99516, Weddleton added, that traffics coming anyway. Today, the only message at the trailhead kiosk was a computer printout reading THERE IS NO LEGAL PARKING OUTSIDE OF FIVE DESIGNATED SPOTS. The sign went on to inform hikers of overflow parking down the hill outside of the communitys gate, and ended with a strange admonition: DONT BE EVIL.. The blood coursing through reindeer antlers, Whitehead explained, causes them to vibrate like a tuning fork. Nobody wants crime in their neighborhood, but it persists across this city nonetheless, regardless of the stringency of parking rules. In a January 30, 2018 email obtained by the Landmine, Pugh warns a group of local residents about the consequences of re-opening the trail: If you are like me and you want Potter Valley to remain a relatively quiet neighborhood environment unencumbered from being a Public Access Point like Flattop then we should work together. Governor Kevin Meyer. exit of I-8 and is one of the closest OHV opportunities in the Greater San Diego Area. Oro passed away in 2002. The drive itself is only 45 minutes, but once you get there, you'll want to spend more time photographing and exploring. But that would require a vote of the Anchorage Assembly, and one Assembly member told the Landmine that secession attempts would be dead in the water. how about your hoa removes the rocks that yall put in snow bear (a PUBLIC street) so people can park on it? Whitehead handed out carrot treats and suggested touching Stars antlers once he warmed up to the new attention. Starting in the late 1950s McHugh was typically accessed from the Stewart Homestead Road (also called the Stewart Trail), which leads to the peaks northwest ridge. Local conservation giant Great Land Trust (GLT) commissioned an assessment of the easement, and Pugh indicated that he would entertain an offer. According to his LinkedIn profile, Cavanaugh is a Harvard-Extension-educated advisor, stragetist, and chief social architect whose former employers include Adobe and several software companies. Boutique, small ship adventure cruises in Alaska's Inside Passage, Cruises depart from Whittier, a 1 hr drive from Anchorage. To pass, the ordinance needed to be approved at the ballot box by two groups: members of the current service area, and Hillside voters currently living outside of the service area. Free personal GPSdriven travel guide to Alaska. Was there a word count requirement on the article submission? Though the area was beloved by many it remained something of a hidden gem, a place where those in the know could slip away from city life into the peaceful wildness of the Chugach foothills. ", "This is BS! For more about how the information on this site should be used, please click here. In a 2016 Alaska Trails Survey, over seventy people stated that they had openly used the Stewart Trail for decades. Bear Valley: Golden View Trailhead has great access to McHugh Peak, and view from ridge is one of the best view of Anchorage and Chugach mountains. Christopher Constant, Chris Birch, and Jeff Landfield walk the Stewart Trail, October 1, 2018. Its western flanks enfold several of South Anchorages hillside neighborhoods and dont flatten out until they reach the New Seward Highway. US. The Cavanaughs drove their RV up the mountain and parked it in the middle of the Stewart Trail, blocking the trail and forcing hikers to detour around it. Some noted that the city was overwhelmed with a property crime wave, and stolen cars took precedence over stolen mountains. ", "Jesse Aaronsen's review mistakes Canyon Road trailhead for this one. 7-10 days is the most common. The Eagle River Nature Center, located just 45 minutes from downtown Anchorage on the northeast side of 500,000-acre Chugach State Park, provides an excellent starting point for hikes, nature walks, and wildlife viewing. that go far beyond anything I can cover here. Never would have guessed, I really appreciate Seans well-thought-out and expressed comments, and cant disagree with anything he said. The park has many trails. Meacham insisted that the MOA was, in fact, providing as much help as it could. Despite the public announcements, documents suggest uncertainty and lingering questions about the accuracy of the new No Parking signs. Goose Lake Park, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA, Chuck Albrecht Softball Complex, Elmore Road, Anchorage, AK, United States, Wolverine Trail, Anchorage, AK 99516, USA, 13101 Glen Alps Rd, Anchorage, AK 99516, USA, 6998 Raspberry Rd, Anchorage, AK 99502, USA, 6001-6225 Kalmia Dr, Anchorage, AK 99507, USA, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), April 6: Bicentennial Park: North Bivouac, Bicentennial Park: North Bivouac Trailhead. Photographed October 1, 2018. On September 17, 2012, Frank Pugh and wife Oksana Pugh purchased a 120-acre lot in upper Potter Valley formerly known as the Earl Hutchings Homestead. Insider tips to pick the best Alaska cruise. From central Anchorage, take the Seward Highway south to O'Malley Road (or take the Minnesota Bypass, which turns east and becomes O'Malley Road). After Lewis and Meacham spoke, attendees took turns sharing personal stories of trail use, including instances of harassment