin Haley on a high traverse on Ski Tracks

Description 

Ptarmigan Peak is located in Anchorage's front range and is easily visible from town. Its north face, which features a prominent couloir, is a popular venue for steep alpine mixed lines.

To date there are over a dozen mixed lines ranging from relatively moderate 2,000' lines to unrepeated M9 test pieces.

The two most popular routes on Ptarmigan's north face, other than the moderate couloir itself, are Only Hookers Get the Blues and Ski Tracks.

Getting There 

Park at Glen Alps trailhead and ski down Powerline Pass to the base of the couloir on Ptarmigan (1.5-2 hours).

The Classics

Featured Route For Ptarmigan Peak

Ski Tracks WI3+ M3-4 Steep Snow  AK : Anchorage & South Central A... : Ptarmigan Peak

Ski Tracks is one of the only routes on Ptarmigan that is not immensely technical. That being said, it is still difficult. There is considerable route finding, avalanche danger and challenging mixed terrain to fight through during a short Alaskan winter day.Start at a small alcove to climb directly up past a few pins on moderate mixed. Traverse right for several hundred feet, finding occasional fixed gear. The traversing ramp widens to a small snow bowl and continues an upward traverse to an obv...[more]   Browse More Classics in AK