Cleary Summit

Welcome to Cleary Summit, an evocative and remarkably preserved remnant of Alaska's rich recreational history. Located roughly thirty minutes north of the city of Fairbanks along the winding path of the Steese Highway, this site…

We begin our detailed exploration at the primary base area, the former epicenter of warmth, commerce, and socializing at Cleary Summit. If you examine the terrain closely, you can still discern the flattened grading where the…

Direct your attention up the primary slope to the towering, rusted metal stanchions that still stubbornly march up the fall line. This is the remains of the legendary lower T-bar, the undeniable mechanical backbone of the entire…

Let us shift our focus to the slightly gentler terrain adjacent to the main base area. This relatively flat, wide expanse was the domain of the beginner, the crucial incubator where countless young Alaskans strapped on heavy,…

As we cast our gaze further up the mountain, observing the deep, vertical scars carved into the upper elevations, we enter the realm of the advanced skier. While Cleary Summit was beloved for its family-friendly atmosphere, it…

To fully understand the commercial ecosystem of this mountain, we must examine the unique geographical and competitive relationship it shared with its immediate neighbor. If you look closely at the layout of the terrain, you will…

As we conclude our structural tour, we must address the complex economic factors that ultimately led to the silencing of Cleary Summit. The demise of this once-thriving resort was not caused by a sudden catastrophe or a lack of…

As you prepare to depart Cleary Summit, take a moment to stand quietly and survey the vast, silent amphitheater of the mountain. The rusting towers of the T-bar cast long, melancholy shadows across the overgrown slopes, a…