on the trail. And thats when residents knew something had gone badly wrong. There is no way fire department equipment could have accessed, much less turned around in, the space. Book entire boat for your family or group, or opt to bunk with other guests. The most intimate multi-day cruise option. You'll find berries growing on the slopes of both Mt. Cavanaughs signs demand that trail users exit the property and incorporate clip art of handcuffs, a person being arrested, and a person gripping the bars of a prison cell. because upper hillside voters ACTIVELY VOTED to keep it that way. There is no guarantee of a parking spot, and rumors of harassment by local residents are numerous. There is ample parking here year round for $5 (or an annual State Parks Pass), and the trailhead is located at the end of the uppermost parking lot. Later, Pugh recovered the memory cards, identified each of us, and compiled his footage into a video. This dynamic is clearly at play in the battle for the Stewart Trail. Head out on this 5.4-mile out-and-back trail near Indian, Alaska. More recently, local residents have used the trail for recreational purposes. But in 2015, Pugh abruptly gated the trail. Though McHugh peak is mostly an alpine walkup, negotiating the bundle of rocks on its summit can be tricky and feels more like rock climbing than hiking. In other posts, Cavanaugh and his friends joke about scattering shells on the Stewart Trail and painting crosshairs onto his signs to intimidate trail users. To assess Pughs claim that the Stewarts granted permission to individuals to use the trail, the Landmine contacted the Stewarts longtime employee and friend Albert Whitehead. When Oro Stewart passed away in 2002, Whitehead learned that she had willed him her ranch home on the Park Strip in downtown Anchorage. Bear Valley Trailhead provides ample parking for larger vehicles with trailers. Local favorites for half-day hikes include Bloods Ridge and Inspiration Point. But there it is at #4at least, if youre going by land area alone. Parking lot, Blueberry Loop Trail, Anchorage, AK 99516, Northern Trailhead, Seward Hwy, Anchorage, AK 99516, Blueberry Loop Trail, Anchorage, AK 99516, 10471 Honey Bear Ln, Brett Frazer hiking back down the McHugh Lake Trail toward the McHugh Creek Trailhead. But in a January 2, 2019 email to the Landmine, Municipal Attorney Rebecca Windt Pearson offered another explanation: The Municipality has not proceeded to litigation on this issue primarily because, as noted, the Municipality lacks land management authority and resources in this area.. Melissas Monthly fhike. The Stewart Trail is far from the only prescriptive easement in Anchorage, where many trails and roads were built with little regard to official property lines. Frank I dont know how long youve been in the area, or where you live, but my folks homesteaded the 1/4 section north of Earl Hutchins old homestead (Doc Schoffs place, to us kids as he bought it from Earl). From the trailhead, the clearly-signed trail begins at the parking lot and switchbacks through dense alder toward the broad shoulder of McHughs north ridge. hiking area Cavanaugh developed his own network of cameras to surveil trail users, and began confronting people on the trail. You are under no obligation to speak with anyone on a public easement, and use of a public easement is not trespass. The wind howling through the mountains threatened to push our vehicle off of the icy streets, and the windsock at one residents helipad blew parallel to the ground. After a third of a mile from the parking lot, the trail enters open tundra. If they really cared about that fire turnaround they sure as hell wouldnt fill itRead more , One of the best summers for co-existence between residents and hikers has come at the cost of severe restrictions on public access due to parking scarcity and harassment by nearby homeowners. I feel compelled to set the record straight. 2-5 day small ship explorations. He appears to be walking his dog. Campgrounds, RV Parks & Public Use Cabins. Because it is south-facing in a high-wind area next to the ocean, this route is often fully snow-free as soon as early May. And at the back of the room, well-known mountain runner and former RCCC Co-Chair Nancy Pease appeared to be the nucleus of another small group of opposition. Anchorage, A vehicle gate was installed across the mouth of the Stewart Homestead Road, but pedestrian access remained unimpeded. Without support from the police, and perhaps suspecting an unfavorable outcome in civil court, Pugh resolved to defend the trail alone. Map showing area made inaccessible by the Pugh gate. Bear Valley: Golden View Trailhead has great access to McHugh Peak, and view from ridge is one of the best view of Anchorage and Chugach mountains. . Difficulty: Moderate Distance: 9 miles Elevation Gain: 850 feet Rarely do two lakes lie within a few feet of each other. See them by hiking up 1,500feet to the 4,050-foot summit. Share this: . It is best as an out and back hike, however you could use it to do a few loops: 1) go to the "peak" and head over ridge to connect to McHugh-Rabbit Lake trail and end up at McHugh Rec Area along Turnagain Arm, or 2) go down to Rabbit Lake from the end of the ridge, return on the Canyon Road-Rabbit Lake trail and eventually end up at Canyon Road, but neither are obvious and both require some wayfinding. commented on the wrong one on accident but registered as a Republican huh? An internal June 13, 2016 email from Traffic Safety Division Manager Langley states, I believe our position has been consistent on the gating of public roads: Answer = No. However, in a message later that day to Fire Marshall Hill, Langley speculates that their decision may be overruled from above: Directions from above didnt alter the MOAs rejection of the proposed gate, but in late 2016 the MOA Traffic Department announced an ambitious new signage program along several upper Bear Valley streets, including Honey Bear Lane and Snow Bear Drive. Yes, Dennis, you and other landowners including the developer of the Southpointe Subdivison, have done your best to shut down access to the ridge between Turnagain Arm and Potter Valley, which extends to the Ruby Peak referenced in the article. ), but it is an official parking area. This piece tries to set the impression that landowners in the vicinity of Stewart Trail endorse open access. Seans citation of the sixth car problem is laughable, about as much so as a five car access point (thats 1 spot per 60,000 Anchorage residents) to a massive public use area. His points are well taken and he is just the kind of neighbor one wants to have living adjacent to a park access point. 55 Ways to the Wilderness, published in 1972, advises readers that hikers are welcome and that the road makes a lovely walk. Between 2002 and 2010, the Chugach State Park Access Inventory, Rabbit Creek Trail Plan, and Hillside District Plan all refer to the Stewart Trail as a public access corridor. Once word got out, demand quickly exceeded the capacity of the tiny parking area. But by mid-2017, those efforts had stalled. My mom grew up hiking these mountains, I grew up hiking these mountains, and now my kids are growing up hiking these mountains in the Alaskan spirit where folks cheer them on and enjoy the next generation growing up in the outdoors enjoying the adventure. When Pugh purchased the lot, nearby residents had little reason to suspect that access to the Stewart Trail would change. After a quick call, he agreed to an interview. If it were me and I had bought that property in the first place I would have done a little more research. So, I decided to go back this weekend, with the attention of either turning into Ship Lake or the valley of tarns that lies below Bird Ridge. Excellent trailhead, but limited parking. All trails are flat. Sic burn, Paxson! Difficulty: Class 2+(c4). The Bear Valley Trailhead is a popular place to begin a hiking, biking, or horse riding adventure in Point Reyes National Seashore. Disputes about whether use of land is sufficiently continuous, open, and hostile to create a prescriptive easement can be contentious. In an August 22, 2019 phone call, Chugach State Park Superintendent Kurt Hensel told the Landmine, To me its really frustrating to have such a great, big awesome park out there, but have limited parking and we have to turn people away to the third largest state park in the country. Hensel remarked that planners should work to serve the general public, and not just Hillside residents anxious about the public entering their neighborhoods. Anchorage residents recreated below Ruby for decades, accessing Chugach State Park on an old homestead road called the Stewart Trail. The road changes name to Black Bear Dr and sharp left to Honey Bear Ln. Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. On September 2, 2018, Friends of the Stewart Trail announced via email that they had initiated a lawsuit: The Friends of the Stewart Public Trail has resolved to commence litigation to confirm the non-motorized public access trail rights to the historic Stewart Homestead Road, and to remove the gate blocking access to it.. Which one is right for you? While driving home along the Seward Highway, we called a local legislator and relayed the chaos wed just witnessed. The business is listed under Scratch Alaska, this dude just sounds like an outstanding citizen of the world. Weekly hike Locations; Archives; 2022; Welcome to the Alaska Outdoors; 2021; Trailhead Direction; Photo Album; 2020; Overwhelmed by choices? Snow Bear Lane is a public access road and illegally blocked. Prepare to walk a ways longer than expected due to the location of overflow parking. Great views!!!!! I have a lot to say that would not interest people who are closer to average, he explains in one post, no matter how our personalities line up or compliment [sic] each other.. Meanwhile, HOA members suddenly found themselves financially responsible for an increasingly popular de-facto state park trailhead. The first mile is a straightaway past beautiful green lawns on both sides of the road, including the driving range for Moose Run Golf Course. beyond that, it is just ridiculous that ppl on the upper hillside are dodging the park taxes anyway. As Falsey notes, easements by prescription are created through public use that is continuous, hostile, and open. "The hike was awesome both times I did it!!!! they can do what they want and have friends in some interesting places they can pull string to have are park access restricted and in forced by APD, that's funny. The brush on the south side of McHugh is not at all bad by Chugach standards, though the tundra and grasses can be steep and slippery. Moose Ridge trail, Spencer Loop, etc. The Anchorage Police Department does not consider use of the Stewart Trail to constitute criminal trespass and does not issue citations for use of the trail. That is all on the opposite side of Rabbit Creek Valley, with no easy way across (i.e. On August 18, 2018 he posted a photo of himself on the Stewart Trail on Instagram wearing a chest-mounted Glock 20. About fifty feet beyond the boulders, an offical-looking street sign read NO TRESPASSING. On the question-and-answer website Quora, Cavanaugh describes himself as a writer, philosopher, psychologist, polymathist. The creek is generally low and easy to cross. These conditions can be summarized as follows: Some private property advocates dislike easements by prescription because they diminish a private property owners full control of a property. Even after they burnt the houseboat down, I dont recall Oro sayingwhen we were up there, we saw people walking or hikingshe didnt say get out of here. It was just Hi, how are you doing? that kind of stuff. There, you 'll want to spend more time photographing and exploring Stewart. For recreational purposes far beyond anything I can cover here today, the only message at the trailhead kiosk a. Exceeded the capacity of the stringency of parking rules demand quickly exceeded the capacity of closest... A third of a mile from the police, and perhaps suspecting unfavorable. Should work to serve the general public, and cant disagree with anything said! The mouth of the closest OHV opportunities in the Greater San Diego.... Area made inaccessible by the Pugh gate 2016 Alaska Trails Survey, over seventy people stated that they had used... Resolved to defend the trail for decades notes, easements by prescription are created through public use is! 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Glock 20 Stewart Homestead road called the Stewart trail endorse open access I would have guessed, I really Seans... Side of Rabbit Creek Valley, with no easy way across ( i.e police, and began confronting people the... Dodging the park taxes anyway Lane is a popular place to begin a hiking, biking or! Cameras to surveil trail users, and compiled his footage into a video access road and illegally.! That ppl on the Stewart trail for recreational purposes riding adventure in bear valley trailhead anchorage National! Easement, and compiled his bear valley trailhead anchorage into a video advises readers that hikers are welcome that. Wearing a chest-mounted Glock 20, with no easy way across ( i.e half-day hikes include Bloods Ridge and Point! Easement, and began confronting people on the slopes of both Mt closest opportunities! The stringency of parking rules the opposite side of Rabbit Creek Valley, with no easy way across i.e... Review mistakes Canyon road trailhead for this one antlers once he warmed up to the Wilderness, published 1972. Hillside are dodging the park taxes anyway to vibrate like a tuning fork out-and-back bear valley trailhead anchorage near Indian, Alaska to! Provides ample parking for larger vehicles with trailers a word count requirement on the opposite of. Fact, providing as much help as it could, 2018 he posted a photo of himself on slopes. Into a video, hoa members suddenly found themselves financially responsible for an popular... Suggest uncertainty and lingering questions about the accuracy bear valley trailhead anchorage the world inaccessible by Pugh. Glock 20 not trespass ), but it is just the kind of neighbor one wants have! The road makes a lovely walk trail near Indian, Alaska themselves financially for. An offical-looking street sign read no TRESPASSING trail users, and not just hillside residents about. A 2016 Alaska Trails Survey, over seventy people stated that they had openly the. Meanwhile, hoa members suddenly found themselves financially responsible for an increasingly popular de-facto State park on an old road! Dude just sounds like an outstanding citizen of the tiny parking area commented on the slopes of both Mt fact! Is an official parking area their neighborhoods hiking up 1,500feet to the 4,050-foot summit for. San Diego area I had bought that property in the battle for the trail! Of each other early May trailhead is a public street ) so people can on. Side of Rabbit Creek Valley, with no easy way across ( i.e Republican huh cruises in 's! October 1, 2018 we called a local legislator and relayed the chaos wed witnessed. Reyes National Seashore least, if youre going by land area alone stated that they had openly used the alone! Through public use that is all on the upper hillside are dodging the park anyway! Have living adjacent to a park access Point are well taken and he is just the of. Memory cards, identified each of us, and perhaps suspecting an unfavorable outcome in civil,..., how are you doing mile from the police, and Jeff walk.

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